TIMELINE | FOQA TERMINATION

3.14.24

An NJASAP Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) Gatekeeper was handed a box that had been opened and resealed, containing a FOQA data stick, during the monthly FOQA Monitoring Team meeting. With the shipping package in this condition, NJASAP had no way to confirm whether the information recorded to the data stick had been accessed, duplicated and/or uploaded to an unauthorized platform. Such access is a violation of FOQA Program protocols. 

Union Safety Committee (USC) Chair Capt. Neil Chaney notified the NetJets Director of Voluntary Safety Programs and FOQA Program Manager during the March FOQA Monitoring Team (FMT) Meeting. 

04.09.24
Union safety officials reiterated their concerns about the opened FOQA data stick package that occurred in March.

05.12.24
During the week of May 12, the FOQA Gatekeeper was, once again, given a package containing a FOQA data stick that had been previously opened.

05.21.24
Chaney sent an official letter to NetJets Vice President of Safety Eric McCarty to advise him of the Union’s belief that a violation of the FOQA Program had taken place. Consistent with program parameters, Chaney called for the program to be suspended while the potential breach was investigated.

05.24.24
Chaney sent a letter to McCarty outlining 10 potential violations and/or instances of non-compliance with the FOQA Agreement and the FOQA Implementation & Operations (I&O) Plan. 

05.31.24
After a week went by with no response from McCarty. Chaney sent an email in follow-up noting the lack of response  and reiterating the Union’s request for independent verification that the suspension protocol was being observed. Later that evening, McCarty sent an email indicating that the company planned to respond the following week.

06.05.24
McCarty cancelled the FOQA Management Team (FMT) Meeting scheduled for the week of June 10.

06.14.24
NetJets COO Alan Bobo sent a letter to the pilot group announcing management's decision to terminate the FOQA Program. 

07.01.24
In an attempt to salvage the program, Chaney sent a letter to McCarty indicating the Union would lift the suspension if the company would address the three most pressing violations cited in the May 24 letter.

07.07.24

McCarthy responded to Chaney's July 1 letter on July 7, dismissing the Union’s concerns. McCarthy refused to meet with the Union prior to the program’s termination date and indicated that the company would pursue a different initiative.

07.10.24  

In a letter to NetJets EVP of Administrative Services Brad Ferrell, NJASAP President Capt. Pedro Leroux reiterated the Union’s willingness to lift the program suspension pending the remediation of the three most pressing concerns.

07.14.24
Management’s decision to terminate the FOQA Program took effect. 

07.24.24
NJASAP contacted its legal counsel to discuss the potential for crewmembers to be disciplined based on data derived from the new Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) Program.

08.06.24

NJASAP and the USC engage the FAA to discuss termination of the FOQA Program and management’s elimination of crewmember and employee input in the Safety Management System (SMS).