scope:

Purpose of this Order.

This Order describes the Air Traffic Organization's (ATO) processes, roles and responsibilities, and timelines for collecting and reporting data in response to significant, noteworthy, or media events in the National Airspace System (NAS). It is important that the ATO conduct an event review for each significant or noteworthy event occurring in the system, in order to identify safety issues, establish the facts, conditions, and circumstances surrounding the event, and establish meaningful recommendations to prevent, mitigate, or reduce the possibility of recurrence.

a. Successful post-event management depends on the prompt and timely collection, and upward reporting of accurate information. This Order establishes focal points for the collection and dissemination of this critical data. Following the reporting processes and timelines specified in this Order will ensure that the ATO speaks with one voice and responds appropriately to significant events in the NAS. The upward reporting flow described in this Order will also help in the release of appropriate factual information to other government agencies, Congress, or to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

b. Examples of significant events covered under this Order include, but are not limited to: aircraft accidents and incidents, unusual events involving air traffic services, major events involving systems used in the delivery of air traffic services, loss of major navigation aids, events that may receive significant media interest, and any other events as determined by the Vice President of ATO Safety and Technical Training (AJI) or designee, or by the Service Units' Vice Presidents. The Vice President for System Operations may request that the processes outlined in this Order be used to conduct a post-event review/investigation of events which are routinely handled by ATO's Air Traffic Security Coordinator (ATSC) teams, which manage the Domestic Events Network (DEN).