Safety Recommendation A-99-073

NMC# 102201: The Safety Board notes that on April 30, 2003, GSA staff provided Safety Board staff with the results of a survey from the Safety Subcommittee Working Group of ICAP. This survey identifies pertinent equipment (crash-protected video data recorders and automatic emergency locator transmitters meeting Technical Service Order C-126) on existing government aircraft under the purview of ICAP. The Board also notes that in previous correspondence dated July 31, 2001, the GSA indicated that it, along with the ICAP's Safety Standards and Training Subcommittee, urged Federal agencies to equip all government-owned aircraft with the equipment to satisfy these safety recommendations.

The GSA indicated that funding was a major constraint to the installation of this equipment, and the survey confirmed this. The Board appreciates the GSA's responsiveness and its efforts in gathering this data. On the basis of this information and the GSA's previous actions, Safety Recommendations A-99-69, -72, and -73 are classified CLOSED -- ACCEPTABLE ACTION.

GSA staff forwarded to NTSB staff a completed survey of Federal Agency responses to their survey of which were equipped with video recording systems or C126 ELT's. In a previous 7/31/2001 letter GSA indicated that when the TSO was available for video recording system, they would encourage the Agencies to install them. Likewise, GSA was encouraging Agencies to install C126 ELT's as feasible.

The Safety Board is pleased that the GSA and ICAP are urging federal agencies to equip their aircraft with ELTs that comply with TSO C-126. The Board believes that federal agencies that hire operators may include a requirement for aircraft to be equipped with ELTs that comply with TSO C-126. The Board would also appreciate learning which federal agencies have aircraft fleets with ELTs that comply with TSO C-126, and when other agencies plan to reach this goal.

Pending receipt of that information, and information indicating that the GSA and ICAP have urged federal agencies to require hired operators to supply their aircraft with ELTs that comply with TSO C-126, Safety Recommendations A-99-72 and -73 are classified OPEN -- ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE.

Letter Mail Controlled 08/10/2001 1:22:17 PM MC# 2010635 GSA, along with the ICAP's Safety Standards and Training Subcommittee, urges Federal agencies to equip all Government-owned aircraft with automatic emergency locator transmitters (ELT) that meet Technical Standard Order (TSO) C126 or equivalent. We are aware that many agencies' aircraft already meet this standard.

Recognizing that funding for replacement ELTs may not be immediately available, we urge agencies whose ELTs do not meet the standard to replace older ELT units with TSO Cl26 ELTs as soon as possible--with the goal of upgrading any older ELTs at the time of their yearly inspections (passenger-carrying aircraft taking precedence over non passenger-carrying). Until FAA changes the regulations, agencies should require their hired operators to comply with 14 CFR Part 91.207.

In a March 16, 2000, letter, GSA indicated that after it consulted with the ICAP, it would respond to the recommendations. In its reply on March 30, 2000, the Safety Board noted that it had sent copies of the recommendations to the members of the ICAP, and that after the GSA consulted with ICAP and responded to the safety recommendations, the Board would evaluate ICAP's responses and determine the status of the recommendations. The Board has not received any further correspondence from the GSA on these recommendations. Please advise the Board of what actions are in progress or under consideration by ICAP in response to these recommendations.

Thank you for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) March 21, 2000, letter in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Safety Recommendations A-99-69 through -73. These recommendations were made to the General Services Administration and the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy. A copy of the letter transmitting the safety recommendations to those two organizations was also sent to the DOE. When these organizations respond to the recommendations, the Safety Board will evaluate their responses and determine the classification for each recommendation.

The information that the DOE supplied will be used in the Board’s evaluation, and a copy of the Board’s evaluation will be sent to you when available.

Thank you for the General Services Administration’s (GSA) March 16, 2000, letter in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Safety Recommendations A-99-69 through -73. The GSA indicated that it will respond to the recommendations after consulting with the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP). The Safety Board has sent copies of these recommendations to the ICAP members.

After the GSA responds to Safety Recommendations A-99-69 through -73, the Safety Board will evaluate those responses and determine the status of the recommendations. Thank you for interest in and efforts related to these safety recommendations.

Thank you for the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) March 2, 2000, letter in response to the National Transportation Safety Board’s Safety Recommendations A-99-69 through -73. These recommendations were made to the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP). A copy of the letter transmitting the safety recommendations to GSA/ICAP was sent to the DOJ. When the GSA/ICAP responds to these recommendations, the Safety Board will evaluate that response and determine the classification for each safety recommendation. The information that DOJ supplied will be used in this evaluation.

A copy of the Board’s evaluation of the GSA/ICAP response will be sent to you when available.

Letter Mail Controlled 03/29/2000 3:03:05 PM MC# 2000463- From Thomas T. Tamura, Senior Aviation Management Official, Office of Aviation Management, Department of Energy: (paraphrased text) This is a letter from the Department of Energy providing acknowledgement of this safety recommendation.

Letter Mail Controlled 03/22/2000 3:30:52 PM MC# 2000426: - From G. Martin Wagner, Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide Policy: Thank you for your letter dated February 8, 2000, regarding National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Safety Recommendations A-99-69 through -73. As stated in your letter, the NTSB has issued related recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Interior (001). The NTSB has also sent a copy of the recommendations addressed to the General Services Administration (GSA) to each member agency of our Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP).

As you may know, the NTSB, FAA, 001, and 15 other Federal agencies are members of the ICAP. Therefore, GSA will respond to recommendations A-99-69 through -73 after thorough consultation with the ICAP. I will keep you advised of our progress. The GSA and ICAP look forward to working with NTSB on these important safety recommendations. If you have questions or otherwise require assistance, please contact me at (202) 501-8880, or have a member of your staff contact Peter Zuidema, Director, Aircraft Management Policy Division, on (202) 219-1377.

Letter Mail Controlled 03/13/2000 3:51:55 PM MC# 2000382: - From Benjamin F. Burrell, Director, Facilities and Administrative Services Staff, Justice Management Division, United States Department of Justice: We have received your recent letter to the Attorney General requesting our comments on the official Safety Recommendations submitted to the General Services Administration (GSA) and the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy (ICAP) as a result of a mishap involving a Department of Interior Cessna 208 Aircraft.

The recommendations provided are an excellent enhancement for the aviation programs for all federal agencies and the Department appreciates your acknowledgment of the importance of the ICAP as a venue for increasing awareness in aviation safety. Several issues, however, should be addressed regarding these recommendations including funding, parts availability and aircraft certification. The Department's bureaus, the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Marshals Service (USMS); and Immigration and Naturalization Service, operate a variety of aircraft to support the Department's aviation requirements.

These aircraft vary from military surplus aircraft to large multi-engine commercial-type aircraft with varying missions ranging from surveillance to prisoner transportation. It should also be noted that, with the exception of the USMS, our bureaus do not normally carry passengers not associated with their aviation missions. The majority of the Departments aircraft fleet are equipped with C-91 and C-91a automatic emergency locator transmitters (ELT) units. These units are fully tested annually to ensure that they are functioning properly and that proper wiring and electrical continuity is maintained.

When deficiencies are discovered, the ELT is replaced with current stock of C-91 and C-91a units. The= USMS has recently replaced the older C-91 and C-91a units with C126 ELT's in several of their transport-type aircraft during periodic maintenance inspections with plans to upgrade the remainder of its fleet in the near future as inspections become due. The Department agrees with this recommended upgrade when funding becomes available as long as the C126 units are readily available on the commercial market.