NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation A-18-014 to FAA Regarding TAWS Nuisance Alerts and Complacency

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued safety recommendation A-18-014, designated ANC17MA001, addressed directly to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive focuses on Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 certificate holders that operate under visual flight rules using aircraft equipped with terrain awareness and warning systems classified in the required TAWS class. The recommendation highlights specific operational risks stemming from continuous nuisance alerts and pilot complacency, which can result from the routine use of the terrain inhibit feature. To address these issues, the NTSB instructs the FAA to ensure that both management personnel and pilots are fully aware of the dangers associated with such distractions. Furthermore, the agency is directed to facilitate the development of comprehensive plans aimed at mitigating these risks and minimizing nuisance alerts. The recommendation also calls for the creation of specific procedures that clearly define when pilots should test, inhibit, and uninhibit TAWS alerts, taking into consideration the operator’s typical operations alongside the manufacturer’s guidance.