Definition
A voluntary FAA safety program that allows employees of certificate holders (such as airlines and repair stations) to report safety issues, mistakes, and potential violations without fear of punitive enforcement action or company discipline, provided the report is submitted promptly and the conduct was inadvertent. Reports are reviewed by an Event Review Committee made up of representatives from the FAA, the company, and the employee group, who jointly decide on corrective actions to address the underlying safety issue.
Plain English
A program that lets pilots, mechanics, and other aviation workers self-report mistakes or safety concerns to the FAA and their employer, in exchange for protection from punishment, so problems get fixed before they cause an accident.
Context Anchor
Seen in airline, maintenance, dispatch, and FAA safety-management discussions, especially when talking about voluntary safety reports and non-punitive reporting.
Why Pilots Care
It protects pilots who report honest observations or minor errors, increasing the flow of safety data that prevents future incidents.
Intuition Check
Do not read Aviation Safety Action Program as just a general safety campaign. In FAA use, it means a specific voluntary reporting program with a formal review process and defined protections.
Example Sentence 1
After noticing he had descended 200 feet below his assigned altitude, the captain filed an ASAP report when he got back to the gate.
Example Sentence 2
Airlines review Aviation Safety Action Program data regularly to identify trends and update procedures.