INTRODUCTION

Aviation safety is a critical aspect of the global transportation industry, aimed at minimising risks and ensuring secure air travel for passengers and crew. Despite significant technological advancements, systemic challenges, regulatory lapses, and human errors continue to pose threats to aviation safety, underscoring the need for constant vigilance and reform.

Recent Incidents

• Jeju Air Crash (South Korea)

• Date: December 29, 2024.

• Incident: Belly-landing, runway overshoot, perimeter wall crash, and fire.

• Casualties: 179 out of 181 passengers killed.

• Cause: Initial reports suggest a bird strike.

• Aircraft: Boeing 737-800.

• KLM Incident (Norway)

• Date: December 29, 2024.

• Incident: Aircraft veered off the runway and stopped near the sea.

• Casualties: No injuries reported.

• Aircraft: Boeing 737-800.

• Air Canada Incident (Canada)

• Date: December 29, 2024.

• Incident: Suspected landing gear issue; wingtip scraped runway, causing a fire.

• Casualties: No injuries.

• Aircraft: De Havilland Dash 8.

• Azerbaijan Airlines Crash (Azerbaijan)

• Date: December 25, 2024.

• Incident: Aircraft shot down on Baku–Grozny(Russia) route.

• Political Fallout: NATO blamed Russia; Ukraine alleged Russian involvement.

• Aircraft: Embraer 190AR.

• Air India Express Crash (Kozhikode, Kerala):

• Date: August 7, 2020

• Cause: Unsafe descent and landing in tailwind conditions.

• Contributing Factors: Systemic failures and lax safety culture, poor training oversight by DGCA.

• Impact: 21 fatalities, including both pilots.

• Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 

Safety Statistics

• Global Flight Operations:

• Over 1 lakh flights operate daily, carrying approximately 12 million passengers worldwide.

• MIT Study (2024)

• Shows risk reduced to 1 death per 13.7 million passengers (2018–2022), compared to 1 per 350,000 passengers in the previous decade.

• Average annual improvement of 7% in safety standards.

• International Air Transport Association (IATA) Report (2024)

• Over 4.4 billion passengers flew safely in 2023 despite complex operational environments.

• International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Safety Data (2023):

• Safest year in five years for global accident rate, fatal accidents, and fatalities.

• Accident rate: 1.87 accidents per million departures, a 17.9% decrease from 2.05 in 2022.

• Total accidents increased by 3.1% due to a 13% rise in global flight departures.

• Time Magazine Study (2015):

• Back third of the aircraft: 32% fatality rate.

• Middle third: 39% fatality rate.

• Front third: 38% fatality rate.

• Best outcomes: Middle seats in the rear (28% fatality rate).

• Worst outcomes: Aisle seats in the middle third (44% fatality rate).

India’s FAA IASA Category 1 Status (Box)

• Status: The aviation safety regulator of the U.S, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that India retains its "Category 1" status for aviation safety oversight, meeting the standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). 

• This status was last assessed in July 2018.

• IASA Program Assessment: The FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme evaluates whether a country's aviation safety oversight meets ICAO standards.

• It focuses on personnel licensing, aircraft operations, and airworthiness.

• Improved ICAO Audit Score: As of November 2022, India's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) audit score improved significantly to 85.65% from 69.95%, reflecting enhanced aviation safety and oversight.

Challenges in Aviation Safety

• Indian Scenario:

• DGCA functions as an appendage of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, limiting its autonomy.

• Budget constraints and bureaucratic red tape hinder effective regulation.

• Inconsistent Reporting: Delays in accident investigations hinder learning from past mistakes, leaving gaps in safety improvements.

• Example: According to IATA, only 48% of accidents since 2018 have had final investigation reports published.

• Infrastructure Limitations: Runways and airport facilities often struggle to match the pace of growing aviation demands, increasing the risk of incidents.

• Example:

• Non-compliance with international standards for runway signage and markings.

• Narrow perimeter roads and flawed runway friction testing methods

• Environmental Threats: Factors like bird strikes and unpredictable weather remain constant, unavoidable risks for airlines.

• Bird hits/ strikes, damages the engine, fuselage or wings.

• For example, a 6.8 kg goose hitting an aircraft traveling at 200 knots can exert a force of over 16 tonnes.

• Human Factors: 

• Pilot decisions under pressure and lapses in judgement highlight the human vulnerability in high-stakes situations.

• Instances of pilots switching between airlines and aircraft types without adequate retraining.

• Geopolitical Complexities: Aviation incidents entangled in political disputes complicate accountability and resolution.

• Public Perception: Despite improvements, accidents fuel distrust, with passengers questioning safety standards and airline commitments.

• Operational Strain: The surge in flights and passengers challenges existing safety systems, testing their limits.

• Emergency Preparedness: Not all airports and airlines are equally equipped to handle crises, leaving room for greater losses during incidents.

• Global Standardisation Issues:Variations in adherence to international safety norms create disparities, undermining overall aviation safety.

• Technology vs. Oversight: While automation reduces errors, over-reliance on technology without robust human oversight can lead to unforeseen failures.

Government Initiatives

• National Aviation Safety Plan (NASP) 2024-2028: 

• Aligns with ICAO's Global Aviation Safety Plan and incorporates best practices based on international standards.Focuses on reducing operational safety risks

• Addressing eight National High Risk Categories (N-HRCs) including

• Mid Air Collision, Controlled Flight into Terrain, Runway Excursions, Wildlife Strikes, Loss of Control in-flight, Runway Incursion, Ramp Safety, and Deficient Maintenance.

• Bomb Threat Management: 

• The government plans to amend the Aircraft Security Rules and the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against Safety of Civil Aviation (SUASCA) Act, 1982 to make punishments harsher for fake bomb threats and include culprits on the no-fly list.

• Security measures at airports have been increased, with 10% more security checks and enhanced CCTV coverage to ensure no suspected articles are carried on board.

WAY FORWARD

Autonomy and Funding: Grant DGCA financial and administrative independence to focus on safety and efficiency
Enhance Infrastructure: Older airfields should be upgraded to meet modern safety standards, while expanding emergency response capabilities at critical airports to enhance overall aviation safety.
Bird strikes:
Hazard Assessment & Mitigation:
Conduct thorough bird surveys.
Modify airport environment to deter birds (habitat modification).
Proactive bird control (scare tactics, popul

CONCLUSION

While aviation incidents highlight inherent risks, statistical data demonstrates substantial improvements in global safety standards. Continuous focus on modernisation, global cooperation, and transparent investigations is critical to maintaining passenge

PYQ MAPPING

Q) International civil aviation laws provide all countries complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above the territory. What do you understand by airspace? What are the implications of these laws on the space above this airspace? Discuss the challenges which this poses and suggests ways to contain the threat. (2014)

Q) Examine the developments of Airports in India through Joint Ventures under Public- Private Partnership(PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities i

SAMPLE QUESTION

The growth of the aviation sector has been accompanied by concerns over safety and security. Discuss the measures taken by the government to ensure aviation safety and their effectiveness. (10 marks, 150 words)

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