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Global Safety Information Centre (GSIC)

The IATA Operations Committee (OPC) and Safety Group (SG) were briefed on the GSIC plan in March. GSIC aims to collect safety data via the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO), Safety Trend Evaluation, Analysis & Data Exchange System (STEADES) and IATA Flight Data Analysis (FDA). Their input, along with input from the recently established GSIC task force, is being used to create the first prototype of this web-based safety information centre. An initial GSIC launch is planned for later this year.
For more information, please contact safety@iata.org.

STEADES

The remaining OPC members not already signed-up to STEADES decided to join the programme, bringing the total number of participating airlines to 90.

Feedback regarding the new STEADES mini analysis format is positive. STEADES mini analyses inlcuded topics like; Diversions, Birdstrikes, Altitude Deviations, Laser Pointing at Aircraft, Go-arounds, Calculation / Input Error have been published and circulated to STEADES members. 

”This is very interesting, useful data. We are now going to run a similar study in Cathay simply to determine how we 'compare' to the rest of IATA airlines on this issue of diversions.  Thank you for supplying this proactive information. We really like the idea of these recent presentations sent STEADES members - simple, short, timely, useful and widely distributed via email.”

Peter A Simpson, Manager Air Safety at Cathay Pacific

To join STEADES and be eligible to receive STEADES analysis, contact steades@iata.org

IATA Flight Data Analysis (FDA) Service Update

Seventeen airlines are currently receiving FDA service, with one airline reporting an improvement of over 50% in reducing unestablished approaches as a result of their FDA service. Another six carriers are undergoing initial FDA configuration and two are on a trial basis.  The service now includes one helicopter operator. There are 25 airlines using this service.

Safety Report

The IATA Safety Report presents prevention strategies with the intent of enhancing safety within the air transport industry. These strategies are based on the analytical findings of accidents that occurred in 2008. The top issues raised in the Safety Report 2008 are:

• runway excursion prevention
• ground damage reduction
• Safety Management Systems implementation
• safety enhancements in maintenance operations
• regional safety issues

Maintenance events played a contributing role in almost 15% of all accidents in 2008 and is therefore a focus for strategic planning in 2009. Development of this strategy is on the Engineering and Maintenance Group (EMG) agenda.  Regional safety data showed that the CIS region had the worst performance in 2008, followed by Latin America and then Africa. Regional safety workshops will be conducted during the second half of 2009 to provide additional improvements in performance.

The 2008 issue contains in-depth analysis of accidents, focused on flight operations.  This year, for the first time, the report also includes in-depth analysis of cabin operations-related events, such as passenger evacuations, decompressions and in-flight fires.
The Safety Report includes an interactive CD-ROM with presentations, safety tools and previous years’ reports.

Special thanks to the IATA Operations Committee (OPC), the Safety Group (SG) and the Accident Classification Task Force (ACTF) for their cooperation.

Purchase the Safety Report now!
For more information, please contact safety@iata.org 

Safety Management Systems

In almost a third of the 2008 accidents (30%), deficient Safety Management System (SMS) implementation was noted as a contributing factor. This includes deficiencies with regards to the airline’s safety policies and objectives, risk management, safety assurance, and safety promotion. 

IATA is presently developing Industry best practices guidance material on SMS, based on member airlines experience. The aim of the guidance is to help other carriers successfully implement SMS and meet regulatory requirements. 

To assist airlines on an individual basis, IATA will also launch SMS go-teams, which will work directly with interested carriers and help them throughout the implementation process. For more information please contact sms@iata.org.

Runway Safety Initiative

Runway excursions can occur during both takeoffs and landings and over half (57%) of these events in 2008 resulted in hull losses. IATA is working in collaboration with the Flight Safety Foundation and a large group of industry safety professionals to create the Runway Excursion Toolkit. This toolkit includes a detailed study of the causes and contributing factors to these accidents, and a number of resources for industry safety departments to use in reducing these types of accidents. The toolkit will be released in the third quarter of 2009.
For more information, please contact safety@iata.org.

All IATA Airlines Are IOSA Registered

As of 31 March, all 224 IATA members are IOSA registered in accordance with the IATA Resolution mandating the programme for membership.
A total of 21 airlines have lost or resigned their membership in the process as follows:

• In 2006, 6 airlines lost their IATA membership  for failing to contract an audit
• In 2007, 3 airlines lost their IATA membership for failing to complete an IOSA audit. A further 3 members resigned their membership.
• In 2008, 8 airlines resigned their IATA membership due to their inability to complete the IOSA audit
• In 2009, 1 airline lost its membership for failing to close findings on its IOSA audit

This is a great achievement and an important mark of quality for all IATA airlines.  The IOSA registry ( www.iata.org/registry) now consists of 308 airlines, 224 of which are IATA members. 

IATA would like to congratulate everyone involved in this major achievement including IATA members, audit organisations, endorsed training organisations, the Operations Committee, the IOSA Oversight Committee, the Safety Group and everyone else involved.

ISAGO

ISAGO Pool Welcomes Copa Airlines

In March 2009, Copa Airlines have joined the programme, increasing the number of ISAGO Pool members to 30 airlines.

ISAGO Audits Update

ISAGO is seeing a growing interest in the Asia Pacific region. The last audits performed include Tansonnhat International Airport Ground Handling Services (TIAGS) based in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam and AAS Airport Services based in Incheon, South Korea.
In total, 45 Audits have been conducted since the launch of the programme in February 2008 (20 headquarters audits and 25 station audits).

Egyptair and Royal Jordanian Enter the ISAGO Registry

Following closure of the headquarters and station audits, and completion of IATA Quality Control on both audit reports, EgyptAir Ground Services and Royal Jordanian were entered on the ISAGO Registry in February 2009.
The entry of both companies on the ISAGO Registry respectively for the station of Cairo (CAI) and Amman (AMM) is an indicator of commitment of EgyptAir and Royal Jordanian to quality and safety through documented and implemented practices in their ground operations.
At the end of March 2009, a total of eight Providers were already in the ISAGO Registry.