Mark DeSaulnier on Aviation Safety: Measuring Near Misses and Improving FAA Performance

Measuring Aviation Safety Success

• 🎯 Success measurement in aviation is a critical question, with the FAA still grappling with how to objectively quantify the impact of modernization efforts.
• 💡 While objective measures like fiber optic deployment and digital switch implementation exist, the true measure of success is whether these efforts are making the National Airspace System (NAS) safer and more efficient.

Trends in Near Misses and Surface Incursions

• ⚠️ A significant concern is the increase in near misses and surface incursions observed during a recent lapse, which prompted immediate action to reduce controller workload.
• 📈 Dashboards are now used in weekly FAA management meetings to monitor progress on surface runway incursions, near misses, and TCAS resolution advisories, with a concerning trend reversal noted.

Addressing Technology and Human Factors

• 🛠️ A key challenge is ensuring technology is matched with human factors, particularly for pilots and air traffic controllers, as highlighted by a past incident at SFO.
• 🧑‍🏫 The need for adequate training on new technology, often overlooked in government procurement processes, is crucial for effective deployment and understanding.
• 🤝 Collaboration with technology companies to fund or contribute to necessary training is suggested as a way to bridge the gap between technology and workforce readiness.

FAA's 2026 Flight Plan

• 🚀 The FAA's 2026 roadmap focuses on three pillars: People, Safety, and Modernization.
• 👥 The 'People' pillar emphasizes hiring, training, and providing the best tools to achieve optimal results and improve culture.
• 🔀 The 'Safety' pillar aims to deconstruct siloed safety elements within the FAA to create an integrated safety management system focused on rapid risk identification and mitigation.
• 📈 'Modernization' is presented as a collaborative effort with the other two pillars to create a transparent, accountable, and effective FAA that assures the safest travel experience.