The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is conducting a voluntary survey during the first weeks of August to ask pilots and operators of air taxis and commuter flights in Alaska for information that will help prevent occupational fatalities from crashes.
In the survey, Alaskan pilots and operators will be asked to identify ways to improve safety along air taxi and commuter routes, in order to avoid crashes.
NIOSH is hoping that pilots'' and operators'' participation will help answer many key questions for preventing crashes, including:
- How many pilots are at potential risk?
- What do pilots and operators believe would make the industry safer?
- What practices and procedures do pilots and operators use to reduce risk?
NIOSH has worked with Alaskan pilots and operators to develop the questions in the survey, which will be administered by the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, through mailed questionnaires, telephone surveys and face-to-face interviews.
From the information, NIOSH will prepare findings and recommendations in a public report, and will work with the industry, pilots and others to further the goal of preventing crashes.
The identities of those who are participating in the survey will not be divulged to NIOSH.
by Virginia Foran