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NASA Shelved Air Safety Study
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ShareOctober 22, 2007 1:52 PM
ABC News' Lisa Stark Reports: Airplane engine failure, planes hitting birds in the air, violent weather-related turbulence -- these details and more are in an air safety study that NASA has shelved.
Government officials involved in a shelved study NASA commissioned to look into air safety tell ABC News that they were very disappointed when the project was ended. They thought it could have been a real boon for safety and they are hoping that the data gets used, sources tell ABC News.
When the Associated Press asked NASA for the data in report, and filed a Freedom of Information Act request, NASA said they couldn't release the data because it might undermine the public's confidence in the aviation system, and could be detrimental to the airlines. So now Congress is asking questions, wanting to know from NASA what this data is, why hasn't it been released, and what's going on with it.
It all stemmed from a 1997 Gore Commission Report on Aviation, when the Clinton administration was determined to reduce the air accident rate by 80 percent.
In order to find out the causes of problems and accidents, NASA developed a survey and interviewed about 24,000 airline pilots, asking pilots a series of some 90 questions about their experiences with close calls in the air.
NASA intended to include air traffic controllers and flight attendants in the study of valuable safety information, however in 2005 the interviews stopped, the data was never released, and the question now becomes -- why?
Those who have been involved in the project are loath to talk on-camera or on-the-record, but are telling ABC News that they were very disappointed when the project was ended. They thought it could have been a real boon for safety and they are hoping that this data gets used.
Just last week, NASA sent out an email to those involved in the project, asking them to destroy any data that they had on hand. Some people believe that it's because NASA wants to make sure they are sitting on all of the data themselves and no one else has it out there.
NASA has stated that the information is sensitive, it could hurt the airlines and it could undermine the confidence of the flying public. There are some in NASA who believe they may still be preparing a report on all of this data, but NASA officials have yet to confirm this.
October 22, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (11)
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it's BS. They were going to release the data, now the data goes into a lock box and gets put away? BS! Reports of sleeping or drunk pilots, or engines falling off or outdated equipment all this should be public domain! I say this is horrible, but typical. The public should protest, or boycott, plain and simple.
Posted by: sam | May 28, 2008 10:29:25 PM
Well did you really think you were free. You're cattle, that buys and works. That's all you are to the government.
Just like genetic meat, cloned meat too, they don't want to tell you what you're eating!
You will work and buy, and die..that's all they want from you.
Posted by: Robert | Jan 17, 2008 9:53:23 AM
as Conan's girlfiend once asked, before encouraging him to do something particularly stupid:
"What's the matter? You want to live forever?"
go ahead. fly United.
Posted by: dugbek | Nov 2, 2007 7:39:34 PM
Just like the summer of 2001, when the Bush administration didn't warn Americans that terrorists were targeting travel venues again.
That would have hurt the airlines bottom line. (And it might just have stopped the coming attack, but never mind.
Of course, 911 was the worst thing to hit the travel and tourism industy's bottom line in many a year. That's what a short sighted pro-business stance will get you.
BTW, Barbara great analysis of local TV news. It's been some years since I could stand the chirpy talk of the local nightly news.
Posted by: Bill Lenner | Oct 31, 2007 12:07:24 PM
"Why would NASA be involved in studying aviation safety?"
Because the first 'A' in NASA stands for Aeronautics; it's the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 24, 2007 10:47:38 AM
What's most infuriating about this suppression of data is that NASA should be a science-driven agency devoid of politics that is dedicated to safety abd pursuit of facts.
Posted by: Edward | Oct 23, 2007 7:09:34 AM
Typical that the public pays for the goverments' protecting the airlines "bottom line". The corperations are Americas true citizens nowadays. Having been involved in airline and civil aviation, I really prefer private flying for conveinence and safety.
This is a protypical example of the legacy that the BushBoy's "gang" will leave behind. They failed to stop 9/11, they made pilot training the whipping boy, and seriously crippled the constitution and bill of rights while intituting MORE goverment agencies that really - - have NO effect on safety. D U M B .
Posted by: James, a Pilot | Oct 22, 2007 10:41:53 PM
Alex, NASA tracks aviation safety through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). I'm not sure why they do it instead of the FAA, but maybe the idea is they are independent of the FAA and therefor can be more objective. I know when a pilot has a safety issue, they can submit a "NASA Form" and express their concerns without having to worry about FAA action from possible violation of the regulations.
Posted by: Bob | Oct 22, 2007 7:11:22 PM
This is typical behavior of the DickNBush crowd - which puts the US citizen (except millionaires/billionaires) last in all matters, particularly when corporate profits are an issue.
This matter is certainly related to the other news story today about Micro$oft. For those with short memories: the Clinton justice Department was actually, seriously investigating the criminal monopoly behavior of Micro$oft prior to the 2000 election and were likely to have broken up this criminal monopoly had the investigation been completed prior to the election. With the theft of that election by DickNBush, the investigation was stopped with only a weak slap of the wrist of Gates. That left prosecution of the criminal monopoly to the European Commission, which has made a good effort to protect consumers and to curb Gates'' greed and abuse of the marketplace.
These are more things for the DickNBush Repubs to be "proud" of. Show then how "proud" you are in your vote in November 2008.
Posted by: ALEX H. | Oct 22, 2007 5:06:14 PM
I am confused?
Did you mean to specify the FAA did this study?
Why would NASA be involved in studying aviation safety?
Posted by: Kyle Jedrusiak | Oct 22, 2007 4:22:53 PM
If this study was funded with public money, how can it be suppressed?
Will the government mimic local news broadcasts and only release "Happy News"?
I thought the Republicans were against "nanny governance"...
Posted by: Barbara | Oct 22, 2007 4:17:00 PM
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