Why Participate in a Narrative Safety Reporting Program?

There are many benefits of participating in a narrative safety reporting program, including the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) established jointly by the FAA and industry.

• Safety reporting uses employee input to identify and address significant safety concerns and issues; operational deficiencies; non-compliance with regulations; deviations from company policies and procedures; and unusual events.
• Safety reporting fosters a voluntary, cooperative, non-punitive environment for the open reporting of safety of flight concerns. Through such reporting, participants have access to valuable safety information that might not otherwise be obtainable. This information is analyzed, and mitigating actions and training is developed to help resolve safety issues and possibly eliminate deviations from the aviation regulations and standard operating procedures.
• For a formal ASAP, when a report is accepted by the Event Review Committee, the agency will use lesser enforcement action or no enforcement action, depending on circumstances, to address an event involving possible noncompliance with the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).
• Reduced potential liability
  • Not having a narrative safety reporting program, if so equipped, may result in increased liability in the case of an accident or incident. Failing to participate in these programs can be used as evidence that the operator is not participating in efforts to enhance its safety performance.
  • A narrative safety reporting program should be considered a necessary operational expense. It acts like an insurance policy and is much less expensive than the residual costs of an accident or incident.

To get started with a narrative safety program, review the list of narrative safety data analysis support organizations.