Page 19 - Dec 23

AVIATION ISSUES
Valuable News from the FAA
NAS Safety Review Team Report Provides Recommendations on ATO Safety
Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commissioned the National Airspace System’s Safety Review Team (SRT) to review the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) in respect to the increased number of aviation safety risks at airports.
In mid-November, the SRT presented their findings in a nearly 50-page report. In their introductory letter to FAA Administrator Michael G. Whitaker, the SRT explained key points of what was reviewed, how the information was gathered, the challenges discovered and their recommendations.
It further explained they were making “recommendations to address the areas of process integrity; staffing; and facilities, equipment and technology. Recommendations are also made regarding inadequate, inconsistent funding because of its criticality to affecting meaningful change in the other areas.”
In response to the report Administrator Whitaker said, “The independent safety review team made some excellent recommendations and we are adopting some of them immediately.”
The FAA is taking immediate action on the following items:
= Provide additional support to colleges and univer- sities in the Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initia- tive (AT-CTI) Program. The FAA will work with AT-CTI programs to ensure that graduates from these programs have the necessary skills to begin on-the-job training at a facility. These graduates still must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) exam and meet medical and security requirements. Previously, these graduates were required to attend the FAA Air Traffic Controller Academy prior to being assigned to a facility.
= Announced a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers from the military and private industry.
= Keep filling every seat at the FAA Academy and increase our classroom capacity beyond current limits.
= Expand the use of advanced training across the country. The agency has new facilities in Chicago and San Diego, and will be adding them in Nashua and Phoenix in the spring.
= Finish deploying tower simulator systems in 95 facilities by December 2025. The FAA will deploy the first system in Austin by January 2024.
DECEMBER 2023
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 17