Introduction to ATSAP

Introduction to ATSAPATSAP stands for Air Traffic Safety Action ProgramA voluntary, non-punitive Air Traffic Controller safety reporting systemUsed to identify and proactively remove safety risks from the NASDesigned based on the fundamentals of a just culture

1Avoids fear of retribution and blame thereby encouraging flow of safety related informationPromotes trust and supports learning from unsafe actsIt is neither blameless nor punitive, there will always be difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviorPromotes constructive attitude which will tend to prevent future violationsJust Culture

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3Organizational Chart

4AOV provides independent oversight and monitors ATO operations to determine compliance with standards and directivesATO is responsible for the daily operation of Air Traffic ControlNATCA is employee union to represent the Air Traffic Controllers

Role & Responsibility

5Controllers may file: OEs/ODs/PEs/RIs/PDsAny potential safety risk to the NAS such as: Poor or confusing airport signageUnsafe policies or proceduresEquipment, software or automation problemsTraffic management initiatives that dont properly address sector needsAircraft operating procedures & airspace configurationsHuman factors (fatigue, scheduling)Unsafe or inadequate training practicesWhats Reportable?

6All air traffic personnel engaged in and supporting air traffic services, and only to events that occur while acting in that capacityEvents involving noncompliance as determined by the ERC

Events caused by gross negligence or reckless conduct are not accepted by ATSAPWho and What is Covered?

7In exchange for voluntary reporting,ATO wont decertify or take disciplinary action for events that are accepted into ATSAPAOV will use lesser action or no action based on the level of noncompliance with applicable air traffic directives

Incentives

8Safety Problem: Issues at a local, regional, or national level related to policies, procedures, equipment, automation, and publications, deals largely with Systemic issuesSafety Event: Incidents which result in actual or potential lost of separation or situations that results in safety degradation in the NAS. Examples are: OE/OD/PE, NMAC, RI, VPD, military facility deviation, spill out, surface incident, go aroundsReport Types

9For each submitted reports, pre-analysis is conducted by the analystsIdentifying and confidential information is removed and the reports are made ready Reports are added to respective ERC (Event Review Committee meetings Actual decision for each report is done by the ERC during meetingsATSAP Process

10ERC is composed of AOV, ATO, and NATCA, with experts from areas such as Oceanic Procedures, Flight Service, Tech Ops, Automation etc.There is one ERC for each service area and each handle reports from its own service areaERC meets every week, two to three days and make decisions. If a decision is difficult to make, the report is carried over to the next meeting

ERC

11Act on problems based on reportsGenerate AIR and CAR to fix problems by coordinating with Facility ManagersProvides feedback to individual controllers by coordinating with Fac RepAdd proper taxonomies in reports and close for future analysis and trendingCategorize as known or unknown issues and put in watch list if necessaryMake corrective action recommendations for:individuals, like skill enhancement trainingOrganizations, systemic correction

ERC Decision

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14ATSAP is a success story for the FAA and the industryThe largest safety program in the world 50,000 reports in just three yearsHundred of positive changes in the NASHelp build just culture where controllers openly share their mistakes without fear of punishmentSummary

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