Yes there is an ASAP program. Although in the past, management people in the safety department were known for making changes to files ASAP reports. Don't know if that still goes on.

Last I knew, most of the MD-80's did not collect FOQA data. Some did, and no one generally knew which planes did. People have been called in to the office in the past over data downloads.

The upgrades are happening for several reasons. There is attrition, but most of that is among FO's. There have been several captains leave recently, some of which were pretty senior. One of the other reasons for the fast upgrades is the company arbitrarily holding some people to equipment locks, while not holding others. The other big reason for the fast upgrade is the "HOMeless" base. They are constantly adding people to that, and most people don't want to be in it. Also, as they open small bases in small places, a lot of people aren't willing to bid those based on what happened with GRR, the places are hard to get to unless you want to move (which is a bad idea based on what happened with GRR), and the schedules being bad, which means you are stuck pretty much full time in that city.