NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation to FAA Regarding CFIT Training for Part 135 Operators
The National Transportation Safety Board has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to collaborate with Alaska-based operators to enhance voluntary controlled flight into terrain avoidance training programs.
Safety recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board has urged the Federal Aviation Administration to collaborate with Alaska-based operators to enhance voluntary controlled flight into terrain avoidance training programs.
In safety recommendation ANC17MA001 (A-18-013), the National Transportation Safety Board directed the Federal Aviation Administration to work with Part 135 fixed-wing operators in Alaska. Although federal regulations do not mandate controlled flight into terrain avoidance training for these operations, the NTSB emphasized the need to improve voluntarily implemented programs aimed at reducing accident risks. The recommendation specifically highlights human factors identified in recent Alaska accident investigations, including the challenges of flying in mountainous terrain and low-altitude VFR flight in areas with rapidly changing weather. It also calls attention to limitations in Alaska infrastructure, such as weather observations, communications, and navigation aids.