Reducing the Risk of Midair Collisions
On December 27, 1978, Former United States Secretary of Transportation Brock Adams announced a comprehensive regulatory program to improve aviation safety by reducing the risk of midair collisions in U.S. airspace by 80.00%.
The announcement followed a tragic collision over San Diego between a Pacific Southwest Airlines jet and a private aircraft that occurred on September of that same year.
The program included key elements such as the expanding the use of the TCAS, strengthening ATC, establishing new rules for pilots and aircraft owners, expanding positive control airspace, and improving pilot training and procedures.