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Improving Aircraft Safety (1980) / Chapter Skim
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Leadership and Advice
Pages 73-78

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From page 73...
... A Senior Technical Advisory Committee Because the FAA regulates an industry that works at the frontiers of technology, it needs to be a leader in its field. It needs to be able to develop and apply new standards for rapidly changing technology.
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From page 74...
... Moreover, the President urged a continuing effort to assure that no new advisory committees be established unless they were essential to meet the agency's responsibilities.38 Considering the FAA's, and the public's, crucial dependency -- in terms of safety and costs -- upon the quality of technical judgments that must be made by the agency, the committee finds that this recommendation falls well within the President's strictures. Aviation Safety Policy Board The Federal Aviation Act of 1958 charges the Secretary of Transportation, and through him the FAA, to promote safety in air commerce, and to promote, encourage, and develop civil aeronautics.39 As an agency of the
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From page 75...
... The committee recommends, therefore, that the Seoretary of Transportation appoint an independent oviation safety policy board, reporting to him and responsibZe for advioe on major safety and policy issues; for ocunseZ on oversight of the FAA, and for recommendations of oondidates for the positions of administrator and deputy administrator. Unlike the previous recommendation, which would provide a technical advisory committee to the FAA administrator for addressing important technological issues affecting the agency's operating decisions, rule making or research strategies, and the like, we envision that the proposed aviation safety policy board would review the FAA from a more detached vantage point and address the kinds of overarching policy issues which are of concern to the secretary.
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From page 76...
... Accordingly, the committee recommends that the President seZeot the administrator and deputy odministrator from a state of candidates recommended by the proposed aviation safety policy board or o similar Group of experts and that strong consideration be given to ~ v reappointment then appropriate. Industry Responsibility In the final analysis, no matter how proficient the FAA, the safety of an aircraft depends on the people who design, produce, operate, and maintain the machine -- the aircraft manufacturers and air carriers.
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From page 77...
... But some companies lack a separate internal aircraft safety organization, akin to an internal audit staff, to assure their management on a continuing basis that the proper processes and procedures are in place, that personnel are fully trained and qualified, that adequate controls exist, and that the product is indeed as good as it is believed to be. The committee therefore recommends that each industriaZ firm involved in the design, production, or mainten~noe of oommeroioZ transport aircraft consider having an internaZ aircraft safety organization to provide additionaZ assurance of airworthiness to company management.
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Key Terms

  • safety policy
  • safety organization
  • deputy administrator
  • aviation safety
  • audit staff

  • proposed aviation
  • civil aeronautics
  • aircraft safety
  • committee wish
  • provide administrative

  • operating decisions
  • major safety
  • faa administrator
  • decided value
  • administrative competence

  • firm involved
  • companies lack
  • involves technology
  • previous recommendation
  • ideal source

  • punishment practices
  • proper processes
  • strong consideration
  • respective fields
  • transport aircraft

  • promote safety
  • aviation act
  • outstanding people
  • separate internal
  • committee hesitates


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