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2024-03-15

Your Next Accident Is in Your Data - IATA Annual Safety Report

Aviation Safety Update – the IATA Annual Safety Report
Uncover Hidden Dangers: The Power of Your Safety Data

The invaluable insights nestled within your operational data stand as your most potent tool in preempting and mitigating the next potential accident. The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Annual Safety Report for 2024 brings to light critical areas of focus that demand immediate attention. The report underscores one simple, but critical message: the key to improving our safety measures and preventing future accidents is already in the data you have.

Key Insights from the 2024 IATA Annual Safety Report

IATA’s comprehensive review of the preceding year reveals that despite advancements in technology and procedures, common contributing factors to accidents remain, notably:

• Adverse Weather Conditions: Incidents involving wind, wind shear, gusty winds, and thunderstorms accounted for 20% of accidents.
• Aircraft Malfunction: Technical failures were identified as a contributing factor in 23% of accidents.
• Manual Handling and Flight Control Errors: Comprising 27% of accidents, with a notable 17% attributed to deviations in hand flying and approach.
• Non-Compliance to SOPs: Directly implicated in 13% of accidents, highlighting the need for rigorous adherence to established protocols.
• Abnormal Runway Contact and Abrupt Aircraft Control: These factors were significant, contributing to 27% and 20% of accidents, respectively.
• Situation Awareness and Management of Information: The most prevalent issue, cited in 33% of accidents, emphasizes the critical role of cognitive factors in flight safety.

Actionable Recommendations

This data not only illustrates recurring themes but also signals areas where Safety Performance Indicators (SPIs) and triggers may require reevaluation and refinement. To this end, we recommend the following strategic actions:

1. Reassess and Align SPIs: Review current SPIs in light of the 2024 IATA report findings. Ensure they accurately reflect your most significant risk factors, including adverse weather, aircraft malfunctions, and manual handling errors.
2. Enhanced Data Monitoring: Intensify the monitoring of operational data related to the highlighted contributing factors. Employ predictive analytics to identify patterns or anomalies indicative of latent risks.
3. Focused Training and Awareness: Develop targeted training programs aimed at mitigating identified risk factors, such as scenario-based training for adverse weather handling and reinforcing the importance of strict adherence to SOPs.
4. Promote a Culture of Safety and Compliance: Encourage an organizational culture that prioritizes safety and rigorous compliance with SOPs. Foster an environment where reporting is encouraged and valued.
5. Regular Review and Adaptation of Safety Protocols: Establish a continuous improvement process for safety measures. Regularly update training, procedures, and protocols to reflect the latest industry standards and insights from data analysis.

Conclusion

Your next accident is in your data! As safety managers, it is your job to look closely at your data, spot possible dangers, and act in advance to prevent accidents. By updating your safety indicators and alerts based on new industry insights, you can keep making progress towards the highest safety levels.

Download your copy of the IATA Annual Safety Report here: https://www.iata.org/en/publications/safety-report/