Is ISIS becoming the aviation game changer?

Nov 10, 2015

There is no doubt that the safest mode of transport has come up against some safety and security obstacles.

By Simon Mone

There is no doubt that the safest mode of transport has come up against some safety and security obstacles.


Aircraft have been dropping from the skies and this has only helped to steer aviation to an unwanted direction. From statistics, there have been a series of aircraft accidents, incidents and ‘foul play’. So far 2014 and 2015 alone saw major aircraft disasters.

Two were suffered by Malaysia airline and one involved AirAsia. While AirAsia crash was caused by poor weather, one Malaysia was shot down by some rebels. The other is still a mystery. And a few days ago, a Russian plane crashed over Sinai and Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility.

Findings from investigation experts are yet to confirm this. But it leaves aviation wondering if air travel has become victim of foul play. Just as Russia mourns its citizens who died over Sinai, another aircraft came down soon after taking off from Juba International airport.

This adds yet to a continuing trend. In fact, since 1998, there has been at least one air aircraft accident every year. What these show is that a lot of factors have aggregated to undermine air transport.

One crazy pilot decides to lock out his colleague before directing the aircraft against a mountain, killing all passengers on board, failed engine, bad weather all are hazards including a plane knocking a bird.

Now there are radical groups. If it turns out that IS actually brought down the Russian aircraft, then aviation fraternity will have its work cut out. Otherwise, many airlines are now re-considering flying over some routes.

Certain routes are becoming unsafe and unsecure. With all these hiccups, air travel should still be the safest mode of transport. This is true because whenever any aeroplane accident occurs, a lot of resources are put in investigations, to try and get to the bottom of likely causes.

On discovering the causes, mitigation measures are derived. If solutions require improving the aircraft, still this is done. For safety’s sake, solutions are provided to immediately plug gaps that were.

Aviation is a highly regulated industry. Unlike other modes, air transport cannot afford laxity. So a pothole can be ignored until it develops into a trench.

And many road users have run into trouble at such spots. Unless accident statistics accumulated over so many years become alarming, nobody cares to repair such hazards. In aviation, once a hazard has been identified, rigorous measures placed to eliminate.

But now extremist groups have become the newest hazard to aircraft operation. It will be interesting to see how aviation professionals mitigate this latest threat. Otherwise, IS and rebels could become the game changer in safety and security of air transport.

They have introduced themselves in the wrong end of aviation equation. Solutions must come very soon. Be it extremists or some error of judgement from pilots, it is very probable that friends of aviation are beginning to develop cold feet.

Let the panic button not be pressed yet. At the end of investigations, results will show. And the hazards will be made put to bed in the name of safety and security. Thus, despite all recent troubles, air transport still remains the safest.

According to reports the number of fatalities in aircraft accidents is far too low compared to other modes of travel. Every aircraft accident comes with new lessons. Aircraft designers learn a new thing.

Every new generation of aircraft is being made better than those before it. Aviation regulators also learn better ways of process improvements in order to stay clear of accidents. For now, we have a game on our hands to deal with extremist groups.

The writer is a Ccivil engineer
 

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