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*30 Million Flights Recorded in 2010 -ICAO Report

By Lateef Lawal

Total volume of scheduled commercial flights edged over 30 million in 2010, according to the first-ever 2011 State of Global Aviation Safety report just released by the International Civil Aviation Organisation(ICAO). The report further disclosed that the number of accidents attributed to scheduled commercial flights increased in 2010 to 121, compared to 113 in 2009.

This resulted in an accident rate of 4.0 per million departures, a marginal increase compared to the accident rate of 3.9 per million departures in 2009. While the overall number of fatalities in 2010 was below those in 2005 and 2006, there has been an increase in fatalities over the past three years. It noted that this trend serves as a reminder that co-operation between the various stakeholders is a key part of reducing the number of aviation accidents and related fatalities.

The report said that ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) continued to promote the systematic implementaion of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). ( Continues below….. )

As at the end of 2010, the USOAP had completed assessments of 93% of ICAO Member States, accounting for 99% of the traffic flown. The report went further: "Co-operation has been a consistent goal and recognized strength of the aviation community. To keep pace with expansion and progress sector-wide, ICAO remains focused on the implementation and development of new safety initiatives. The Safety Collaborative Assistance Networks (SCAN), the Runway Safety Programme and Fatigue Risk Management Systems are only a few examples of how ICAO is working with stakeholders to identify and eliminate hazards.

"The Organization is commited to improving aviation safety and enabling seamless cooperation and communication between stakeholders. ICAO continues to collaborate with established regional organizations, such as Regional Aviation Safety Groups (RASGs) and Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs), and to promote the training and support necessary to address emerging safety issues." ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: An Airborne Plane (Photo 2)

On the 30 million flights per year groth recorded in 2010, the report noted that: "In the context of this period of renewed growth, and in light of anticipated increases in air travel, it is imperative to maintain a very strong focus on initiatives that will further improve safety outcomes in the future. ICAO is therefore continuously developing and refining more proactive and risk-based methods to further reduce the global accident rate, enabling the safe expansion of air travel in all regions. 2010 saw a return to growth as the total volume of scheduled commercial flights began to edge over 30 million per year".

In the context of this period of renewed growth, and in light of anticipated increases in air travel, it said that it was imperative to maintain a very strong focus on initiatives that would further improve safety outcomes in the future. "ICAO is therefore continuously developing and refining more proactive and risk-based methods to further reduce the global accident rate, enabling the safe expansion of air travel The number of accidents attributed to scheduled commercial flights increased in 2010 to 121, compared to 113 in 2009. This resulted in an accident rate of 4.0 per million departures, a marginal increase compared to the accident rate of 3.9 per million departures in 2009.

While the overall number of fatalities in 2010 was below those in 2005 and 2006,there has been an increase in fatalities over the past three years" it remarked. This trend serves as a reminder that cooperation between the various stakeholders is a key part of reducing the number of aviation accidents and related fatalities. The ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) continues to promote the systematic implementaion of ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).

As of the end of 2010, the USOAP had completed assessments of 93% of ICAO Member States, accounting for 99% of the traffic flown. Cooperation has been a consistent goal and recognized strength of the aviation community. To keep pace with expansion and progress sector-wide, ICAO remains focused on the implementation and development of new safety initiatives. The Safety Collaborative Assistance Networks (SCAN), the Runway Safety Programme and Fatigue Risk Management Systems are only a few examples of how ICAO is working with stakeholders to identify and eliminate hazards.

The ICAO said it was committed to improving aviation safety and enabling seamless cooperation and communication between stakeholders, adding that, :"ICAO continues to collaborate with established regional organizations, such as Regional Aviation Safety Groups (RASGs) and Regional Safety Oversight Organizations (RSOOs), and to promote the training and support necessary to address emerging safety issues".

Lateef Lawal (NigerianAviationNews)

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