NTSB ISSUES 2013 MOST WANTED LIST
Today, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued its annual Most Wanted List. On its latest list of most wanted safety improvements, the NTSB added one aviation-related issue—"fire safety improvement”—and removed "pilot and air traffic controller professionalism" from last year's list. The board also broadened the runway safety improvement issue by expanding the terminology to include “improve safety of airport surface operation” on this year’s list.
The new annual list of the NTSB's top advocacy priorities calls for ending distraction in all modes of transportation, which was the cause of multiple accidents investigated by the board in recent years.
NTSB cited three cargo fire accidents (UPS Flight 1307, ABX Air Flight 1611, and UPS Flight 6) as part of the reason for adding “Improving Fire Safety in Transportation” to the list. The board’s fact sheet noted:
Three cargo fire accidents in the past 6 years have resulted in the deaths of two flight crews and the total loss of three aircraft. Two of those accidents involved Boeing 747-400 freighters. The NTSB involvement in these accident investigations revealed deficiencies in the fire safety strategy employed both for fire detection and fire suppression. The construction material for cargo containers was also identified as being directly related to the fire protection of cargo compartments.
The NTSB's full list of most wanted improvements for 2013 includes:
• Improve Safety of Airport Surface Operations
• Preserve the Integrity of Transportation Infrastructure
• Implement Positive Train Control Systems
• Eliminate Substance-Impaired Driving
• Improve the Safety of Bus Operations
• Eliminate Distraction in Transportation
• Improve Fire Safety in Transportation