|
|
 |
| |
ABOUT THE AVIATION SAFETY ACTION PROGRAM (ASAP)
 The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) has emerged as an incredible resource to Local 1108 crewmembers since its inception in mid-September 2006. Indeed, the USB believes the program has made great stride toward achieving the stated goal of enhancing the timely resolution and mitigation of flight safety issues. Resultantly, a new standard in aviation safety systems in the fractional ownership industry has started to emerge.
The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) has long been utilized by Part 121 carriers with remarkable success. When we began this project, however, an ASAP program had never been approved for a Part 91K/135 operation. That hurdle has been overcome, and while we are not the first fractional company to get approval for ASAP, we will certainly take the lead in starting up a successful operational program. What we ask of you, the pilot, is to educate yourself about this system and how to use it.
It is vitally important to understand that while ASAP does offer you certain protections against enforcement action by the FAA, of much greater importance is the safety-related information that you provide which has the potential to change how NetJets operates. If you have any previous experience with ASAP or a similar program, we ask that you not assume that this is the same old thing. It is not. Through our cooperative negotiations with the Company and the FAA, we have truly broken new ground and have in place extensive incentives for you to offer safety information through ASAP.
Without your input, this program cannot succeed. We want to encourage you to begin using ASAP as your primary method of communicating safety-related events that you encounter. Bear in mind that confidentiality is the cornerstone of the program and will never be compromised. With your help, before long, we will see very positive steps taken to improve our way of doing business at this company which will help guarantee a secure future for all NetJets pilots. |
|
 |
ASAP MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) |
| |
|
|
The ASAP Potential |
The Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) is a cooperative effort amid NetJets Aviation, Inc., (NJA), NJASAP, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Having achieved great success in the commercial airline industry, ASAP has been found to enhance safety by taking a systemic, proactive approach to mitigating reoccurring safety events rather than commencing enforcement action. Indeed, ASAP has the capacity to identify and assist in the improvement of standard operating procedures, airport- and FBO-specific issues, security Issues, maintenance and dispatch procedures and training programs for crewmembers, mechanics and dispatchers. |
|
|
What is the difference between ASAP and ASRS? |
ASAP’s primary purpose is to provide a legal alternative to FAA enforcement of regulations in the interest of gathering safety data. ASRS, in contrast, is primarily used as a research tool to identify and track safety trends while offering limited immunity to the reporter. It is important to understand the fundamental differences between the two programs and the benefits they offer.
ASRS, also referred to as NASA reports, are anonymous with the FAA’s access limited to aggregate data; the ASAP report is completely de-identified. During the process of its review, the ASAP ERC will see the entire text of the report once all identifying information, such as names, tail number, etc., removed. The ASAP report is retained by the company in complete confidentiality and protected from public release, a practice that has been upheld by the United States judicial system.
The two programs are similar in that both require the event being reported resulted from an inadvertent action(s). Both systems also stipulate the event must not involve any criminal activity, intentional falsification, or instances of drug or alcohol use. However, a pilot may only file an ASRS report if he or she has not had any FAR violations within the previous five years: ASAP has no such limitation.
ASRS requires an event report be filed within 10 days of the occurrence, while ASAP has a 24-hour deadline. The 24-hour ASAP window is due primarily to the multiple reporting methods available, including electronic form submission and facsimile transmission. Please note, ASRS is currently implementing an online filing option.
ASRS only protects the reporter from sanctions, such as suspension or revocation of his or her certificate, or any monetary fine. The FAA may still bring enforcement action, which will remain on a pilot’s record for five years. The pilot has the option of appealing this violation.
Conversely, ASAP offers the reporting incentive of no sanction, and no enforcement action or violation. While repeated violations will be accepted into the program, each event will be decided on a case-by-case basis. The FAA is limited to an administrative action which may take the form of a Letter of Correction or a Warning Notice. Such actions will remain on a pilot’s for two years. The pilot has no right to appeal this action, and he or she must comply with the ERC’s resolution of the event in order to maintain ASAP protections.
