"Rapid air traffic growth in the 1990s was spurred by liberalisation, reduction in fare levels, the collapse of the former Soviet Union and economic expansion.
Fly-by-wire systems are common; more powerful and reliable engines have made extended-range twin-engine operations commonplace, and regional jets are revolutionising short-haul services.
Increased traffic has taxed both air traffic control and airports, leading to congestion and delay. Despite this, airline accident rates have fallen.
Several major aircraft accidents have spurred safety measures:
• An accident in New York [Avianca Boeing 707, January 1990] prompted the FAA to inspect the regulatory authorities overseeing non-US operators flying into the USA, refusing entry to operators from states that did not meet ICAO minimum standards. ICAO has now started safety audits of its member states.
• The accident at Cali, Colombia (American Airlines 757, December 1995), has spurred extensive installation of terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS) to help prevent controlled flight into terrain.
• The US Commercial Aviation Safety Team has identified priorities for action to reduce the accident rate fivefold, while the European Joint Aviation Authorities, ICAO and IATA operate similar schemes with the Flight Safety Foundation's help.
Meanwhile, the public's expectation of one standard of safety for all commercial air transport has caused major carriers to demand that airline partners conform to acceptable safety standards. Continued safety improvement can be expected as a result of these measures."
Source: Flight International
