For the airlines industry, it remains crucial to have a properly trained workforce. Pilots, mechanics, engineers, air traffic controllers, cargo handlers, fuelers and flight attendants all need to be make safety a priority every day. The Federal Aviation Administration continues to scrutinize the industry to make sure safety standards continue to be met.
But the culture of safety must go beyond the industry and include the aircraft manufacturers as well. Besides human error and the weather, mechanical failure also ranks among the top reasons for aviation accidents. The makers of airplanes, helicopters and experimental aircraft need to make sure that their products are not defective.
Common causes of airline accidents
We know that air travel is safe, but aviation accidents occur such as tragedies with multiple deaths, crashes that lead to life-altering injuries and close-call incidents. Here are some of the top reasons for airline accidents:
- Human error: This includes mistakes made by pilots, air traffic controllers and other airlines workforce members who often work long shifts and deal with high-pressure situations.
- Weather: While this factor remains uncontrollable, sometimes pilots make tactical errors when confronted with unexpected changes in the weather.
- Mechanical failure: Airplane technology has dramatically improved over the last several decades. As a result, aircraft are much better and safer, but mechanical failure still occurs.
Proper safety training may eliminate a number of aircraft incidents.
Importance of safety standards
Each year, millions of people board international and domestic flights as well as operate small private planes or helicopters for long or short excursions. And after each trip, they expect to return home safely. This is why precautionary flight measures and safety must continue to be adhered to by everyone involved in the operation and construction of aircraft.
