Conclusion

Aviation accidents continue to horrify till this day, yet safety has been the highest priority for the aviation industry over the past 100 years. Technology, training and risk management have together resulted in laudable improvements.

From our Analysis on the Dataset we can infer lot of ideas and discussions:

--> The highest number of accidents have occurred under VMC weather conditions, in which the visibility is clear and allows air pilots to make decisions.

--> The landing phase of flight has been involved in most accidents because the aircraft is closer to the ground and in a more susceptible position than in previous flying phases, the crew must deal with a higher workload and smaller manoeuver margins during this phase. Though clear skies may appear to result in fewer accidents, we must also examine the total number of planes taking off at this time.

--> We discovered that the damage to the aircraft is directly proportional to the severity of the injury after studying the data. The chances of an accident are increased during this season because there are so many people flying.

--> We've seen that Gyrocrafts have the highest fatality rate. Gyrocrafts are primarily single-manned aircraft with a significant potential for making mistakes, resulting in a higher fatality rate.

It is also very important to take into consideration what the SME and Industry experts say of the Aviation Accidents and the improvement measures take. It is also important to appreciate them for their efforts on various safety mechanisms implemented that is evident as results from the Time series analysis in Section-1.

Engineering excellence

The improvement in airline safety is down to a combination of several factors, although the introduction of the jet engine in the 1950s stands out as a major development. Jet engines provide a level of safety and reliability unmatched by the earlier piston engines. Today, it is said that engine manufacturers have almost eliminated the chance of engine failure.

The introduction of electronics, most notable the introduction of digital instruments – known as the ‘glass cockpit’ in the 1970s – and the advent of fly-by-wire technology in the 1980s are also notable achievements, driving safety improvements. Improvements in sensors, navigation equipment and air traffic control technology, such as anti-collision control systems, have also played a role.

" In 20 years’ time we may see more fundamental changes in aviation technology, driven by the economic and environmental concerns of fossil fuels "

Human factors

While technology has helped drive improvements in the aviation industry’s safety record, great strides in safety management systems and insights into human factors have also contributed significantly.

“Aviation accidents are a chain of events that almost always involve an element of human error,” Downey says.

“However, the safety culture in the aviation industry has changed significantly during my career. Flight training has become a more controlled and professional environment with the development of recurrent training. The utilization and technological enhancement of flight simulators has been one of the biggest changes I have witnessed.”

Learning process

Improved safety is also a reflection of the aviation industry’s first-class risk management and increasing ability to identify problems before they become a significant issue. Air accident investigations and aircraft safety inspections are now more effective, while improvements in manufacturing technology and better quality control are also making aircraft safer.

“Aviation companies have always focused on safety - but the tools available to run airline risk management departments and identify problems before they become critical, have improved greatly,” says Schweighart.

New technology - new risks

The aviation industry’s impressive safety record in recent decades is in large part a reflection of technological developments introduced and then honed in the second half of the 20th century. Subsequent generations of jet aircraft have generally proved safer than the last.

New materials and computer-aided aviation

In the meantime, the aviation industry continues to innovate, most recently with the introduction of composite materials and the increasing use of digital technology and electronics.

“The new generation of airliners are very innovative, but it will take time – at least several years – to see how resistant the materials will be,” says Thomas Cahlik, Head of Mediterranean, Aviation, AGCS.

Many of the new technologies have helped improve safety, such as better cockpit instrumentation displays and fly-by-wire systems. However, technology has a potential for creating unanticipated consequences, according to Jon Downey, Head of Aviation – US, AGCS.

“Once, pilots relied on their ‘steam gauges’ and had very little live data at their fingertips. Now the information available can be overwhelming,” he says.

Credits for Source