System Safety in the Aviation Industry
Safety in the aviation industry is vital to the general economy of the globe. Air transport is among the fastest and the most convenient modes of transport that allows people to conduct various activities at various places with ease. The airline industry grew over the last few years because of the economic boom. Consequently, many underdeveloped nations are pulling out of the poverty pit hence the development of the industry. In fact, the airline industry is the most competitive segment of the transport sector in the world. Airports are investing more in making their services quite comfortable and affordable for the consumers. However, the industry has faced many safety issues over the last few decades ranging from the small problems such as loss of property to terror attacks. The safety challenges have led to the development of safety mechanisms that guarantee the business operators and the stakeholders in the aviation industry quality and effectiveness (Huang, 2009). Every nation has its own aviation safety mechanisms, but the IATA, an international aviation association helps to put together the safety issues affecting the general aviation industry for the greater good of the economy. As such, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the system safety mechanism being applied in the international aviation commercial industry in contrast to the FAA.
The international aviation industry is more effective in the application of the safety measures and mechanisms in comparison with the FAA. Just as it is with any other national aviation industry, the FAA is limited to the United States and therefore does not guarantee the safety of the aspects within the aviation industry in a foreign land. For instance, the FAA does not have the authority to enforce the take off or runway safety mechanisms in a foreign airport. Additionally, the discipline with which the FAA safety mechanisms are applied in the aviation industry is lower than in the international aviation industry. The IATA, for instance, has a wide mechanism and a wide range of operations that guarantee the discipline of the players within the industry. Certain laws that remain relevant across the borders back the international Aviation Industry safety mechanisms (Pitt & Norsworthy, 2012). Consequently, the cost of ignoring and assuming the rules and regulations governing the international Aviation Industry safety mechanisms is high. As such, people within the aviation industry find it easier and wiser to honor simple safety mechanism established in the international industry than in at the national level.
The improvement of technology has made it easy for terrorists to hijack and target commercial planes for various reasons. As such, the aviation industry has come up with safety mechanisms that help to counteract and prevent the interception of commercial planes by people with malicious ideas. For instance, the GNSS signal interference system allows pilots and the operators on the ground to prevent the access of the plane’s internal system by a third party (Mayer, 2015). The international aviation industry has a better chance of implementing the system than a national industry would in many ways. The international industry negotiates with various nations to allow the implementation of the system, thus ensuring the safety of passengers. The combination of the different technical know how from different players in varied parts of the world enable the involved parties to create a sophisticated program. Consequently, the implementation of this system is easy in the international level considering the financial burden that comes with its development. The aircraft laser attack is another area of safety that the international aviation industry has done well than the FAA. Other than jamming communications, the industry prevents both the airlines and the planes from laser attacks that had caused many deaths in the past (Mayer, 2015).
Most accidents in the aviation industry occur because of negligence from the ground operators in the industry. For instance, a garbage collector or a cleaner can fail to report an oil spill that can lead to massive loss of life and the plane if a pilot accidently runs over it. Therefore, the IATA focuses on training people involved in the aviation industry to understand the dangers of minor mistakes in the industry. The IATA collaborates with various international organizations to include the third parties in the aviation industry in the planning and safety management programs in the industry. IATA rewards third party organizations that subscribe to the safety mechanisms established by the industry. On the other hand, the industry has a mechanism that presents employee report issues directly to the management of any aviation organization. The maintenance, dispatch, flight and the manufacturer’s employees are required to present their reports on any issue to limit chances of accidents (Vaaben, 2015). Pilots are mostly blamed in case of a plane crash. However, plane issues occur because of various reasons beyond the pilot’s control. For instance, a minor issue from the manufacturing company can interfere with the ideal operation of the machine. Therefore, employee reports ensure the safety of the industry and smooth running of business within the aviation industry.
The human performance aspect of the aviation industry is quite instrumental in the success of the economy. At the manufacturing level, the international safety regulation committee ensures that products such as plane parts are made from quality materials for effective functioning. The construction of airports has also taken a safety turn with quality construction companies getting most of the contracts. Constructors are keen to include certain safety measures on the runways to prevent unnecessary incidences that arise when pilots use wrong runways to take off. Research indicates that the complications in the use of runways results from the close proximity to these amenities or the congestion of the runways by the taxis. Many airports use the runways as the taxiways thus inconveniencing pilots (Vaaben, 2015). Planes that use the wrong runways cause a lot of complication in the airports including unnecessary delays or fatal accidents if the pilots do not have the capacity to control the plane with ease. As such, as a safety mechanism, the IATA in collaboration with other international aviation associations ensures that there is enough space and distance between airport runways and terminals. The organization works with the constructors and the management authorities to ensure that airports do not exceed their capacity. Additionally, the IATA ensures that every functional airport has the necessary facilities to ensure safe travel and business transactions at the institutions (Bartsch, 2012).
