The FAA says that no certificate action will be taken against anyone that makes an honest mistake and files an ASAP.

The idea, though, is to compile data and look for larger safety problems. Once those safety problems are identified, they take action based on them. That is how it works. In fact, that is the only way that it works.

If there are 100 reports about the arrivals into DCA, they will look at them and try to figure out the cause. Is it the arrival that is broken? Is it training? Is it VNAV equipment? Once causes are identified, they try to fix them.

If there are 100 reports because people at a particular company are having difficulty due to poor training, poor systems, or bad equipment, the FAA will look at that company and try to figure out what it needs to do to fix the problem. More or specialized training - maybe. Different OpSpecs - maybe? Require a different person to monitor the training program - maybe.

The ASAP reports are not simply a "get out of jail free" card. Not at all. They are a means that the FAA can collect real safety data to improve the overall system.