Clinton Announces Plan to Increase Aviation Safety

Jan. 17, 2000
Clinton's plan would help to encourage better reporting of safety concerns by aviation employees and their employers.

Further efforts steps are being taken to help make airline travel safer.

On Friday, President Clinton unveiled a partnership plan that would bring together the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airlines and employee unions, to encourage better reporting of safety concerns by aviation employees and their employers.

Under the plan, pilots, mechanics and other airline personnel could go to committees established by the program with problems they observe or even errors they themselves commit. The aim is to increase the pool of safety information to try to stop accidents from happening.

The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) hopes to improve understanding of the errors that cause accidents -- errors that might go unreported by pilots or crew members who fear reprisals or punishment for violating FAA regulations.

ASAP will accomplish its goal through three important features, according to a White House statement.

  • New Data Sources: The program will provide a previously unavailable source of data that will allow information to be captured rapidly and directly from those responsible for the day-to-day safe operation of the nation's aviation system.
  • Incentives to Report Safety Issues: Aviation employees will be encouraged to swiftly report safety problems and be protected for their reporting, through the use of incentives.
  • Reducing Accidents and Tracking Problems: The Administration hopes the ASAP program will help meet its goal of an 80 percent reduction in the commercial aviation accident rate by 2007 by improving man-machine interactions and making it easier to put user-friendly technology in the cockpit and control towers.
About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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