With computer networks ready to pull together diverse safety information, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during 2008 will keep promoting aviation safety action programs (ASAPs) — including ASAPs for flight attendants — at air carriers and major domestic repair stations. Although introduction of flight attendant versions of this voluntary program is relatively new, benefits from a handful of these ASAPs so far appear to be surpassing the expectations of participants.1 The challenge slowing expansion is persuading people to step beyond outmoded safety programs that discipline employees for inadvertent errors.
In a typical ASAP, the air carrier enters a formal partnership with specially trained FAA aviation safety inspectors and the labor organization of a specific employee group. The partners create an event review committee, a non-threatening environment that invites the certificate holder’s employees to voluntarily submit written reports that may pre…
