Voluntary safety reporting program suspended at American

Pilot union leaders at American Airlines have informed members that a voluntary program that allows for the reporting of safety incidents has been suspended due to what the union characterizes as unreasonable demands by management.

The Allied Pilots Association adopted the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) in 1994. FAA grants carriers approval to establish ASAP programs for pilots, mechanics, dispatchers and flight attendants. Those carriers are generally free from penalties related to the given incident.

APA tells its members in an update that during the ASAP renewal process American management supplied a proposal that increases a pilot's risk for discipline and would leave pilots "dangerously exposed".

American explains it is disappointed by APA's action, but stresses that the safety of its operations will not be affected by ASAP's expiration.

"The APA's willingness to discard a 14-year program that has done so much for our pilots, our airline and our industry is impossible to understand," a company spokeswoman says.

The carrier says it is supplying pilots with a confidential hotline and online reporting systems to express concerns directly to its safety department.

But APA is discouraging the use those outlets by American's pilots. "Do not use the Flight Department's 'confidential' safety reporting hotline," says APA, adding, "You have the right to remain silent."

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
Fonte: Flight Safety Information 20/10/2008.