Alexandria, VA, March 23, 2009 — The Flight Safety Foundation released the following statement from its President and CEO, William R. Voss, today in reaction to the news from US Airways announcing that it was reinstating its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP):
“The Foundation is very pleased that US Airways and USAP have reached an agreement to bring back its ASAP program. The importance of these self-reporting programs cannot be overstated. As we’ve explained over the years, when we can identify the little errors during a normal flight, it can lead to a change in operations that may eliminate the threat of a future major accident. ASAP is a big part of that effort. It can save lives and it should therefore never be a part of negotiations. We are heartened to see airlines begin to bring ASAP back and applaud US Airways for taking this important step.”
FSF has published a number of articles outlining the importance of these reporting programs in AeroSafety World July 2007 and in news releases defending the confidentiality of these programs. The Foundation was one of the earliest supporters of the ASAP programs.
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Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of global aviation safety and the prevention of accidents. www.flightsafety.org
Contact: Emily McGee, Director of Communications, 1-703-739-6700, ext. 126; mcgee@flightsafety.org