Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Benjamin A. Berman

In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, at least one person who has current practical experience in the aviation industry as a commuting pilot.

To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Mr. Benjamin A. Berman is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that he has a conflict of interest because he is currently a commuting pilot with Continental Airlines.

As his biographical information makes clear, Mr. Berman brings unique and valuable expertise on aviation safety, both from his piloting experience, and from other areas of his professional experience including his own aviation safety research and 10 years of work with the National Transportation Safety Board that included leading the Operational Factors Division, and serving as Chief of the Major Investigations Division, managing the investigations of U.S. domestic and foreign air carrier accidents.

We believe that Mr. Berman can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.

After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of current practical experience and expertise as Mr. Berman who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.

Committee Membership Roster Comments