Dallas/Fort Worth Air Traffic Control to Investigate Unreported Operational Errors

An “operational error” occurs when air traffic controllers allow airplanes fly too close to one another. The consequences, although usually benign, can be catastrophic. Now comes word that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA www.faa.gov) may finally be reporting just how many errors really occur at the world’s third-largest airport – Dallas/Fort Worth International.

The Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General says the FAA is taking action to “prevent future unreported operational errors at” the Terminal Radar Approach Control facility DFW. In other words, better reporting of how many times aircraft fly too close together.

The premise: You can prevent accidents from happening only if you know for sure how often, and how, they could happen.

Back in July 2007, the IG’s Office of Special Counsel referred whistleblower allegations to the Secretary of Transportation that managers at DFW’s TRACON “covered up” operational errors by air traffic controllers. They allegedly labeled them as “pilot deviations,” even as “non-events.”

And so it was that the IG, “for the second time in three years… substantiated whistleblower allegations that DFW TRACON management under-reported operational errors [and deviations].” In a prepared statement, the Inspector General’s Office says this created, “at a minimum, the appearance of a cover-up.”

“In both investigations, we found a lack of proper oversight within FAA,” the entity charged with ensuring the safety of the traveling public."

In April 2008, the IG’s office gave FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell a report recommending he take action to make sure the problems got fixed. That led to this latest word that the agency appears to be—at last—addressing the issue. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has told Sturgell “to report to her regularly on the status of FAA’s corrective actions.”

It will be instructive to see if these potentially life-saving reporting procedures prove permanent.

©Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler