The recent crash of AM Flight 2341 is a strong reminder to all involved in aviation that our safety work is never done. Many who have seen photographs of that accident are amazed to learn that there were no fatalities among the 103 passengers and crew on board, although some sustained serious injuries. But in fact, most airplane accidents are survivable. That’s a testament to aircraft designers and manufacturers, to safety regulators who work closely with the industry and to flight crew who rise to the occasion in an emergency, doing their utmost to get everyone off the aircraft as quickly and safely as possible.
Passengers also have a role to play in keeping safe. Those of us who like to sit in emergency exit rows are familiar with the special responsibilities that come with the extra legroom in the event an evacuation is necessary. But even those who are not asked to directly participate in helping their fellow passengers get out of the aircraft need to be prepared.
There are far more passengers on a flight than cabin staff. No matter how good they are, they can’t look after every passenger. That means that as passengers we need to do our part as well. Read the safety card and locate the closest emergency exit — and an alternative in case that one is obstructed. Turn your mobile devices to airplane mode when requested. Follow crew instructions. And most important — when told to evacuate, don’t stop to grab your carry-on bag from the overhead bin on your way out of the plane. It slows down the evacuation process for everyone, not just yourself. Luggage may also damage the emergency slides. No one wants to be separated from their bag but getting out of a dangerous situation as quickly as possible and doing your part to ensure others get out must take priority.
Airline accidents are, of course, extremely rare. Last year, some 4.1bn travellers flew safely on 41.8mn flights. There were 45 accidents, of which six involved loss of life — none of which involved airlines based in the Middle East, by the way. There were 19 fatalities among passengers and crew. None of these six occurred on a passenger jet. If we look at it another way, based on the 2017 safety performance, on average, a person would have to travel by air every day for 6,033 years before experiencing an accident in which at least one passenger gets killed.
We’re working together to make accidents even rarer. Aviation safety is built on partnerships and global standards and for more than 70 years, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which I have the privilege to lead, has teamed with our airline members, safety regulators, airports, air navigation service providers and others in the global safety community to help reduce accidents. This year we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), the world’s first globally-recognised operational safety standard. Every member of IATA must pass an IOSA audit and remain on the IOSA registry in good standing. In 2017, the accident rate for airlines on the IOSA registry was nearly four times better than that of non-IOSA airlines. Non-members also recognise the value of IOSA. Of the 435 airlines on the registry, 148 — 34% — are not members of IATA.
I call aviation the Business of Freedom because it liberates people to lead better, more fulfilling lives, with virtually none of the risk that long journeys used to entail. We need everyone to do their part to help make the Business of Freedom even safer — and that includes passengers.
* Alexandre de Juniac is the Director-General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association.
Alexandre de Juniac
