Report Touts A High Level Of Commercial Air Transport Safety

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published its Annual Safety Review for 2010. The review shows a high level of safety for commercial air transport operations in EASA Member States.

EASA says 2010 was the first year in the history of aviation in Europe that no fatal accidents occurred for commercial helicopter and airplane operations. However, the number of non-fatal accidents, although higher than in 2009, has been within the decade average. The survivability rate of all accidents involving EASA MS operated aircraft in the decade of 2001 to 2010 has been 95% for all persons aboard. According to the executive summary at the top of the report, the fatal accident rate of scheduled passenger operations with airplanes was significantly lower in Europe than in the rest of the world.

The summary states that in other world regions the number of fatal accidents increased from 39 to 47. In 2010 for those regions the rate of fatal accidents in scheduled operations has increased. It appears that the overall level of safety has reached a plateau. In Europe, the number of fatal accidents for General Aviation and Aerial Work operations with aeroplanes and helicopters, with with ‘Maximum Take-Off Mass’ (MTOM) over 2,250 kg, increased. ‘Loss of control in flight’ (LOC-I) is the most frequent accident category for this type of operation. Technical issues appear to play a much smaller role than LOC-I.

For the fifth year, the Agency says it collected from EASA Member States data for light aircraft with certificated MTOM below 2,250 kg. In comparison to 2009, in 2010 the number of accidents reported decreased by 16%. However, the data received was not complete as some Member States did not report all accidents. The Agency continues to cooperate with the Member States to further improve harmonization of data collection and to facilitate data sharing.

“Action on safety issues of crucial importance such as loss of control and runway excursions must continue," said EASA's Executive Director, Patrick Goudou. "Only by implementing safety management and facilitating the integration of new technologies can we ensure positive safety trends in times of air traffic growth.”

The Annual Safety Review has Chapters dedicated to Air Traffic Management, General Aviation, Aerial Work as well as the European Central Repository. In addition, the review includes analysis of accidents involving light aircraft based on data reported directly to EASA from its Member States.
States to further improve harmonization of data collection and to facilitate data sharing.

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