NTSB Issues Recommendation to FAA Regarding MSAW Software Logic
The National Transportation Safety Board has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to correct how minimum safe altitude warning parameters are applied at destination airports.
Safety recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to correct how minimum safe altitude warning parameters are applied at destination airports.
In safety recommendation A-15-010, identified under NTSB case number DCA14IA037, the National Transportation Safety Board addressed a critical issue within the Federal Aviation Administration's airspace monitoring systems. The board directed the FAA to modify the minimum safe altitude warning software so that it applies MSAW parameters for a flight plan's destination airport specifically to the touchdown phase of the flight. Currently, the system may automatically reassign a flight to a different airport if it observes a trajectory that appears incorrect. The NTSB noted that such observed trajectories can sometimes be inaccurate, leading to unnecessary and potentially confusing reassignments. By ensuring parameters are applied correctly to the intended destination rather than triggering automatic reassignment based on potentially flawed data, the agency aims to improve the reliability of safety warnings for pilots and air traffic controllers.