It is safer than ever to travel on planes. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the 2012 global accident rate for Western-built jets was the lowest in aviation history. It is a good news for peoples who are afraid of flying.
The industry’s 2012 record safety performance was the best in history. Each day approximately 100,000 flights arrive safely at their destination. Airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, manufacturers and safety regulators work together to ensure every flight is as safe as possible. Their dedication and cooperation has made air travel remarkably safe. Nevertheless, there is still work to do.
“Every accident is one too many and each fatality is a human tragedy. The first commercial airline flight took place on 1 January 1914. Since then the very first flight the airline industry has made continuous improvement in safety its top priority,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.
Airlines on the IATA Operational Safety Audit Registry (IOSA) experienced no Western-built jet hull loss accidents. The total accident rate (all aircraft types) for IOSA registered carriers was 4.3 times better than the rate for non-IOSA carriers (0.96 vs. 4.11). Today 381 airlines are on the IOSA registry (www.iata.org/registry). For IATA’s 240+ airlines IOSA is a requirement for membership in the association. That some 140 non-member airlines are on the registry is a clear indication that IOSA has become the global benchmark for airline operational safety management.
“IOSA once again demonstrated its positive impact on aviation safety. Carriers on the IOSA registry recorded an accident rate that was more than four times better than their non-registered counterparts. Not only did IOSA registered carriers have a lower accident rate but the accidents were less severe in terms of fatalities and damage to aircraft,” said Tyler.
During 2012, IATA continued its work with airline members to develop the Enhanced IOSA. Enhanced IOSA adds a further dimension with a focus on airlines’ internal quality assurance program to implement self-auditing methodology based on IOSA principles.