Introduction

Safety is the first and foremost goal of US Airways. The Safety Department enhances safety at US Airways by providing the tools necessary for our employees to identify and report safety or operational concerns. This in turn allows us to identify situations that could potentially affect safety or operational standards.

There are two reporting programs available for submitting safety or operational concerns: Safety/Event Reporting (mandatory) and the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) (voluntary). The goal for both programs is to improve safety and identify operational deficiencies by facilitating an open line of communication between the workgroup and management. Events identified through reporting are critical for early identification of hazards, to maintain a proactive approach regarding safety concerns, and recommend corrective action.

The Safety Department provides for the collection, tracking, distribution, and trending of reports submitted by employees. The overall goal is to improve safety awareness and identify operational deficiencies by facilitating an open line of communication between workgroup and management. Events identified through reporting are critical to early identification of hazards and to maintain a proactive approach regarding safety concerns and recommending corrective action.

All directors and managers at US Airways must commit their respective departments to react immediately to a Safety/Event Report or ASAP that identifies problem areas within their organization. The responsibility to identify, analyze, and fix problems is everyone's job at US Airways and all personnel are expected to fully cooperate with Safety to that end.

ASAP Programs

Many of you may not realize it, but ASAP had its beginning right here at US Airways. The concept was borne from the original US Air Altitude Awareness Program, which itself was "the Safety Partnership" consisting of the Company, FAA and ALPA formed to address continuing altitude deviations, established in 1990.

US Airways, in cooperation with our employee labor organizations and the FAA, has established an Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) for Flight Crews, Dispatchers, and Maintenance Personnel. The US Airways ASAP is a voluntary, self-reporting program designed to identify and reduce possible flight safety concerns. ASAP uses employee input to identify significant safety concerns and issues, operational deficiencies, non-compliance with regulations, deviations from company policies and procedures and unusual events. In partnership with the relevant departments, labor organizations, and the FAA, each report is investigated and corrective actions determined based on a non-disciplinary approach to flight safety.

Event Reporting

The Safety/Event Report is designed to be used in conjunction with, not supersede or contradict other procedures, reports, or department requirements. An ASAP Report (if applicable) may be submitted in lieu of a Safety/Event Report, provided either a FAR violation or a significant flight safety issue has occurred. If an employee involved in an alleged FAR violation mistakenly submits a Safety/Event Report instead of an ASAP Report, the company or union ERC representative may resubmit the report under ASAP to allow program participation. Conversely, if an employee submits a routine report to ASAP that does not involve a serious flight safety concern or possible FAR deviation, and would be more appropriately handled by a management supervisor, then that report may be rerouted as a non-ASAP Safety Event Report.

Summary

All reports will be analyzed to determine if further research is needed to identify the root cause of the problem and, more importantly, if solutions can be found. The following criteria will serve as a foundation for requesting responses from the appropriate departments:

Our mandate cannot be accomplished without the dedication and commitment from all areas of the company. The Safety Department will forward reports to other departments for their information and request responses when necessary. Responses received from other departments will be used to provide feedback to employees, to complete safety investigations, and to document safety and/or operational improvements. We thank you for your participation.