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 Pending the FAA's reconsideration of this issue or a change in the implementation schedule for STARS, Safety Recommendation A-97-25 remained classified "Open-- Acceptable Response."

Safety Recommendation A-97-26 asked the FAA to

Require that the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System program include a minimum safe altitude warning (MSAW) speaker at each radar display, a capability for the controller to momentarily override and mute an MSAW alert, and a computerized recording of the muting of such an alert.

On July 1, 1997, the FAA outlined the specifications for STARS and the MSAW system. On February 27, 1998, the Safety Board stated its belief that, for those aircraft that qualify under the MSAW system as part of the routine ATC services, the controller should not be given the option to permanently inhibit the MSAW processing. The Board clarified the intent of this safety recommendation by restating that the controller should be permitted to temporarily mute an alert to acknowledge that warning was received and then act on such an alert, if required. Further, the Board stated that, although the FAA provided specifications regarding the STARS and MSAW system, it did not address the intent of the recommendation.

On September 25, 1998, the FAA said that STARS terminal controller workstations and tower display workstations contained individual aural alarm speakers and that STARS would permit MSAW alert inhibits for either a specified aircraft or workstation. The FAA also stated that STARS was designed to permit temporary inhibits resulting from specific aircraft operation characteristics or possible system malfunctions and that all inhibit actions would be recorded. According to the FAA, STARS allows a controller to silence a routine aural alert by hitting an "acknowledge" key. The FAA indicated that, although the aural alarm would be silenced, the alert would remain displayed until the violation condition ceased. On January 14, 1999, the Safety Board stated that, because STARS incorporated all components suggested in Safety Recommendation A-97-26, it was classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Safety Recommendation A-97-27 asked the FAA to

Require, under the Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System program, that minimum safe altitude warning alerts on instrument flight rules aircraft be duplicated at a position in the operational quarters designated for supervisory personnel and that the supervisor determine the validity of the alert and whether appropriate corrective action has been initiated or is required.

The FAA's July 1, 1997, letter indicated that there is no operational requirement under STARS to duplicate MSAW alarms at supervisory positions. The FAA also stated that supervisory positions did not include controller displays and that it did not plan to provide displays to supervisory personnel. According to the FAA, STARS would provide