SASO History

With the concept of system safety gaining industry recognition, Flight Standards (AFS) established the System Approach for Safety Oversight (SASO) Program Office (AFS-30) in 2002 to develop and implement a comprehensive, integrated system safety approach to the oversight of all aviation entities. SASO would begin an analysis of the current state of aviation safety oversight, develop tools and technology to conduct system safety oversight, and prepare the workforce for change.

From 2005 to 2008, the SASO Program Office conducted three pilot projects to look at the business processes and people implications:

• Development and implementation of Air Transportation Oversight System (ATOS) version 1.2 for 14 CFR Part 121
• Development of system safety-based oversight for all 14 CFR Parts 145 repair stations
• Development of system safety-based oversight for all 14 CFR Parts 135 air operators

The SASO Program Office successfully completed the pilot projects in 2008. SASO has recently concluded a gap analysis, comparing existing oversight processes in 14 CFR Part 121, 135, and 145 with functional requirements for the Safety Assurance System (SAS), and is currently working to design the Flight Standards SAS.

In 2009, the SASO Program Office selected a group of FAA employee volunteers to serve on the new Safety Promotion Outreach Team (SPOT) and help prepare the workforce for change by sharing information with the field on SASO, SMS, and SAS.