Safer Skies

Flight Operations Quality Assurance Program (FOQA)

Explosives Detection

GPS Satellite Navigation

Y2K and System Safety

National Route Program

Free Flight Phase 1

Commercial Space

Our goal is to deliver the best service possible. We have

demonstrated our commitment to that goal by setting

customer service standards for fourteen of our major

programs. The examples below show that the FAA has heard

our customers and has made their concerns a top priority. To

an unprecedented extent, we've involved our customers in

developing solutions that work!

Safer Skies The FAA is concentrating its resources on the

most prevalent causes of aircraft accidents. Special teams of

technical experts are zeroing in on the leading causes of

aviation disasters and recommending safety advances. In

partnership with industry, Safer Skies uses the latest

technology to help analyze U.S. and global flight and safety

data to find root causes and determine the best actions to

break the chain of events that lead to accidents. Safety data is

now available to the aviation community on the Internet 24

hours a day at: http://nasdac.faa.gov/.

Flight Operations Quality Assurance Program (FOQA)

The idea is simple — analyze flight recorder data on a routine

basis rather than only after incidents or accidents happen. Air

carriers use the data to improve safety and efficiency of their

operations. The FAA pools the data, stripped of its airline

identifiers, and makes it available to all interested parties. The

FAA is working successfully in partnership with all of the

major U.S. airlines to achieve voluntary implementation of

this important new safety initiative. To help gain increased

industry support for this important volunteer program, the

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FAA has pledged to exempt FOQA information from use in

enforcement actions, except in egregious cases.

Explosives Detection The FAA is working in partnership

with business and industry to introduce state-of-the-art

explosives detection technology into the domestic aviation

system. Installations to date include over 70 explosives

detection systems, and over 300 trace explosive detection

units. The number of trace units will increase to 489 in 1999.

Twenty-two advanced technology detection units will also be

installed during 1999.

GPS Satellite Navigation Global Positioning System (GPS)

represents a fundamental shift from exclusively ground based

navigation systems. It will result in a safer and more efficient

National Airspace System (NAS) and will save NAS users

hundreds of millions of dollars annually due to more precise

routings, fuel savings, and increased airport efficiency.

Y2K and System Safety To date, all air traffic control

systems, both mission critical and non-mission critical, have

been renovated. All FAA systems are expected to complete

testing on time. Extensive work is being conducted on

business continuity and contingency plans. These plans will

be completed and tested this year well in advance of the

millennium rollover.

National Route Program National Route Program allows

pilots to fly whatever route and altitude is best for existing

conditions between selected city pairs. Routes can be selected

based on flight time, cost, fuel, weather, aircraft limitations,

and other factors. Today, under the National Route Program

approximately 70 percent of flights (that are subject to a

preferred route) are operating off air traffic control preferred

routes.

Free Flight Phase 1 Free Flight expands flexibility in route

selection to a larger percentage of domestic flights. Free flight

also allows pilots to fly whatever route and altitude is best for

existing conditions.

Commercial Space The FAA worked with Congress to

develop the Commercial Space Act of 1998 which extends the

FAA's authority to include the licensing the reentry of

reusable launch vehicles, clearing up regulatory ambiguities

and enhancing safety.

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