Flight safety reporting ‘unsatisfactory’

THE reporting of safety incidents involving aircraft remains “unsatisfactory” in some parts of Europe, according to a European aviation watchdog.

A report by Eurocontrol claims that, on average, twice as many incidents go unreported as are reported each year.

The Brussels-based organisation, which has responsibility for the safety of air navigation, estimated that 30,000 incidents went unreported in 2009, while 15,000 cases were recorded.

It also warned that a reduction in the number of high-risk incidents involving aircraft in 2009 — the latest year for which figures are available — should be treated with caution.

A total of 273 such incidents were recorded in Europe in 2009, compared to 401 the previous year. Included in the 2009 figures were 44 cases classified as “Severity A”, indicating a collision was narrowly avoided.

Such incidents relate largely to infringements of minimum separation levels between aircraft, runway incursions and unauthorised penetration of airspace.

On a positive note, the number of reported high-risk “near-misses”, known officially as separation minima infringement, fell by 20% in 2008 and a further 44% in 2009. But Eurocontrol still expressed concern about the lack of consistency in reporting and assessing incidents involving aircraft across Europe.

Ireland reported no accidents or serious incidents during 2010. The Irish Aviation Authority also reported a dramatic reduction in the incidence of aircraft deviating from clearance instructions and “level busts”, whereby aircraft deviate more than 300ft from the flight altitude set by air traffic controllers.

Overall, air traffic in Europe recorded only modest growth last year, with the total number of flights up by just 0.8% to 9.5 million.

The report says weak growth was compounded by exceptional events including volcanic ash cloud, industrial disputes and unusually severe weather conditions.

Approximately 111,000 flights were cancelled due to ash clouds from an Icelandic volcano last April. A total of 26,000 flights were cancelled due to industrial action and 45,000 flights due to bad weather.

The report also highlighted how 2010 was the worst year in a decade for delays with almost a quarter of all flights delayed by over 15 minutes, despite only a small growth in air traffic.

Dublin Airport recorded the largest decrease in air traffic of the 30 busiest airport in Europe.