The International Air Transport Association (Iata) unveiled the preliminary first quarter commercial aviation safety performance data for the year.

The preliminary results are subject to revision based on the determination of the Accident Classification Task Force, it said.

The global jet accident rate (measure in hull losses per one million flights) was 0.38, which was equivalent to one accident for every 2.6 million flights, said the report.

This was an improvement over the five year rate (2010-2014) when the global hull loss rate stood at 0.45 but about the full year 2014 rate of 0.23, which was lowest in aviation history, it said.

The preliminary turboprop hull loss rate was 1.58, which was improvement on the five year rate of 2.92 and the 2014 annual rate of 2.32.

The all accident rate - jets and turboprops - for airlines on the Iata Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registry was 2.11, which was nearly twice as good as the rate for non-IOSA airlines (4.10).

There were six hull loss accidents - three jets and 3 turbojets - among the 9.8 million flights, the report said.

Tony Tyler, director general and chief executive officer, Iata, said: “Flying is safe. The industry has become so reliable in its safety record that relatively small variations in performance from year to year can skew the numbers.

“The safety performance over one quarter is insufficient to come to any conclusions. However, as the data fits within the five-year trend of improvement it reassures us that the industry strategy is driving us in the right direction.”

Historically, the major thrusts for safety improvements have come through the well-established system of air accident investigations, said a statement.

As accidents become ever rarer, it is clear that sustainable future gains will come from a systemic, data-driven approach to safety that builds on continuous improvement supported by cooperation and partnership among safety stakeholders. A global perspective that develops standards through the sharing of expertise is vital to this strategy, it said.

Adherence to global standards and recommended practices are a pre-requisite to safety. To strengthen IOSA, the global standard for measuring operational safety, Iata is transitioning this year to Enhanced IOSA, which will introduce continuous monitoring across the two-year audit cycle. This is moving IOSA from a once-every-two-year snapshot to a continuous management process.

Iata has also launched the Iata Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA), which is intended for operators that are not eligible for the IOSA, either because they operate aircraft that have a maximum take-off weight below the 5,700 kg threshold for participation in IOSA or because their business model does not allow conformity with IOSA’s standards.

The audit programmes such as Enhanced IOSA and ISSA are an important element of Iata’s Six Point Safety Program, a comprehensive data-driven approach to identify and address organisational, operational, and emerging safety issues.

It include reducing operational risk; enhancing quality and compliance through audit programmes; advocating for improved aviation infrastructure, such as the implementation of performance-based navigation approaches; supporting consistent implementation of Safety Management Systems; supporting effective recruitment and training to enhance quality and compliance through such programs as the Iata Quality and Training Initiative and ICAO’s Multi-crew Pilot License; and identifying and addressing emerging safety issues, such as lithium batteries.

Underlying this foundational approach to safety is the Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) programme, a comprehensive safety data warehouse.

GADM includes analysis reports covering accidents, incidents, ground damage, maintenance, and audits, plus data from nearly two million flights and over one million air safety reports.

More than 470 organisations, including more than 90 per cent of Iata member airlines, are participating in at least one GADM database.

“While we must always try to be ready for the unexpected, future safety gains will come increasingly from analysing data from all flights, not just the infinitesimal percentage of flights where something goes wrong. GADM will guide us to apply our resources where they can have the biggest impact on safety.” Tyler added. - TradeArabia News Service