# Presentation: 355300

## SECURITY OF RECORDED INFORMATION

- INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM  ON TRANSPORTATION RECORDERS
- ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA	MAY 4, 1999
- Captain Lindsay Fenwick

- Air Line Pilots Association

## ALPA

- Air Safety professionals and pilot volunteers
- 50,000 + pilots
- Recorded data security very important
- A global issue - IFALPA

## Recorded Information

- CVR
- CVVR
- DFDR
- ACARS/Data Link
- Other (Air Safety Reports, etc.)

## Security means......

-  Unauthorized use
-  Inappropriate use

## ALPA Policy

-  1960 language
- “ALPA representatives shall endeavor to obtain the maximum usefulness for such devices, while providing the greatest possible protection against the abuse and misuse of such devices by any government agency, carrier, or any other group”

## CVR

- Most sensitive
- Most controversial
- Balancing individual right to privacy versus accident investigation benefits

## CVR Features/Restrictions

- 30 minutes
- Erasable on ground by flight crew
- Use only for accident investigation
- Transcripts of pertinent information
- Now up to 2 hours
- Erase feature not always provided

## Why are Pilots so Sensitive?

- Random drug tests
- Random alcohol tests
- Random line checks
- DFDR (performance monitoring)
- Tolerance has its limits.........

## CVR Abuses 

- Tapes have been released (DAL 191)
- Transcripts include non-pertinent conversation
- Management has listened to tapes (labor relations issue)
- Use of actual tapes in criminal litigation

## Need for Security

- Why protect recorded information?
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- Information entitlement mentality
- Public and media unlikely to advance air safety by having unrestricted access to recorded information

## $$ ... Money is the Big Driver

- Civil litigation very lucrative
- Recorded information is discoverable
- Cali accident
- Next accident?

## Family Rights         (Next of Kin)

- Politics
- Plaintiffs’ attorneys
- Money
- Media

## The Media

- More information is always better
- Sensationalism sells

## Recorded Information and Criminal Trials

- New Zealand CFIT accident
- Police access to actual CVR tape
- Other countries have similar laws
- Adverse consequences of using recorded data in criminal litigation
- Intent of ICAO Annex 13 para. 5-12

## DFDR

- DFDR monitoring at non-US carriers
- Many US pilots remain leery (litigious/punitive environment)
- FOQA programs operating at United, US Airways, Delta, others
- NPRM expected

## CVVR (Cockpit View Video Recorder)

- Advances in technology
- Preserve instrument indications
- Especially glass cockpit
- ALPA Policy - protections against punitive action, focus solely on instrument panel and not record flight crew activity
- Technology easy, regulatory issues difficult

## ACARS and other Data Link

- Relatively easy to intercept
- Sensitive information on Internet
- Encryption?

## Trust

- Intangible but crucial
- Integral part of information sharing
- Inherent in ASAP, FOQA, other partnership programs
- Role of pilot representatives

## Partnership Programs 

- ASAP
- FOQA
- Self-disclosure
- FAA advocates partnerships but         “quick-ticket” mentality persists

## Need for Fairness

- Pilots accept accountability
- Pilots expect fairness
- Balance pilot shortcomings versus all other relevant factors
- Pilots willing to be judged by peers and other air safety professionals as long as they are treated equitably

## In Conclusion

- Security of recorded information essential
- Can’t take security for granted
- Global challenge - apply protective provisions of ICAO Annex 13 universally
- Air Safety advances hinge on cooperation and trust
- Pilots have much at stake-will play their part