Africa aircraft safety ‘worst globally’

The safety record of African airlines is the worst performer (world-wide) by a large margin, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association. Photo/FILE 

In Summary

• Moreover, the number of accidents in Africa, which was up from eight the previous year, is one of the few regions in the world which is increasing.

By PAUL REDFERN
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The safety record of African airlines is the worst performer (world-wide) by a large margin, according to a report by the International Air Transport Association.

IATA’s latest report on airline safety said that of the 75 accidents recorded in 2012, (a figure down from 92 in 2011), 13 were in Africa, just under 20 per cent of the total, despite the less frequent number of flights across the continent.

Moreover, the number of accidents in Africa, which was up from eight the previous year, is one of the few regions in the world which is increasing.

“Africa is a continent divided on performance,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General.

Continent’s performance

“Airlines on the IOSA registry are performing at or above industry average rates. But the continent’s overall performance is far from satisfactory. It should be as safe to travel by air in Africa as it is in any other part of the world.”

Yet world-wide IATA says that the 2012 global accident rate for Western-built jets was the lowest in aviation history.

Each day approximately 100,000 flights arrive safely at their destination.

“The airline industry has made continuous improvement in safety its top priority,” Mr Tyler said.

“(But) every accident is one too many and each fatality is a human tragedy.”

In 2012, three billion people flew safely on 37.5 million flights.

Action plan

In May 2012, IATA, with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and a host of other organisations, committed to an Africa Strategic Improvement Action Plan aimed at addressing safety deficiencies and strengthening regulatory oversight in the region by 2015.

The Plan was endorsed as part of the ‘Abuja Declaration’ by the Ministerial meeting on Aviation Safety and Security of the African Union in July and endorsed at the Assembly of the African Union in January 2013.

“Stakeholders are united in their commitment to bring all of Africa to world class safety levels through the adoption of global standards. Passage of the Abuja Declaration is a key step along this path,” Tyler said.

Mandatory adoption

Critical to the success of this plan is mandatory adoption of IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit Registry) by African states.

IATA represents some 240 airlines comprising 84 per cent of global air traffic