Merged: Senate Inquiry

[Sarcs]

The real AOPA support for NTSB initiative...

Before moving on from my last I noted the following article from the real AOPA:

NTSB seeks better weather delivery

Urges FAA, National Weather Service to improve communication with pilots

In 2010, a Cessna 182R struck mountains near Corvallis, Ore., with two fatalities. The following year, a Eurocopter with five on board struck mountains on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. Another person was killed in 2012, when a Gulfstream jet impacted terrain in Oregon, and four people died in 2013 when a Mooney M20E hit terrain shortly after departure from Angel Fire, N.M.

In each of these cases, weather forecasts provided to the public noted more severe weather conditions than were detailed in aviation weather provided to the flight crews, and the National Transportation Safety Board issued on May 6 a call for the FAA and National Weather Service to improve weather forecast delivery to general aviation pilots.

“What’s difficult to understand is why weather advisories from the National Weather Service to the general public, at times, provide more comprehensive information about weather conditions than the advisories they provide to pilots experiencing the same conditions,” said NTSB Board Member Earl Weener, in a news release. “Why pilots would receive less information makes no sense, and increases the risk of flying in severe weather conditions. That is why this issue is on the NTSB’s Most Wanted List.”

The accidents were detailed in letters sent May 6 to FAA and NWS leaders, seeking action on recommendations to improve forecast data delivery to pilots. Improved aviation weather information distribution is among the items on the agency’s 2014 Most Wanted list, which is updated annually based on accident trends in all forms of transportation.

The announcement follows the May 1 launch of the “Got Weather?” campaign by the FAA and aviation groups including the AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute. That effort will include a variety of weather education products developed by the Air Safety Institute and other organizations that focus on specific weather conditions that have contributed to accidents, with a goal of making pilots better informed, and more aware of forecast information sources and other available weather products.

The NTSB recommendations issued May 6 focus on improving situational awareness for pilots and controllers, and better disseminating important weather information within the aviation system.

“Safety will be enhanced for airmen and their passengers when pilots are given a complete weather report including all of the most current weather information,” Weener said.

The statement in the NTSB 2014 Most Wanted list says...

".....GENERAL AVIATION: IDENTIFY AND COMMUNICATE HAZARDOUS WEATHER

A frequent cause or contributing factor to general aviation accidents is hazardous weather. While having weather information available to pilots, air traffic controllers, and meteorologists is crucial, proper understanding and use of this information is just as critical...."

And from the NTSB SR letter to the FAA

Therefore, the National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration:


Ensure that all Federal Aviation Administration (and contracted) preflight weather briefings include any products modified or created by the National Weather Service in response to Safety Recommendation A-14-17. (A-14-13)

Require that the National Weather Service (NWS) provide a primary aviation weather product (as recommended in Safety Recommendation A-14-18 to the NWS) that specifically addresses the potential for and existence of mountain wave activity and its associated aviation weather hazards. (A-14-14)


In cooperation with the National Weather Service (NWS), revise the Interagency Agreement between the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NWS for the center weather service units (CWSU) and its accompanying statement of work if needed to add the new responsibilities of CWSU personnel in response to Safety Recommendations A-14-17 and/or A-14-18 to the NWS, which are in addition to the other responsibilities currently performed by the NWS under this agreement.(A-14-15)


Include centerweather advisories in the suite of products available to pilots via the flight information services-broadcast data link. (A-14-16)

The NTSB also issued five safety recommendations to the National Weather Service.
Acting Chairman HART and Members SUMWALT,ROSEKIND, and WEENER concurred in these recommendations.

The NTSB is vitally interested in these recommendations because they are designed to prevent accidents and save lives. We would appreciate receiving a response from you within 90days detailing the actions you have taken or intend to take to implement them. When replying, please refer to the safety recommendations by number. We encourage you to submit your response electronically to [email protected].

IMO this is a perfect example of how a State signatory to ICAO Annex 13 (Chapter 8) is supposed to act. There is no obfuscating of responsibilities to the Annex; there is no resources spared in getting the message across; there is no arguing the toss by the regulator; and ultimately all stakeholders respect the NTSB initiative and get on with appropriately addressing the significant safety issues highlighted.

Wonder if the TSBC will have picked up on this stark difference in methodology, interpretation and compliance by the ATsBeaker to Annex 13??

Oh well moving on...

As "K" points out the WLR report release is imminent, as is the TSBC report... Not to mention Senate Estimates (Monday week) and the continued Senate debate on the Govt response to the AAI report. All in all a busy couple of weeks for the miniscule and his minions..."let the games begin!"