Definition
A voluntary, confidential, non-punitive program administered by NASA on behalf of the FAA that collects safety reports from pilots, controllers, flight attendants, mechanics, ground personnel, and others involved in aviation operations. Submitted reports are de-identified and analyzed to identify hazards, deficiencies, and safety trends in the National Airspace System. Filing a timely ASRS report can also provide limited immunity from FAA enforcement action for unintentional violations of the Federal Aviation Regulations, provided certain conditions are met.
Plain English
A safe way for anyone in aviation to report a mistake, near-miss, or safety concern without getting in trouble. NASA collects the reports, removes names, and uses them to spot problems before they cause accidents.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter ASRS when learning about safety reporting, after an incident or near miss, or when an instructor mentions filing a NASA safety report.
Why Pilots Care
Enables pilots to report incidents without fear of enforcement action, contributing directly to safer procedures and reduced risk for everyone.
Intuition Check
ASRS is not an emergency service and it is not the same as reporting directly to air traffic control. It is a confidential safety reporting program used after an event to help identify and fix safety problems.
Example Sentence 1
After realizing he had busted his assigned altitude in the descent, the pilot filed an ASRS report that evening to document what happened.
Example Sentence 2
Reviewing aggregated ASRS data revealed a pattern of altitude deviations on a particular arrival procedure.