Please note, the ASRS currently has an online filing capability; the USB is working toward an automatic joint filing system between ASRS and ASAP. |
|
|
Participation Requirements |
ASAP MAY be used when:
|
 |
a crewmember is reporting an FAR violation, SOP violation, or any significant safety events . |
|
|
a crewmember sees or experiences any unsafe action, event, or condition, and/or |
|
|
a crewmember is undecided: “When in doubt, FILL IT OUT!” Remember, confidentiality is an ASAP cornerstone. |
|
ASAP reports WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED when:
|
|
a crewmember reporting an event involving non-compliance with the FARs that are deemed to be "not inadvertant". |
|
|
a crewmember shows an intentional disregard for safety |
|
|
Important: The two aforementioned events will be excluded from ASAP and will be referred to the FAA for possible investigation. The content of such reports will not be used for enforcement purposes. |
|
Also, ASAP reports WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED when:
|
|
the event appears to involve possible criminal activity, substance abuse, controlled substances, or alcohol, and/or |
|
|
the report involves intentional falsification. |
|
|
Important: The two aforementioned events will be excluded from ASAP and will be referred to the FAA for possible investigation. The content of such reports may be used for enforcement purposes. |
|
|
|
How Do I File an ASAP Report? |
Pilots must use the Web-Based ASAP Tool (WBAT) to electronically submit ASAP reports. The WBAT provides enhanced functionalities, offers a more user-friendly interface, and instantly notifies the sender his or her report has been received.
To use the WBAT, follow the three steps provided below.
| 1) |
|
Type www.netjetsasap.com into an Internet browser from any computer. |
| |
|
|
| 2) |
|
Enter your username: Your username is your name as it appears on your NetJets email (e.g., jpilot or jdoe2). |
| |
|
|
| 3) |
|
Enter your password: Your initial password for WBAT was set to your birth date in the
following format, 8/1/1974; please note, single-digit birth months and dates must not
be preceded by a zero. Please update this password after the initial login. |
The instructions for using the new submission portal are provided at right and also described below. The Safety Committee also encourages each pilot to use the BlackBerry’s memo feature to record the new access information:
Any pilot who encounters a problem while attempting to electronically file an ASAP report may continue to utilize the Voice Response Unit, (614) 239-3910 or (800) 228-6899 Ext. 33910. Placing a call to the VRU allows the reporter to leave word of his or her intent to file a report and provides an additional three (3) calendar days in which to do so. Feel free to contact the NJASAP ASAP Subcommittee or the NJA Safety Department, (614) 239-2411, with questions or coments. |
|
|
Reporting Tips |
|
|
Avoid “Cut & Paste:” Each pilot involved in an incident prompting a report must file a report to be covered by ASAP protections. |
|
|
A non-reporting pilot may be solicited into ASAP. |
|
|
To be accepted, reports must be filed within 24 hours of notification of a possible violation. |
|
|
Pilots are encouraged to report FBO/ Airport/ Ramp conditions that may not have directly affected his or her operation, but may affect another's.
|
|
ASAP should only be used for reporting safety-related events not crew food or scheduling issues. |
|
|
Do not use the system against another pilot. Each crewmember is involved in an event, should file a report, detailing the event. |
|
|
Please keep in mind that the FAA will see all accepted reports in a de-identified format. |
|
|
Please avoid using aircraft-specific acronyms in the content of the report. Because the NJA fleet is comprised of such a wide variety of aircraft, the ERC could potentially spend a considerable amount of time researching uncommon, vague terms and acronyms. |
|
|
|
Definitions |
Consensus of ERC: The voluntary agreement of each of the three (3) parties to ASAP.
Enforcement-Related Incentive: An assurance of lesser enforcement action in order to encourage employee participation in ASAP.
Event Review Committee (ERC): The panel responsible for the review of de-identified ASAP report forms. The panel is comprised of one primary and one alternate representative from NJA, Local 1108 and the FAA.
Letter of Correction: A letter issued to a pilot with the ERC’s event resolution that closes a non-sole source report. The letter remains on the pilot’s record for two (2) years.
Letter of No Action: A letter issued to a pilot when there is insufficient evidence to prove a violation. The letter remains on a pilot’s record for 30 days.
Non-Sole Source: The FAA has independent knowledge of an event outside of the ASAP report.
Sole Source: All information available to the FAA is contained in the ASAP report.
Warning Notice: A letter issued to a pilot with no ERC resolution that closes a non-sole source report. The letter remains on a pilot’s record for two (2) years. |
|
