The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) have entered into a partnership to launch a new Airport Voluntary Reporting System (AVRS). The 18-month pilot program allows FAA employees who work in the Office of Airports to communicate safety concerns without fear of retaliation.
The program, launched July 2, allows employees to file a confidential report through an online system. From there, an Oversight Board composed of three FAA executives will review, investigate and help resolve the reports. The board will then send recommendations to the manager and monitor the solution. The board will also send a report to the employee who filed the report, removing confidential information so all airport employees have the opportunity to view it.
“Safety is our highest priority, and it is critical that the Department of Transportation and our partners promote a culture of safety,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “A culture of safety means that employees can report safety concerns freely, without retaliation, so that the millions of airline passengers may have the best, safest experience possible.”