2014 was a disastrous year for the global aviation industry.The sudden disappearance of MH 370,the shooting down of an aircraft in conflict-ridden Ukrainian province and more recently the accident of an Air-Asia flight raises several question on safety in airspace.Although there were no traces of MH 370 and the black box of the Air-Asia plane is yet to be retrieved to draw on precise causes of the accident,certain facts are particularly worth-noting.
The European Aviation Safety Agency(EASA),in its 2010 survey,noted that almost 25 percent of the recent aircraft incidents are weather-related.That said,there is a growing phenomena called supercells-a combination of rain,winds,hail,lightning and turbulence.A pilot needs to have adequate know-how on how to steer the aircraft through through this disturbance.Therefore,properly trained pilots is an imperative as pilot error is a very important cause for aircraft accidents.The recent accident of Air-Asia flight was probably due to the rough weather as preliminary reports indicated that the pilot requested the air-traffic control authorities to change the flight level.There is a high likelihood of the pilot being unable to go past the rough weather.
The mechanical failure of airplane cannot be ignored entirely.It may be caused either due to weak airplane parts or the negligence of maintenance personnel.In today's world,fuel efficiency factors a significant role in building the structure of the aircraft.But,the robustness of the aircraft parts in the event of extreme-weather conditions is still a secondary factor in flight trials of the modern aircrafts.
The MH 370 and the Air-Asia flight lost contact with the ground stations before the accident.Thus,improving the radar systems and increasing its coverage even in unforseen circumstances might prove to be handy in preventing disasters.The aircraft communication system is an area that has much scope for improvement.
It would be unfair to ignore the cultural factors too.Due to cultural hierarchy,the pilot may ignore the advice of his subordinates.Conversely,the subordinate may feel hesitant enough to report any snag to the pilot on the first instance.The communication gap,at times,might prove fatal to the safety of the aircraft.A study has revealed that improvement in the work culture play a vital role in averting major aircraft disasters.
Most importantly,the proper training of pilots is paramount for aviation safety.The pilots need to be well trained even in type-aircrafts.It is because two different type-aircrafts might have different operational guidelines, and a minor lapse on the part of the air crew members may create undesirable consequences,at times fatal.
The European Aviation Safety Agency(EASA),in its 2010 survey,noted that almost 25 percent of the recent aircraft incidents are weather-related.That said,there is a growing phenomena called supercells-a combination of rain,winds,hail,lightning and turbulence.A pilot needs to have adequate know-how on how to steer the aircraft through through this disturbance.Therefore,properly trained pilots is an imperative as pilot error is a very important cause for aircraft accidents.The recent accident of Air-Asia flight was probably due to the rough weather as preliminary reports indicated that the pilot requested the air-traffic control authorities to change the flight level.There is a high likelihood of the pilot being unable to go past the rough weather.The mechanical failure of airplane cannot be ignored entirely.It may be caused either due to weak airplane parts or the negligence of maintenance personnel.In today's world,fuel efficiency factors a significant role in building the structure of the aircraft.But,the robustness of the aircraft parts in the event of extreme-weather conditions is still a secondary factor in flight trials of the modern aircrafts.
The MH 370 and the Air-Asia flight lost contact with the ground stations before the accident.Thus,improving the radar systems and increasing its coverage even in unforseen circumstances might prove to be handy in preventing disasters.The aircraft communication system is an area that has much scope for improvement.
It would be unfair to ignore the cultural factors too.Due to cultural hierarchy,the pilot may ignore the advice of his subordinates.Conversely,the subordinate may feel hesitant enough to report any snag to the pilot on the first instance.The communication gap,at times,might prove fatal to the safety of the aircraft.A study has revealed that improvement in the work culture play a vital role in averting major aircraft disasters.
Most importantly,the proper training of pilots is paramount for aviation safety.The pilots need to be well trained even in type-aircrafts.It is because two different type-aircrafts might have different operational guidelines, and a minor lapse on the part of the air crew members may create undesirable consequences,at times fatal.
Human factor has emerged as an area of concern as is evidences by the MH 370 crash and the very recent crash of Germanwigs Airbus A320. The EU and the EASA should introduce a ‘two-person’ cockpit rule wherein two crew members should compulsorily be present in the cockpit. The pilot recruitment tests should include tests to judge the emotional quotient and psychological condition of the applicants or candidates
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