NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS)

What Is the Aviation Safety Reporting System?

On any given day, AOPA receives contacts from pilots wanting to improve safety by reporting problems, mishaps, or confusion that they incur in the course of their flying activities. Many comment "there should be a way to pass safety information directly to the FAA" — there is. Surprisingly, many pilots are not aware of a program that has been in place since 1975 that allows pilots, dispatchers, ground personnel, controllers, mechanics, and cabin crews to anonymously inform the FAA of potential problems.

The purpose of the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) program, commonly referred to as the NASA program, is to collect, analyze, and respond to voluntarily submitted aviation safety incident reports in order to lessen the likelihood of aviation accidents. Since the beginning of the program, NASA has processed more than 300,000 reports. These reports are used to identify deficiencies and discrepancies in the National Airspace System (NAS) support policy formulation, planning, and improvements to the NAS and to strengthen the foundation of aviation human factors safety research.

With this purpose in mind, one would think all pilots would participate in the program. With over 600,000 certificated pilots and only 300,000 reports over the years, this does not seem to be the case. The FAA has gone one step further — a person who participates in a timely manner may be eligible to have disciplinary action waived in an enforcement case that stems from the flight in question.

Here's how the program works: First, an airman must contact the program within 10 days of the incident in question to be eligible for the waiver. NASA provides the ARC Form 227, which is preaddressed and postage paid and provides space for a description of the incident. These forms are available through many sources, including the AOPA Web site, AOPA's Airport Directory, and the AOPA Pilot Information Center. The airman completes the form and sends it to NASA, which acts as an insulating third party between the airman and FAA. NASA reviews and desensitizes the form of any information that could link it back to the airman. The top portion of the form containing the airman's name and address is mailed back to the airman and provides proof of participation in the program within the 10-day period. AOPA recommends the form be sent certified mail with a return receipt requested as additional proof. NASA then provides this information to the FAA and the aviation industry in numerous formats, including Callback, a monthly safety publication, and ASRS Directline, a periodic publication geared to flight crews.

It is important to note that the NASA form will not alert the FAA to a possible regulatory violation, nor is it allowed to use them as part of the enforcement process per FAR 91.25. That is to say, the NASA form will not begin an investigation; the FAA would have to become aware of the possible violation through other means. The airman, if contacted by the FAA regarding an investigation and possible enforcement action, may choose to disclose his participation in the program at some point. If the FAA finds that a violation did occur and that the airman met all of the requirements of the ASRS program, it should waive the penalty for the violation. This is not to say that the violation did not occur or that it will not show on an airman's record. The FAA will waive the certificate suspension or civil penalty, and the action will appear on the airman's record with a note that the penalty was waived for participation in the ASRS program. This is not a bad trade-off for participating in a program that provides the FAA with some well-needed safety information.

What is this "NASA Form"?

A "NASA Form," or ARC Form 277B, is available to pilots, mechanics, and air traffic controllers to report aviation operations that may compromise safety. Under certain circumstances, it can also protect pilots from fines and/or suspensions.

It is an integral part of the FAA's Aviation Safety Reporting Program.

• NASA acts as a third party to receive and analyze Aviation Safety Reports.
• NASA designed and administers the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS).
• Reports can be submitted by pilots, controllers, and mechanics.
• Program structured to guarantee confidentiality and anonymity.

Primary purpose:

• To improve safety by providing for the free, unrestricted flow of information from the users of the NAS.
• Immunity from disciplinary action under certain circumstances.

Immunity from fine or penalty granted if:

• The "NASA Form" was sent within 10 days of event.
• The burden of proof is on the reporter (you) that the report was sent.
• Violation was inadvertent and not deliberate.
• Violation did not involve a criminal offense or accident.
• Reporter was not previously found in violation of the regulations within five years before date of event.
• FAA does not determine pilot was not qualified or competent to hold the certificate he claimed to be operating under.

Procedure:

• Send in "NASA Form" within 10 days of event (certified mail, return receipt requested is suggested).
• NASA ARC Form 277 is postage-paid
• The form is also available online. You may print it off, complete it and mail to: NASA ASRS, Post Office Box 189, Moffett Field, California 94035-0189.
• NASA de-identifies reporter in most circumstances.
• Report not de-identified in case of:
• A criminal offense (FAA and Department of Justice are notified).
• An accident (NTSB and FAA are notified).
• Portion of form that contains name and address is stamped and returned to reporter.
• Some information used in public newsletter and/or FAA policies.

The FAA will fully investigate if a violation is suspected, but will not query NASA or alleged violator to see if a "NASA form" had been submitted. It is only during FAA's formal enforcement action that you may request immunity. Though immunity could be granted, the violation becomes part of the reporter's file.

Sources:

• AOPA's Interactive ASRS NASA Form
• Advisory Circular 00-46D: Aviation Safety Reporting Program
• FAR 91.25
• "The Aviation Safety Reporting System." John Yodice. AOPA Pilot, July 1994: p. 128
• Aviation Safety Reporting System Home Page

NASA forms are available online. They are in the Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format and require the free Adobe Reader.

General (for pilots) | Mechanics
Controllers | Cabin Crew

Additional Resources:

• AOPA's An Overview of FAA Enforcement
• The AOPA Legal Service Plan
• Pilot Counsel: The aviation safety reporting program
  By John S. Yodice
  AOPA Pilot, July 2005
  Experience is telling us that it is time to remind pilots of the NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). Many, far too many, pilots are calling, seeking legal guidance about an operational incident that could lead to FAA enforcement, such as temporary flight restriction (TFR) and Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) incidents, and when we ask, too many say they did not file an ASRS report. They explain they had forgotten about the program, or some say they never were aware of it. By then our reminder is usually too late to do the pilot any good.
• "Pilot Counsel: The aviation safety reporting program," By John S. Yodice, May 1999 Pilot
• "AOPA Access: Get out of jail free?" By Kathy Minner, December 1998 Pilot