FAA Program Reveals Thousands of Safety Lapses

Thousands of previously unreported air traffic mishaps have come to light thanks to a new federal error-reporting program, the USA Today reports.

The Federal Aviation Administration began the Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) a year and a half ago, offering immunity to employees who provide honest reports of safety lapses in all but the most serious cases.

Since launching ATSAP, the FAA has gathered more than 14,000 reports, including instances of planes flying incorrect routes and coming too close to other aircraft, according to the report.

The FAA has used the program to make changes designed to eliminate the mostly minor safety issues.

"This is a way for us to get new sets of eyes and ears in a lot of places," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told USA Today. "I think everybody agrees there will be a safer system in the long run."

Among the specific safety violations USA Today reported:

• Since June 2008, more than 6,000 planes flew unapproved routes or came too close to other aircraft. Those cases account for 45 percent of all the ATSAP reports.

• In late 2008, many reports were filed of planes flying south out of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport at potentially dangerous speeds. Officials adjusted aviation charts to fix the problem.

• Autopilot glitches have caused some jets leaving Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to turn too close to other planes. Adjustments have been made to the software due to the reports.