US Air Transport Association reacts to NASA NAOMS Study
The US Air Transport Association of America (ATA), reacting to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) release of the National Aviation Operations Monitoring Service (NAOMS) study counter reacted by saying “The United States has the safest air transportation system in the world, in large part due to the absolute commitment by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the airline industry to safety, including the proactive use of safety data and analysis,” said ATA President and Chief Executive Officer James C. May. “While we appreciate any insight that might be derived from the NASA study, as the FAA noted, the study was not designed to capture real-time, verifiable data. As such, it is important that the report be viewed in that context.”
ATA representative added that the FAA and industry’s approach, using real and timely reported data provides more meaningful, actionable information to advance aviation safety. “The ultimate enhancement to the safety of air travelers will come with a next generation air transportation system.
Between February 1998 and March 2005, NASA conducted a study called National Aeronautics Operational Monitoring System, also known as NAOMS. NASA decided the data collected by the NAOMS survey would not be released to the public, as the data might “frighten airline passengers” and this would have “a negative effect on the well being of the airlines.”
Mr. Loren Rosenthal, the project manager of prime contractor Battelle for NAOMS, defended the study in a testimony in October 2007 saying that “I also don’t believe the argument that NAOMS data are somehow limited or of no value because they are derived from a survey has merit. All data used for analysis, no matter its origin, have limitations and errors. Based on my experience, most if not all the databases used by the FAA for safety oversight and analysis contain errors and have limitations. This is why knowledgeable scientists and experts are involved in turning these data into useful information for decision makers. NAOMS data are no different in this regard.”
He also added “Not all airlines have Flight Operational Quality Assessment (FOQA) programs or participate in the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP), a pilot based voluntary reporting system. Further, current safety oversight systems do not do a good job of measuring safety errors in the general aviation fleet, among small commercial operators, or among maintenance technicians, all of which have a direct influence on airline safety. A program like NAOMS can provide a unique oversight capability for all of the aviation system.”
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