at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, followed by a
FedEx Boeing 767 cargo plane that almost landed on top of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jetWhile none of these close calls resulted in tragedy, the FAA is asking airlines to pay closer attention to risk mitigation, saying that although"the overall numbers do not reflect an increase in incidents and occurrences, the potential severity of these events is concerning.
To do this effectively, the FAA says SMS needs to be highly adaptable to change. The agency has encouraged airline management, like chief pilots and safety directors, to review a list of safety items and ensure the objectives are met, even if that means considering added training or amended procedures.
The items include things like adhering to published checklists and air traffic control instructions, reviewing runway safety information, and ensuring pilots and flight attendants understand the"sterile flight deck" rule., like takeoff and landing. It also applies to any flight operations occurring below 10,000 feet, except cruise.