The FAA on Dec. 15 launched Flight Plan 2026, a strategy to bolster aviation safety by opening a new Safety Integration Office and improving hiring and training. The initiative will establish an FAA Safety Management System and an agency-wide risk management process. Key measures include safety-risk heat maps, greater transparency, and stronger accountability across the agency.
FAA Unveils 'Flight Plan 2026' to Strengthen Aviation Safety and Create New Safety Office
A sign marks the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center, in Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S., October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration on Monday announced Flight Plan 2026, a strategic initiative designed to strengthen aviation safety by improving hiring and training and by proactively identifying hazards before they lead to incidents.
Key Reforms and Structure
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency will establish an FAA Safety Management System and implement an agency-wide safety risk management process. To support these reforms, the FAA will create a dedicated Safety Integration Office to coordinate efforts across the agency, develop safety-risk heat maps to visualize and prioritize hazards, increase transparency, and bolster accountability at all organizational levels.
What the Plan Aims To Do
- Improve recruitment, retention and training practices to ensure a skilled safety workforce.
- Shift from reactive to proactive safety management through risk identification and mitigation.
- Provide clearer, agency-wide processes and tools for monitoring and managing safety risks.
The plan emphasizes measurable oversight and clearer lines of responsibility so the FAA can spot emerging threats earlier and reduce the chance of incidents.
(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese)
