FAA Merging Safety Reporting Systems

Last week, the FAA announced it was merging two safety programs for efficiency and to "help guide safety decisions" in the future. Pilots and Air Traffic Controllers have long been able to confess their gaffes in a "non-punitive environment" through the FAA's Safety Action Programs — ASAP (Aviation Safety Action Program) for pilots and ATSAP (Air Traffic Safety Action Program) for controllers. Now the two programs will merge. Administrator Randy Babbitt said the move will provide the FAA with "an incredible amount of data" to identify systemic safety issues. He called the merger "revolutionary" and said the FAA expects the combined data to present a better perspective on problems within the national airspace system.