The ASRS also publishes a monthly newsletter highlighting safety issues, and now has an online database of reports that is accessible by the public.In 1966 - twelve years before ASRS was launched, Bobbie R. Allen, Director of the Bureau of Aviation Safety, was advocating the use of computers and the concept of non-punitive incident reporting.The FAA's immunity policy encourages submission of all safety incidents and observations, especially information that could prevent a major accident, even if a violation occurs.On the other hand, they do express considerable confidence in the reliability of the reports submitted: The need for a system of recording and cataloging aviation safety's institutional knowledge and shared history was apparent long before ASRS came to fruition.Noting that fear of legal liability and of regulatory or disciplinary action had prevented the dissemination of this information, rendering it valueless to those who might use it to combat hazards in the aviation system, Mr. Allen commented:[7] In the event that the fear of exposure cannot be overcome by other means, it might be profitable if we explored a system of incident reporting which would assure a substantial flow of vital information to the computer for processing, and at the same time, would provide some method designed to effectively eliminate the personal aspect of the individual occurrences so that the information derived would be helpful to all and harmful to none.See Aviation Safety Reporting System, Early History to view early letters, speeches and memos.
Bobbie R. Allen, Director, Bureau of Aviation Safety, NTSB
