All articles by David Learmount – Page 2
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In depthHas airline safety peaked?
The shock of a second 737 Max tragedy in the past year has prompted an urgent rethink of certification and training priorities after a long period of improving accident statistics
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In depthMax crashes prompt regulatory review
Like flashing Master Warning lights on a flight instrument panel, the Boeing 737 Max fatal crashes in the past two years have signalled that an airworthiness certification oversight system that served the world’s most powerful aviation industry well for decades is no longer coping – and needs updating. Meanwhile, silently ...
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NewsImproved fatal airline accident trend takes step back in 2019
Fatal airline accident data for 2019 appears to confirm that a long period of consistent improvement in airline safety statistics is coming to an end. Until now, modern airline safety performance had improved relentlessly, decade by decade, since the Second World War.
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AnalysisInternational consensus key to returning 737 Max to service
Boeing has reiterated that achieving consensus among national aviation regulators will be key to ensure a successful return to service for the 737 Max, which has been grounded since March this year.
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In depthHow the busiest oceanic airspace manages safety in a world first
Traffic crossing the North Atlantic is predicted to increase by 50% over the next decade, and the region already has the busiest oceanic airspace in the world by far. The technological response to address this air traffic management (ATM) capacity challenge is a world first.
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In depthHow business aviation safety is stuck in a rut
Human factors trump technical fixes when it comes to improving safety performance
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AnalysisAccident reports published during the first six months of 2019
We detail accident investigation reports published by national air safety investigation bodies during the first half of this year
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AnalysisMax focuses minds on safety regime
In an otherwise unremarkable first six months, concerns prompted by the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 fatal crash in early March 2019 have dominated the airline safety debate
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Analysis‘Differences training’ under scrutiny after 737 Max crashes
The recent pair of fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes has cast a light on pilots’ type rating training
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AnalysisATM makeover takes on ad-hoc post-Brexit uncertainty
Since so many business aircraft movements are ad-hoc, they often have to fit into the air traffic management system at short notice. In Europe, right now, air traffic management has its difficulties – and Brexit looms, throwing a shadow of uncertainty over operations between the UK, the largest single European hub for business aviation movements, as well as the continent.
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AnalysisAviation's recruitment challenge
The world’s largest flightcrew instruction company, CAE, says the training industry is theoretically capable of churning out licensed pilots in sufficient numbers to meet unprecedented future airline demands. But, it says, attracting suitable candidates in sufficient numbers is going to be a challenge, and a lack of affordable finance for training is a large part of the problem.
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In depthAccident inquiry reports from the second half of 2018
Accident reports issued during the second half of 2018
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In depthPilot-automation mismatch is still cause for concern
2018 saw a spike in air accidents but trends remain good
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ReportAirline safety falls in 2018 on back of passenger jet crashes
Airline safety dipped in 2018 on the back of 14 fatal accidents – six of which involved large passenger jets – in which 543 people were killed, analysis of FlightGlobal data shows.
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News
NBAA: Loss of control in flight continues to plague business aviation
Business aviation's safety Achilles heel, like that of the airlines, seems to be loss of control in flight (LOC-I). That was true in 2016 and 2017, and it looks as if this year – with three months yet to run – is going the same way too.
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Analysis
ANALYSIS: New attitude is training revolution
Following years of airline industry debate about how airline pilot training should be delivered in the digital age, Europe’s aircrew training philosophy is about to be changed almost beyond recognition in the next four years. Starting this year, the planned changes should be – and in many cases already are ...
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Analysis
ANALYSIS: First-half 2018 airline safety performance
The first six months of 2017 smashed all records for safe airline performance worldwide, but so far this year aircraft safety looks to have deteriorated.
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Analysis
ANALYSIS: Safety regulators face balancing act to manage new technology
National aviation authorities (NAAs) today risk being swamped by the rate of technological advance, according to their leaders. At the same time many risk being starved of resources because aviation safety appears to have improved so much that governments are wondering if oversight could be done more cheaply.