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 1.17.3.1 Supervisor of Flying Program

According to Korean Air officials, the company's SOF program began in 1996. The officials described the SOFs as retired captains and instructors who were among the company's most experienced pilots and had no record of disciplinary action. The officials stated that the purpose of the SOF briefing was to ensure that pilots had reviewed all pertinent materials for the flight, including any NOTAMs. Further, the SOFs were expected to periodically check crewmembers' charts and manuals for currency as well as their airman certificates and passports, which are required documents for international flights. There is no formal checklist of items to be covered in the SOF briefing. The officials stated that the SOF briefings were designed to last 15 minutes but averaged about 10 minutes.

In a postaccident interview with Safety Board investigators, the Korean Air Deputy Director of Flight Operations said that he initiated the SOF program to correct pilot performance deficiencies that were involved in the accident/incident events (see section 1.17.5.1) and violations that the company had been experiencing. Further, the deputy director said that he was not aware of any other air carrier that had a SOF program and that he believed the number of accident/incident events and violations had dramatically declined since the initiation of this program. The SOF for Korean Air flight 801 was a retired company 747 captain. The SOF stated, in a postaccident interview, that he reviewed the flight data and asked the flight crew about the weather conditions en route to and at Guam. The SOF also stated that he and the flight crew discussed a typhoon and the possibility of en route turbulence and that he recommended maximum use of the weather radar. The SOF further stated that he and the flight crew discussed company notices but did not discuss the NOTAMs pertaining to Guam and the out-of-service glideslope associated with the runway 6L ILS approach. The SOF did not check the flight crew's charts for currency. The SOF said that his main concern was to confirm that the flight crewmembers had "looked at the [trip paperwork] items closely."

1.17.3.2 Airport Familiarization Program

Korean Air stated that, in June 1997, it established an airport familiarization program that used audio-visual presentations (purchased from Japan Airlines) to prepare pilots for operations into designated airports. Korean Air requires that an airport familiarization tape be viewed if the company or the FAA list that airport as a "special airport." Title 14 CFR Section 121.445 defines special airports as those that require a special airport qualification for pilots-in-command because of "surrounding terrain,