Pilot union, FAA, Delta agree on program for voluntary reporting of
safety concerns
Delta now largest user of voluntary reporting systems
ATLANTA, Jan. 28, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reinstate its Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) covering pre-merger Delta pilots. The revised program mirrors an existing Northwest Airlines pilot ASAP program.
"Reestablishing our pilot ASAP program has been a top priority for Delta, ALPA and the FAA, and this agreement is a testament to the partnership and hard work of these parties on behalf of all Delta pilots," said Steve Dickson, Delta senior vice president - Flight Operations, and a B767ER captain. "Safety always will be our highest core value, and programs like ASAP are critical to identifying, understanding and correcting safety events to ensure a safe and reliable work environment and travel experience for our employees and customers. With the current safety reporting programs at Delta, and those from Northwest that we will continue to support, Delta is now the largest user of voluntary safety reporting systems, with six programs covering nearly 17,000 employees."
ASAP was created to improve flight safety by providing greater insight into the total flight operations environment through the systematic identification and resolution of potential hazards and human errors, with the full cooperation of all interested parties. Individual flight crewmembers are encouraged to submit reports to identify safety concerns. The safety data is used to develop corrective action and to educate the appropriate parties to prevent a recurrence of the same type of event.
Captain Lee Moak, Chairman of the Delta Master Executive Council, the Delta chapter of Air Line Pilots Association, Intl. that represents 12,500 Delta pilots added, "Through a safety-focused approach and a professional working relationship with Delta Flight Operations and the FAA, we were able to mutually craft a solution to immediately begin the process to reinstate ASAP at Delta. I'm confident that Delta's new ASAP will set the gold standard for ASAP programs throughout the airline industry."
In addition to the reinstated pilot ASAP, Delta has formal ASAP programs in place for its dispatchers and Technical Operations employees, and other safety reporting programs for flight attendants and ground employees. Delta also will continue ASAP programs currently covering pre-merger Northwest pilots, dispatchers and load planners, and other safety reporting programs for its other workgroups.
Delta Air Lines is the world's largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its Northwest subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to 377 destinations worldwide in 66 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks on more than 16,000 daily flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta and its 75,000 worldwide employees are reshaping the aviation industry as the only U.S. airline to offer a full global network. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
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