Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any new regulations that require the carriers to revise their programs to meet the ATOS requirements?
No. ATOS is an oversight methodology used by FAA inspectors to conduct certification and surveillance of 14CFR Part 121 air carriers.
Can my carrier get access to this program or share this Data Base with the FAA and/or other carriers?
No, this Data Base is internal to the FAA. Additionally, the ATOS program is a continual improvement program and changes can occur week to week. Major changes to the Data Collection Tools and system functionality are scheduled at various times throughout the year. It is best for certificate holders to download current information from the ATOS public web site at the time they need it. You are also encouraged to contact your FAA Certificate Management Office for assistance.
How does my carrier become ATOS compliant?
ATOS is an oversight methodology for use by inspectors, not a set of standards or processes that an operator must comply with. To suggest that an operator must comply with this oversight process is to misconstrue the intent of the system. The term "compliance" as commonly used has referred to regulatory issues. While encouraged, there is no regulatory directive for a carrier to incorporate the underlying concepts of System Safety or to reference the ATOS surveillance tools in any aspect of their operations. Air Carrier certification and surveillance is are based on the regulations requirements and structures specifically outlined in 14 CFR Part 121 the Code of Federal Regulations.
If System Safety is so important that it is part of the FAAs oversight program, why has it not become a regulatory requirement?
System Safety/Risk Management, as presented in the ATOS process, is only one tool for achieving FAA oversight objectives. FAA Regulations dictate what a carrier has to do, not how to do it. The FAA developed ATOS from several different system safety approaches to form a program that works for them. Certificate holders may choose to adopt the ATOS methodology or develop their own to suite their individual needs. Certificate holders may find it beneficial to use the ATOS approach, however, so that both they and the FAA are looking at the air carriers systems the same way.
What computer program is the ATOS Data Base?
The ATOS Program uses a relational database that’s made up of several data tables. SEQUEL 2000 is the software that is used to manage those tables.
