The Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) was created in April 1976 through a partnership between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This independent system allows for voluntary reporting of aviation incidents in the United States. By offering conditional immunity from FAA enforcement action, ASRS encourages individuals to report safety lapses that might otherwise go unreported.
Managed by NASA and primarily funded by the FAA, ASRS processes and analyzes reports submitted voluntarily by pilots, air traffic controllers, and other aviation personnel. These reports provide a subjective view of unsafe occurrences and hazardous situations within the aviation industry. The system places a strong emphasis on understanding how human performance impacts aviation safety.
Aviation professionals, including pilots, crew members, and ground staff, can submit reports if they encounter or witness situations that they believe compromise safety. If these reports are the only ones received regarding a specific occurrence, the individual may obtain immunity from FAA enforcement action, as outlined in the relevant FAA Circular.
