FAA Administrator urges professionalism, use of SMS

[diggertwo]

http://www.pilotbug.com/?p=1446

Randy Babitt, the FAA Administrator, stressed more cockpit professionalism in the drive for more safety and fewer accidents at US airlines. In a speech to the International Safety Forum today, Mr. Babitt stated that the difference between the outcomes of the US Airways Flight 1549 and Colgan Flight 3407 was one of “textbook greatness, the other a complete inattention to basic details."

The Administrator was referring to the contrast between the two flights. The January 15th US Airways flight, which an Airbus 319 was struck by Canada geese after departure from New York’s Laguardia airport was followed by a successful ditching in the Hudson river. The other was the February 13th fatal crash of a Colgan DeHavilland Q400 in Buffalo, NY, in which pilot error was largely determined to be the cause.

Babbitt indicated that in addition to a more professional culture, the airlines should better utilize tools and concepts like the Safety Management System (SMS), a set of guidelines and risk management processes designed to increase the safety decision making process. Last month the FAA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (PDF) concerning the SMS for the airline industry and other aviation operators to adopt.

 

[pilotyip]

anyone wants help with SMS let me know

 

[Kharma Police]

I thought he was talking about text messages.............

 

[Raoul Duke]

he's not???

 

[MD11Drvr]

Babitt could surely help my disposition if he would get the TSA to implement crew pass at every airport in the country and start working on overseas. I am ready to support a one day work stop like they pull Europe to influence the TSA to make it happen.

 

[GuinessGuy]

md11drvr........SPOT ON!!!!!! I would like to change a word in you previous post. INFLUENCE=FORCE.
Why in AUA, SDQ, SXM or anyplace else......"No, sir, leave you laptop in you bag"

 

[pdub20s]

Babitt could surely help my disposition if he would get the TSA to implement crew pass at every airport in the country and start working on overseas. I am ready to support a one day work stop like they pull Europe to influence the TSA to make it happen.

They need to get more than one computer per checkpoint. It can take forever to get througha crew pass line when cletus has the only work station and types at 40 words per hour.

 

[MD11Drvr]

They need to get more than one computer per checkpoint. It can take forever to get througha crew pass line when cletus has the only work station and types at 40 words per hour.

Well I have to agree but I'll be happy with nationwide implementation and obviously enough terminals to accomodate normal traffic. As far as Cletus goes well the TSA hires what they hire and until they raise the bar we're stuck with "They Stand Around".

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Babbit is not interested in safety. He is interested in politics.

Ask Babbit what happened to the 1500 hour minimum pilot requirement for Part 121 operations? He must of used his Safety Management System experts to determine a higher level of experience would not lead to more professionalism.

How many hours did the Buffalo pilots have compared to the Hudson River pilots?

Respect and the wages of such also has something to do with professionalism. McDonald's restaurant workers do not have the same level of professionalism the fine dinning establishments of NYC present at the dinner table. And no amount of McDonald's SMS academy training is going to make them comparable.

You get what you pay for Babbit. He just doesn't understand because the ATA keeps shining a bright light in his face.

 

[Bringupthebird]

For Babbitt to make a statement regarding the Colgan crew prior to the release of the final NTSB report shows he's not up to the job. I would be willing to bet there's alot more to the story on the Colgan crash than anyone knows.

 

[radarlove]

Yeah, like the copilot brought the flaps up while the captain hauled back on the stick to keep it in a deep stall? That part of the story?

 

[pilotyip]

Back to the eternal question

Babbit is not interested in safety. He is interested in politics...... You get what you pay for Babbit. He just doesn't understand because the ATA keeps shining a bright light in his face.

What is safety? What determines safety? There is a risk management in safety, it is supposed to reduce risk to an acceptable level, not eliminate risk. The only way to eliminate risk in aviation is not to fly. Setting hard standards like 1500 hours does not uniformly reduce risk. We had an ex-USAF pilot apply to JUS. He only had 1350 hours total time, but all of it was multi-TJ. With a type (comm.) in a B-707. Who would be the better pilot, 1505 hours total time mostly SEL CFI, 10 MEL or our under 1500-hour USAF guy? Which would bring a higher level of safety?

 

[JonnyKnoxville]

The relevant question should be who is a safer pilot? One with 250 hours and a Commercial Multi or a pilot with 1500 hours?

The ATP requirement would improve safety and would raise the bar on the bottom end of airline flying.

 

[Beaver79]

I thought he was talking about text messages.............

Me too! And I was confused because I thought wireless devices were illegal in flight....

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

If you want "professionals", you need professional compensation.

You pay bottom feeder pay, you get bottom feeders...

Nu

 

[pilotyip]

can not be answered with data given

The relevant question should be who is a safer pilot? One with 250 hours and a Commercial Multi or a pilot with 1500 hours?

The ATP requirement would improve safety and would raise the bar on the bottom end of airline flying.

The 250 hour pilot just got his wings in the Navy Comm/MEL/Inst civilian comp, all his time is turbine, 150 hours MEL turbine. The 1500 pilot has at SEL ATP, with 5 MEL 2.0 actual inst, and 1495 hour SEL primary VFR CFIing in Arizona. Who is safer?

 

[luckytohaveajob]

The 250 hour pilot just got his wings in the Navy Comm/MEL/Inst civilian comp, all his time is turbine, 150 hours MEL turbine. The 1500 pilot has at SEL ATP, with 5 MEL 2.0 actual inst, and 1495 hour SEL primary VFR CFIing in Arizona. Who is safer?

Extreme non-relevant example. But just to humor you, the 250 hour Navy pilot either failed out of training or was kicked out. 250 hour Navy=loser!

The ATP certificate was a union invention approved by government to promote a higher level of safety standard in the left seat.

In practical application the regionals hire 500 hour pilots as a regular business practice. Eagle advertising in Private Pilot magazine for 500 hour commercial pilots. Eagle churns the bottom of its list because it can not get qualified applicants.

How many 500 hour pilots has your operation hired pilotyip? An ATP requirement would improve this unsafe practice.

 

[wms]

Regardless of the training background, nothing beats practical experience. Mil guys come here with no concept of CRM and no idea what it's like to fly six legs in an environment like the ATL, but they have excellent skill, normally.

Civ guys have to work harder on professionalism and discipline, but have a clue about the aerospace system.

We all have things we need to work on when transitioning to a new work environment.

 

[luckytohaveajob]

agreed.

 

[Kharma Police]

The irony is that Captain Babbitt was hired on at Eastern with low time and no college degree. He was later one of the youngest captains. I'm sure his father, "Slim Babbitt's " involvement with the creation of ALPA and founding of Eastern had nothing to do with his rise through the ranks.........