Operations safety: an assessment of a commercial aviation safety program

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. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.