AC 00-46E 12/16/11
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4. NASA RESPONSIBILITIES.
a. General. NASA ASRS provides for the receipt, analysis, and de-identification of
Aviation Safety Reports. In addition, ASRS publishes and distributes periodic reports of findings
obtained through the reporting program to the public, the aviation community, and the FAA.
b. Advisory Committee. The NASA ASRS Advisory Committee, composed of
representatives from the aviation community, including NASA, the FAA, and the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) advises NASA on the conduct of the ASRS. The
Committee conducts periodic meetings to evaluate and ensure the effectiveness of the reporting
system.
5. PROHIBITION AGAINST THE USE OF REPORTS FOR ENFORCEMENT
PURPOSES.
a. Background. Designed and operated by NASA, the NASA ASRS security system
ensures the confidentiality and anonymity of the reporter, and other parties as appropriate,
involved in a reported occurrence or incident. The FAA will not seek, and NASA will not release
or make available to the FAA, any report filed with NASA under the ASRS or any other
information that might reveal the identity of any party involved in an occurrence or incident
reported under the ASRS. There has been no breach of confidentiality in more than 34 years of
the ASRS under NASA management.
b. Regulatory Restrictions. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR)
part 91, § 91.25 prohibits the use of any reports submitted to NASA under the ASRS
(or information derived therefrom) in any disciplinary action, except information concerning
criminal offenses or accidents that are covered under paragraphs 7a(1) and 7a(2).
c. Non-ASRS Report. When violation of the 14 CFR comes to the attention of the FAA
from a source other than a report filed with NASA under the ASRS, the Administrator of the
FAA will take appropriate action. See paragraph 9.
6. REPORTING PROCEDURES. Forms in the NASA ARC 277 series have been prepared
specifically for intended users (including ARC 277A for air traffic use, 277B for general use
including pilots, 277C for flight attendants and 277D for maintenance personnel) and are
preaddressed and postage free, or are available online for access and filing electronically.
Additionally, organizations may elect to securely transfer copies of reports from their internal
reporting system to NASA ASRS directly. Forms with a narrative report should be completed
and mailed to ASRS at NASA, Aviation Safety Reporting System, P.O. Box 189, Moffett Field,
CA 94035-0189, or filed electronically with ASRS through the NASA ASRS Web site at
http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov.
7. PROCESSING OF REPORTS.
a. Processing Procedures. NASA procedures for processing Aviation Safety Reports
initially screen the reports for: