Air Traffic Quality Assurance Program

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Air TrafficQuality Assurance Program

• The Federal Aviation Administration
• Presented By
• Gary D. Romero

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Air Traffic Quality Assurance Program

• Why Have a Quality Assurance (QA) Program?
• Purpose of a QA Program
• Structure of a QA Program
• Elements of a QA Program

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Definition of Operational Error (OE)

• An occurrence in which less than the applicable
  separation results between two aircraft.
• Or between an aircraft and terrain or obstacles

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Definition of Operational Deviation (OD)

• An occurrence in which less than applicable
  separation exists between aircraft or vehicles
  and another controllers area of jurisdiction.

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Definition of Accident

• An occurrence in which any person suffers death
  or serious injury or an aircraft receives
  substantial damage.

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Why Have a QA Program?

• Maintain Integrity of Safety in the ATC System
• Provide Oversight to ATC Facilities
• Identify Problems in the Areas of
• Controller Performance
• Training
• Procedures
• Management or Supervision

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Purpose

• Help ensure safety, efficiency, and excellence in
  the service and products we provide.

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Structure of QA Program
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Elements of QA Program

• Preventative Measures
• Evaluations
• OE/D Determination
• Data Collection
• Reporting of OE/D, Accidents
• Investigative Teams
• Follow-up

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Preventative Measures

• Recorded Reviews
• On-the-spot corrections
• Performance Observation
• Trend Analysis
• Quality Assurance Review (QAR)

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Evaluations

• Internal Evaluations
• Conducted by facility QA personnel
• External Evaluations
• Conducted by Air Traffic Evaluations Headquarters
  Branch

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OE/D Determination

• Computer Identified
• Controller Identified
• Supervisor Identified
• Pilot Identified

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Data Collection

• Voice Tapes
• Radar Data
• Controller Statements
• Supervisor Statements
• Contributing Factors
• Equipment
• Other

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Reporting OE/D and Accidents

• Facilities Report to Higher Authority
• Provide a network of information
• Identify trends
• Share successful tactics among facilities
• Hold accountable facility personnel

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Investigative Teams

• Teams formed at the facility level to research
  cause of OE/D.
• Teams fielded by Headquarters to conduct in-depth
  investigation into OE/D trends.
• Investigate ATC involvement in accidents and
  incidents
• Do NOT determine mechanical failures of aircraft
• Facility QA personnel assist with documentation

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Follow-Up

• Controller Re-Training
• Supervisor Re-Training
• Changes to Procedures
• Changes to Airspace
• Changes to Equipment

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