Operations safety: an assessment of a commercial aviation safety program

TLDR

Operations safety is a key concern in operations management, yet few studies have examined the effectiveness of government airline safety programs. This empirical study evaluates a commercial aviation safety program that sanctions pilots with alcohol‑related motor vehicle convictions. The study compares five years before and after program implementation using data on more than 160,000 commercial pilots. The analysis shows that the FAA’s sanctions on pilots with motor vehicle convictions have had a negligible effect on airline safety, with implications for operations and public policy.

Abstract

Abstract Operations safety is an important issue in operations management. While prior studies have focused on the operational performance of various airlines and airports, few have assessed the efficacy of government airline safety programs. This empirical study evaluates a commercial aviation safety program that sanctions pilots with alcohol‐related motor vehicle convictions. We compare a 5‐year period prior to the implementation of the program against a 5‐year period after implementation using data on over 160,000 commercial pilots. We conclude that the FAA’s handling of pilots with motor vehicle convictions has had a negligible effect on airline safety. These results have operational as well as public policy implications.