Originally Posted by skywatch

You are wrong, but I don't have the energy to do a 5 foot long post so I cannot compete with you there. Here goes.

Originally Posted by skywatch

Of course they do it out of the goodness of their hearts, but SMS is also an international requirement that the US does not (and is one of the few nations not to) currently comply with. Every Canadian airline has an SMS approved by Transport Canada; Airlines in the US do NOT have an approved SMS because there is no regulatory definition in this country and no regulation CURRENTLY requiring it, although the FAA has been promising a reg for some time now. Most airlines participate (to some level) in the FAA VOLUNTARY pilot SMS program; the program material has some definitions for elements of an SMS. For example, you need to have a system to allow employees to report safety concerns in a voluntary/non-punitive and confidential fashion. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE AN ASAP. But most carriers use ASAP for this and when the rule is finished, will use this to satisfy the requirement for their SMS. Likewise, you need to have a system to monitor crew performance in aggregate - LIKE a LOSA, but it does not have to be a LOSA. Based on your posts, your understanding of what and why for SMS is inaccurate.


That said, reiterating that I am in full agreement to try to do cockpit observations without the endorsement and support of the pilots is stupid.