Regional airlines need to establish Safety Management System programs and implement an approved Aviation Safety Action Program and an approved Flight Operational Quality Assurance program, according to recommendations issued last week by the National Transportation Safety Board. The Board also wants regular review of flight data recorder data from non-revenue flights to verify operations are conducted according to standard operating procedures. The Board called on the FAA to require the aviation industry to enhance the training syllabuses for pilots conducting high-altitude operation in regional jets. The new information would ensure pilots have a thorough knowledge of aircraft performance, capabilities, limitations and high-altitude aerodynamics. It also wants airlines to incorporate into oversight programs periodic Line Operations Safety Audit observations and methods to address and correct finding of these audits.

The recommendation comes after the pilots were found at fault for a Republic regional jet crash. (RAN, January 15, p.7) It also wants the agency to determine whether the changes in the syllabuses would impact high-altitude training programs for other transport-category aircraft.

It also recommends the agency require airlines provide high-altitude training as well as sessions on professional conduct. It also recommended the agency work with pilot association to develop specific educational program focusing on professional standards and the pilot's role in ensuring safety of flight. The program would include discussions of recent accidents involving pilots acting unprofessionally and not adhering to standard operating procedures.

The Board called for a multidisciplinary panel of operational, training, and human factors specialists to study methods to improve flight crew familiarity with, and response to, stick pusher systems and, if warranted, establish training requirements based on the panel's findings. NTSB Safety Recommendation A-07-1-11 More