Why are NASA forms a pilot's best friend?

The reports sprinkled throughout this book are from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). Staffed with controllers, flight surgeons, aviation lawyers and pilots from every aviation arena, they analyze safety related reports from pilots and controllers.

If you have been involved in a less-than-safe situation or feel you have accidentally been in violation of an FAR, immediately complete and mail a NASA ARC Form 277. Always have one or two of these forms in your flight bag or glove box.

The NASA form should be thoroughly completed, using additional paper as necessary. Typed is great, handwritten is okay. They'll accept cranberry juice on birchbark, but attempt legibility. Before the strip at the top of the report is removed to de-identify you from the report, one of their experts may call for further clarification.

These folks have been doing this since the 70's without a breach of confidentiality, so rest easy. They even black out all names, places and times from the report body, like a war-time letter. When NASA has a full understanding of the incident, they separate the time-stamped top portion, returning it to you. It is important to keep this portion! Read on.

FAA Advisory Circular 00-46B affirms and clarifies the principles underlying the establishment of ASRS and the responsibilities of NASA in its administration.

The filing of a report with NASA concerning an incident or occurrence involving a violation of the FARs is considered by the FAA to be indicative of a constructive attitude. Such an attitude will tend to prevent future violations. Accordingly, although a finding of a violation may be still be made, neither a civil penalty nor certificate suspension will be imposed if: (1) The violation was inadvertent and not deliberate; (2) The violation did not involve a criminal offense or accident nor action which discloses a lack of qualification or competency; (3) The person has not been found in any prior FAA enforcement action to have committed a violation since initiation of the ASRS of the Federal Aviation Act or any regulation promulgated under that act; and (4) The person proves that, within 10 days after the violation, he or she completed and delivered or mailed a written report of the incident or occurrence to NASA under ASRS.

This information (without your identity) will be used to correct problems within our aviation system. Portions of reports are used in the newsletter, CALLBACK. Reading ASRS reports can be a positive learning experience. Learning from others' mistakes is less painful and less expensive.

NASA ARC Form 277 may be obtained from a FSS, tower, FAA office or your flight school. If you need a supply for your club or flight office write to: FAA, Aeronautical Center, Distribution Section, AAC-45C, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125.

For a free monthly copy of CALLBACK write to: CALLBACK, NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System, P. O. Box 189, Moffett Field, CA 94035. Visit the ASRS website.

For more information on this subject, see "Legal Briefing: The NASA Form" and "Legal Briefing: Easy Immunity."