NASA reviews airline pilot safety survey

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials said they were considering making public a NASA study of airline safety issues.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin said the survey of airline pilots regarding safety issues was being studied by NASA lawyers for possible release under a Freedom of Information Act request.

"Since becoming NASA administrator, I have been an advocate for openness and transparency in the pursuit of NASA research and analysis," Griffin said in a statement. "As a general practice, I believe NASA research and data should be widely available and subject to review and scrutiny.

"I am reviewing this Freedom of Information Act request to determine what, if any, of this information may legally be made public," he added. "NASA should focus on how we can provide information to the public -- not on how we can withhold it."

Griffin said he had asked NASA's Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Research, Lisa Porter, to make sure all survey data are preserved while the issue is reviewed.