The manufacturers of aviation products through the international industry have been empowered to produce quality products and sophisticated aircraft equipments. The sophistication of these items allows and the aircrafts themselves prevents the aviation industry from cyber attacks. The era of technology makes it possible for third parties to have access to the aircraft’s manual. Terror attacks on aircrafts are a common phenomenon in the current world. As such, the industry ensures that the manufacturer’s factor in the possibilities of attack by creating a secondary trigger that alerts the control team on the ground of any irregularities in the air. At the gates in the airports, the security system has the capability of detecting dangerous materials in a better way than before (Rhoades, 2014). The IATA and other international bodies invest in the training of the gate attendants to ensure the safety of both the passengers and the aircraft crew.
The effectiveness of the safety mechanisms is enhanced by the ability of different professionals within the aviation industry to work together. The international platform allows the industry to focus on the various needs arising from different corners of the world. Consequently, through the collaboration of third parties, the industry has the capacity to detect possible dangers that require immediate attention. A problem in one nation allows the rest of the world to prepare defense and safety mechanisms rather than acting in the wake of a loss. At the various aviation facilities, different employees work together to ensure the safety and the implementation of the set mechanisms. The engines being used currently in the aviation industry guarantee effective service through their durability and reliability. The new engines allow pilots to complete long journeys without worry. Additionally, the new models of engines are environmentally safe and reliable on gas consumption. The sophisticated models of engines guarantee speed and effective management of resources by allowing pilots to change from one system to another (Eriksson & Steenhuis, 2015). The ADVENT jet engine for instance is a remarkable revolution in the aviation industry, which will allow both war jets and commercial airplanes to achieve high speeds and effective fuel consumption in their operations.
On the other hand, the wind shear implementations are some of the other sophistication in that ensures the safety of the aviation industry. Manufacturers have discovered that engines can be more reliable by limiting the amount of wing and air that passes via the engine vent. The wind shear helps to control the amount of air getting through the engine, thus prolonging the lifespan of the engines. The IATA contributes to such developments by providing funding for such innovative companies. The industry also analyses and determines the best course of action and the best innovations to invest in for the greater good of the industry. The FAA plays a major role in managing the United States aviation industry, but cannot guarantee the discipline required in the industry for safe functioning (Bier et al., 2012).
The distance measuring equipment and the Ground Proximity Warning Systems are other mechanisms that the aviation industry uses to enhance the safety and the effectiveness of service delivery. Cases have been reported where pilots hit high terrains for lack of a system to notify them of the distance between them and the ground. The industry ensures that all aircrafts are fitted with the right systems to ensure safety of both the plane and the passengers. The Terrain Proximity Systems are also helpful during landing especially in a foreign airport. Additionally, the system has the ability to measure the closeness of one plane to another. The system helps to prevent accidental crash that happens when aircrafts use the wrong runways. Consequently, the proximity measure systems inform the pilots and the controllers about the clarity and the number of fleets flying on the same path. The system has been effective, especially among the western nations. The United States, for instance, has recorded zero accidents since the invention of this system, thus indicating its effectiveness in the industry (Pitt & Norsworthy, 2012). The international aviation industry helps to distribute this kind of technology across the globe. The effectiveness of one nation in its aviation operations cannot guarantee global success. As such, the international industry focuses on ensuring that all nations around the world have the right Ground Proximity Warning Systems and distance measuring equipments.
The use of real data from real flights has improved the safety of the aviation industry. Researchers in this field study the operations of real flights from across the world to establish the safety needs of the industry. The manufacturers and the Maintenance Crew work closely with the airports and the researchers in the aviation field to ensure that they develop and create products that suit the current needs. The research body of the industry has made it possible for the airlines to establish the real cause of accidents in the industry. Understanding the various mistakes that lead to dangerous occurrences in the industry helps the crew to come up with ideal solutions to the root cause rather than dealing with imaginary reports (Bartsch, 2012). The pilots and the rest of the plane crew undergoes through the maintenance training to enable them to deal with emergency breakdowns. The competence of the aviation personnel and the availability of the advanced technologies have helped to improve the safety systems and the quality of air travel around the globe. The International Aviation Commercial Industry plays an ideal role in bringing together major players in the industry. Additionally, the international bodies ensure that people in the industry apply the required discipline in heir operations.
References
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Eriksson, S. & Steenhuis. (2015). The global commercial aviation industry. New York: Routledge.
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