Up to 30 African airlines are to be given free access to the International Air Transport Association's flight-data analysis service as part of a bid to reduce the number of aviation accidents on the continent.
IATA provides an internet-based analysis service which assesses data that has been extracted from flight recorders or quick-access recorders, and points out areas of possible operational risk.
The service gives carriers the chance to scrutinise their operations without the expense of hiring their own data analysts.
Speaking in Nigeria at the Aviation Days for Africa event in Lagos, IATA director general Giovanni Bisignani said that the accident rate in Africa was six times the global average.
"That must change," he says, pointing out that African operators suffer one accident for every 244,000 flights. "IATA is serious about delivering results to raise the bar."
IATA is aiming to make its flight-data analysis service available free of charge, for a three-year period, for up to 30 airlines. Membership of IATA will not be necessary for carriers wanting to participate.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
