FAA Probing FedEx Planes' Near Miss

“We have never found fatigue to be an issue in any of the errors that have occurred at Memphis”

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Two FedEx jets got too close to each other on takeoff from the Memphis airport last week because of confusion over flight numbers for the planes, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman ... via KSTP-TV Minneapolis

[mge]

It would be nice to see someone spin these stories indicating the first link in the chain leading up to this incident possible major accident.
The first link leading to this is the airlines generating similar flight numbers with flights departing literally within seconds of each other, and in this instance at the same time, and at the same airport.
If the airline is in control of the company as it is required by FAR's to be, then it should be able to control the flight numbers and ensure that similar flight numbers don't exist for flights departing/arriving the same airport about the same time.
Remove "That" link, and the chain won't even develop.
FedEx is not alone in this problem with similar flight numbers. Unfortunately, all the airlines do it. So, does the FAA need to come in and mandate the change in the interest of safety? When the potential exists for two large transport category airplanes loaded with people and fuel to collide in flight, it would be a prudent choice for the airlines themselves to make the change without having to be told so. However, the majority of safety related things that airlines do are due to the fact that they are mandated by the FAR’s, hence the FAA. Therefore the answer is yes, that the FAA should put something in place requiring this change. The reality is that the accident will most likely have to happen first, and then the watch dogs of aviation (NTSB) will no doubt spend countless hours to successfully implement this change.

[mge]

It would be nice to see someone spin these stories indicating the first link in the chain leading up to this incident possible major accident.

The first link leading to this is the airlines generating similar flight numbers with flights departing literally within seconds of each other, and in this instance at the same time, and at the same airport.

If the airline is in control of the company as it is required by FAR's to be, then it should be able to control the flight numbers and ensure that similar flight numbers don't exist for flights departing/arriving the same airport about the same time.

Remove "That" link, and the chain won't even develop.

FedEx is not alone in this problem with similar flight numbers. Unfortunately, all the airlines do it. So, does the FAA need to come in and mandate the change in the interest of safety? When the potential exists for two large transport category airplanes loaded with people and fuel to collide in flight, it would be a prudent choice for the airlines themselves to make the change without having to be told so. However, the majority of safety related things that airlines do are due to the fact that they are mandated by the FAR’s, hence the FAA. Therefore the answer is yes, that the FAA should put something in place requiring this change. The reality is that the accident will most likely have to happen first, and then the watch dogs of aviation (NTSB) will no doubt spend countless hours to successfully implement this change.