Air accidents do happen, though they are very rare. As we have often repeated in this column, one is much more likely to reach the Great Beyond in a road accident. Millions of civilian and military planes take off and land every year without any incident. At any given moment, there are around 13,000 civilian, business and leisure aircraft in the air, without counting military planes. No other transport industry can boast of such a safety record. Flying remains the safest form of transport because aviation safety benefits from an incredible team effort by governments, airline and airport operators, manufacturers and service providers, maintenance staff and others who make safety their priority.
Sometimes, air accidents do happen due to human (pilot) error. This can even be intentional, which is called pilot suicide. The German wings plane crash of March 24, 2015, in which all 144 passengers and crew were killed, was deliberately caused by the co-pilot Andreas Lubitz. This is a rare case, though there is speculation that MH370 could also be a similar incident.
But, the latest incident in Medellin, Colombia, where 71 people, including almost the entire football team of Chapecoense from Brazil were killed in the crash of a British Airspace 146 (BAE 146/Avro RJ85), takes human or pilot error to new heights – literally. All pilots are supposed to ensure that they have enough fuel for the flight in question and then some – at least 30 minutes flying time reserve fuel. A pilot who does not follow this simple rule simply risks the lives of his passengers.
There are some occasions when pilots realize mid-flight, that their fuel reserves may not be enough and land at the nearest available airport to refuel. In fact, the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo occasionally gets such requests and accommodates them at short notice. However, there is no excuse whatsoever if a pilot keeps flying on, knowing very well that the fuel on board may not last the whole journey.
Refuelling
This is exactly what seems to have happened during the chartered Lamia Airlines (Bolivia) BAE 146 flight from Santa Cruz in Bolivia to Medellin in Colombia. The direct distance from Santa Cruz to Medellin – 3,000 Km, almost matched the aircraft’s flying range. At least one official objected to this flight plan and suggested a refuelling stop in Cobija on the Brazil-Bolivia border, but since that airport closes early, Bogota was suggested instead. Either way, the flight would have been divided into two segments and no fuel exhaustion would have occurred. However, the pilot (Miguel Alejandro Quiroga, who part-owned the plane) had decided on his own to fly direct to the final destination without refuelling. He had to be in a holding pattern for nearly 20 minutes near Medellin despite a request for an early landing, because the busy airport was already accommodating another aircraft with fuel problems. By the time he got the nod to land, the fuel had run out and it was too late to do anything. The plane crashed just 10 kilometers from the airport. Astoundingly, six people survived the horrendous but low altitude crash that stunned Brazil and the entire world. Mysteriously, the pilot had not declared an emergency to the ATC tower.
Every time an air accident happens, an investigation is conducted which generally leads to safer skies. Even in this case, airlines and airports are likely to insist on correct refuelling, as that is the main reason for the crash. It is not rocket science – the pilots have to ensure that there is enough fuel to go to their intended destination and a little bit beyond. It is even better if the fuel levels of aircraft can be remotely monitored so that ground controllers can notify the pilots, of any lapse in that department. The technology should already exist.
As suggested by many experts, it is also vital to psychologically assess pilots periodically. Remember, pilots are human beings too and there may be occasions when they are physically and/or mentally not able to fly a plane. (Airports and airlines generally take a very tough line on piloting under the influence of liquor, though pilots get caught every now and then). Earth-bound drivers are often told not to take the wheel if they are emotionally or physically drained and the same principle applies to pilots, who have a much bigger responsibility on their hands. An emotionally unbalanced pilot could cause an accident, wittingly or unwittingly. It is a risk that aviation authorities cannot afford to take.
Standards
We pen these lines as the world observed the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) - organised International Civil Aviation Day on December 7. The theme for International Civil Aviation Day through 2018 is: “Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind”. There is a notion that aviation safety is not a priority issue for many Third World countries which are increasingly relying on air transport – the theme reflects the fact that safety standards should be the same everywhere.
The efficiency of air operations globally is being continuously improved through new cooperative approaches by all countries, such as Air Traffic Flow Management. “International civil aviation remains our most remarkable example of successful human cooperation and global partnership, and a shining example to the world of how much we can achieve when we meet our shared challenges together,” said the ICAO in a statement issued to mark the occasion. This is especially pertinent to the Asia Pacific region, which is seeing the biggest growth in airline and air passenger numbers through to 2040. Both, Boeing and Airbus estimate that the region will need around 30,000 new aircraft by 2035, which makes the case for safety even more important.
It is also necessary to address the safety concerns arising out of the widespread use of another flying machine – the ubiquitous drone. There have been several near-misses of drones by commercial aircraft over the last few months. As both private and commercial drones (think Amazon) take to the skies in increasing numbers, the need to regulate the drone industry becomes even more obvious. “Unmanned aircraft have great potential for the future. Many applications are already providing various services, with better quality and results. At the same time, without proper discipline, these could give rise to serious safety and security problems. Registration and identification are basic requirements. Unmanned aircraft with a take-off mass higher than 250 grammes and all certified ones should be registered”, a recent European Union report said, highlighting some concerns of the aviation industry. Drones and commercial flights will have to co-exist but tougher laws and regulations must be drawn up now before another tragedy occurs.