The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published a list of safety policy priorities which differs dramatically from one which was recently released by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The NTSB's "most wanted list" also includes priority recommendations for other transport modes, but the aviation demands include:
• better flight data recorders;
• use of "the latest human fatigue research" to create "new, meaningful time and duty-hour regulations and educational materials";
• prevention of runway incursion accidents (also listed by the FAA);
• revision of icing regulations, based on recent research into icing weather conditions. Development of onboard systems to detect and protect against freezing drizzle;
• drawing up design and operational modifications to reduce the potential for explosive fuel/air mixtures in fuel tanks.
The FAA's target list includes terrain avoidance warning systems, a more rigorous compulsory turbine engine inspection regime, runway incursion accidents, approach and landing accidents and weather-related accidents (Flight International, 22-28 April, 1998).
The FAA and NTSB say the differences arise because the FAA has a strategic remit, while the NTSB's task is more tactical in nature.
Source: Flight International
