System Safety Training For Aviation Safety Inspectors

摘要

Aviation Safety Inspectors are on the cusp of a paradigm change: A philosophical shift from achieving "safety" solely by relying on regulatory compliance to "compliance plus" which includes System Safety. Historically, FAA's surveillance of airlines has focused on compliance with regulations. While this has been successful in identifying problems to be fixed, these problems are often the symptoms of deeper, systemic concerns. On rare occasions, the unexamined problems were symptoms of latent conditions that resulted in catastrophic events. While a low accident rate or no accidents may be a valid "safety" indicator, rare news media stories of accidents involving regulatory compliant aircraft operated by FAA certificated air carriers, have underscored the need to enhance regulatory compliance with "System Safety." Regulatory compliance is a necessary but insufficient condition for achieving "safety." The evolution of aviation safety from a fly-crash-fix-fly approach must include System Safety and risk management for effective accident prevention. Effective surveillance for improving aviation safety requires Inspectors' knowledge and understanding of an air carrier's processes affecting safe operation. An Inspector workforce trained in System Safety and risk management will better enable the FAA to fulfill its regulatory duties of protecting the travelling public.