Top 6 Aviation Safety Issues

Wondering what the top aviation safety issues are for the United States?  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) maintains a list of their Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements for Aviation.  Of the six issues currently listed by the NTSB, five are rated as “unacceptable response” (a red light on their dashboard) and one is rated as “Acceptable response, progressing slowly” (a yellow light on their dashboard).  Every single issue is listed as requiring action by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) What are these needed improvements, and why aren’t they being addressed by our government?

Top 6 Aviation Safety Improvements

Since 1967, the NTSB has issued 4,760 aviation safety improvement recommendations, and at this time there are 449 recommendations that have yet to be implemented.  According to the NTSB, the following safety improvements are the most wanted for American aviation:

1. Reduce Dangers to Aircraft Flying in Icing Conditions (red light status).  NTSB would like to see the FAA use current research on freezing rain and large water droplets to revise the way aircraft are designed and approved for flight in icing conditions and also conduct additional research with NASA to identify realistic ice accumulations and incorporate new information into aircraft certification and pilot training requirements. 
2. Eliminate Flammable Fuel/Air Vapors in Fuel Tanks on Transport Category Aircraft (yellow light status).  Addressing this improvement would mean implementing design changes to eliminate the vulnerabilities of flammable fuel/air vapors in all transport category aircraft.
3. Improve Runway Safety (red light status).  Desired improvements include giving immediate warnings of probable collisions/incursions directly to flight crews in the cockpit, requiring specific air traffic control clearance for each runway crossing, and requiring landing distance assessment with an adequate safety margin for every landing.
4. Improve Audio and Data Recorders/Require Video Recorders (red light status).  Addressing these issues would include requiring cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) to retain at least 2 hours of audio, requiring back-up power sources so cockpit voice recorders collect an extra 10 minutes of data when an aircraft's main power fails, inspecting and maintaining data recorders yearly to make sure they operate properly, and installing video recorders in cockpits to give investigators more information to solve complex accidents.
5. Reduce Accidents and Incidents Caused by Human Fatigue (red light status).  NTSB would like to see the FAA set working hour limits for flight crews, aviation mechanics, and air traffic controllers based on fatigue research, circadian rhythms, and sleep and rest requirements and develop a fatigue awareness and countermeasures program for air traffic controllers.
6. Improve Crew Resource Management (red light status).  The objective of this improvement is to require that commuter and on-demand air taxi flight crews receive crew resource management training.

The NTSB describes the above aviation safety recommendations as “critical changes needed to reduce transportation accidents and save lives”.  If these improvements are so critical to safety of American air travel, it is shocking that the government has not taken the appropriate action to implement such necessary changes.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an airplane crash, please contact Vujasinovic & Beckcom today to discuss how we can work with you to secure the justice that you deserve for your pain and suffering.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C
1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713.224.7800
Fax: 713.224.7801

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C
1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020
Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713.224.7800
Fax: 713.224.7801