[IEEE-USA Position Statement]

National Aviation Safety Program

Approved by the IEEE-USA Board of Directors
20 June 2002

Aviation safety and security are global issues. This paper focuses on safety, and a subsequent one will focus on security. While more developed nations have laudable aviation safety records that have remained nearly constant for the last decade, airline flights are predicted to recover in a few years to pre-September 11, 2001, levels and then increase at an annual worldwide rate of about four percent, with some regions approaching seven percent. Therefore, even at a constant accident rate, the number of aircraft accidents will soon approach an unacceptable number. The dip in air traffic since September 11, offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain ground on ever-present safety issues. Thus, it is widely recognized that steps, such as the U.S. aviation safety program, must be taken to reduce the accident rate.

IEEE-USA strongly endorses the U.S. aviation safety program and its focus on reducing the accident rate. Further, it encourages the program's full planned funding and implementation. Towards that end, IEEE-USA recommends that:

A research program should be initiated that thoroughly investigates ways to reduce and mitigate the impact of potential human factors in aviation accidents, especially in the crew/operator interaction with complex, highly automated systems.
Focused research must be conducted to specifically identify and develop new technologies that may reduce the accident rate. The NASA/FAA program must coordinate closely with related efforts in other government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Transportation Safety Board; and with industry, especially aircraft and avionics manufacturers. We especially encourage interagency use of laboratories and other such resources.
To support the above research efforts, Congress must increase funding, in constant dollars, in the principal executing agencies, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - particularly for adverse weather avoidance, wake turbulence, reduction in controlled flight into terrain, and synthetic vision systems. Congress must not let funding erode.

This statement was developed by the IEEE-USA's Committee on Transportation Policy, and represents the considered judgment of a group of U.S. IEEE members with expertise in the subject field. IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., created in 1973 to promote the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 235,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE.

Background on the Government Role in Aviation Safety Research

In response to the TWA 800 flight explosion and crash in July 1996, the White House established the Commission on Aviation Safety and Security, the Gore Commission, to develop recommendations for increased aviation safety and security. One of the key goals in the commission's report was to reduce the accident rate per aircraft departure by 80 percent in 10 years. It is important to note that, because of the expected increase in air traffic, the accident rate will not drop by 80 percent on an annual basis. Another, longer-term goal is to reduce the accident rate by a factor of 10 in 20 years.

Recently, the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry has been established by Congress and the President to address the overall aerospace industry with attention to all of its facets, including safety and security.

The federal government has two roles: 1) to be responsible for aviation safety in U.S.-controlled airspace; and 2) to provide funding for conduct and sponsorship of research and development in many aviation disciplines.

Role 1 is realized through the FAA mandate to regulate and enforce aviation safety, among other items in its charter.

Role 2 is realized through research at numerous government agencies, principally including the FAA and the NASA, which have traditionally conducted research in aviation safety and capacity issues. Examples of recent research include digital air/ground links, enhancements to the Global Positioning System (GPS), Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI), lightning effects on aircraft, aircraft icing and human factors. As we enter the satellite-based communications age, navigation age, and surveillance for air-traffic management age, these technologies should take on increasing importance.

Last Updated: 28 June 2002
Staff Contact: Bill Williams, bill.williams@ieee.org