Quality Control
 

The FAA facilities are briefing new quality control orders which put an even greater emphasis on self-reporting of errors than the current ATSAP program. The concept is that we're trying to root out the causes of errors rather than assign blame. I wonder, though, if the psychologist B. F. Skinner might say we are putting too much emphasis on rewards (the carrots) and not enough emphasis on the disincentives (the sticks).

My question: which reduces ATC errors more effectivly, collecting data or punishing poorly performing controllers?

If they had a confidential system like the UK (Chirp for civil and Condor for miiltary) they might have some success, but if US controllers are anything like UK ones, they won't trust management when they say 'we won't use it to apportion blame'.