logo
#

Latest news with #InternationalCivilAviationOrganization

Flight AI171 loss aches, yet data shows air travel the safest in India
Flight AI171 loss aches, yet data shows air travel the safest in India

India Today

time2 days ago

  • General
  • India Today

Flight AI171 loss aches, yet data shows air travel the safest in India

A series of escalating disasters in Metropolis. One of them is a helicopter fallen from the sky and dangling barely from the top of a skyscraper, about to fall. Also dangling in the air is one of the passengers—Lois Lane. It's chaos on the ground. A tragedy is swoops the red-caped hero. He flies up and catches Lois midair. And then, with just one hand, he also grabs the wrecked helicopter and stops it from falling on the people on the ground. 'Statistically speaking, of course, it is still the safest way to travel,' he tells a shocked Lois and flies was the first Superman movie, in 1978. That line, statistically speaking, was true then. Almost five decades later, it still 12, 2025 turned out to be an unfortunate day to be airborne. Minutes after take-off from Ahmedabad, Air India Flight AI171—a formidable Boeing Dreamliner—went down; 260 lives lost and a lone surviving passenger. Images of the wreckage, grieving relatives and search-and-rescue work splashed across the globe. It was the type of tragedy that makes a country stop and mourn. But as the dust settles, a more sobering aspect remains true. Flying is safer than it has ever been in India. It is still statistically the safest way to travel in the country—better than by road or what hard data says. Take 2023, for instance. Not a single accident per million flight departures took place in Indian civil aviation. For a country as large and disordered, as packed with people, as India, this was no mean feat. And it's been validated was ranked 48th in a recent assessment by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which audits countries for aviation safety. The country was 102 in 2018. Yet, any step-up in the rankings is more than it's cracked up to be: India's Effective Implementation (EI) Score, essentially how well it enforces aviation safety standards, is 85.65 per cent. In key areas, it's better than of the United States and China. In the sub-category of airworthiness—perhaps the most important of the lot—India got 97.06 per of this is intended to say that air travel is free of risk. Few things in life are. But the chances of things fatally going wrong on a flight are minuscule, especially when compared with the for instance, the roads. Over 460,000 road accidents are reported in India every year. Nearly 170,000 people died in 2022-23—close to 470 a day. Most of those deaths never make news. They happen on highways, in cities and in distant corners of the country. They snuff out children, students, workers, the elderly, often families in travel has had its share of tragedies. In 2023-24, the railways reported 40 major accidents, which killed over 330 people and injured over 800. Indeed, that is a small number when compared with the millions of people who take a train every day. Nevertheless, they are fatalities. And buses? They kill more than 5,600 people on Indian roads each year. That's approximately 3-4 per cent of all road traffic while no one noticed, aviation did its boring thing—quietly carrying millions of people without a single commercial aviation accident in 2023. That's not luck. It is the product of something much more profound—long-term investment in safety, training and infrastructure. For half a decade now, India's aviation stakeholders—regulators, airlines, airport operators—have been ratcheting up the pressure, keeping vigilant, even if not particularly Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has overhauled pilot training, stepped up inspections and introduced a more assertive approach to surveillance. The numbers say it all. India achieved a 25 per cent drop in high-risk 'airprox' incidents (when planes come too close to each other in the air) in 2023, a 92 per cent drop in ground-proximity (potential collisions of aircraft with terrain or obstacles) alerts, and 23 per cent fewer poorly-stabilised landings. It's not perfect. But it's what makes the AI171 crash such a jolt. According to the initial cockpit voice recordings, the fuel-control switches for both engines were somehow shut off in flight, which caused the aircraft to lose all power. Investigators are still trying to work out what occurred—whether it was a freak mechanical failure, human error or a series of events that no one could foresee. What is clear is that the fatal crash was the first for a Boeing 787, which began flying in is also, crucially, a statistical outlier. But in the public imagination, little factoids like that can be obscured by the emotional crush of a disaster. Airplane crashes, as rare as they are, have a tendency to lodge in the mind in a way road accidents do not. Maybe it is the magnitude of the tragedy or the speed of it or even the thought of how helpless passengers are when a plane goes for all sorts of reasons, one plane crash seems to incite infinitely more public outrage than thousands of deaths each year from vehicles on the road. For the past 10 years, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has been highlighting everywhere, even in Parliament, that road accidents take more lives than wars and terrorism. By now, the analogy barely fact, India accounts for almost 10 per cent of global road fatalities. Among the young—between the ages of 5 to 29—road accident injuries are the top cause of death, government data shows. And yet, hashtags and headlines and desperate calls for change are all too disconnect matters. When perception and reality don't remotely sync, policy follows the sound, not the demand. But if there's anything Indian aviation's safety record demonstrates, it is that the unglamorous work can pay the world is taking note. Now, several nations are looking to India's model of aviation safeguards—with its mix of state capacity, public-private partnerships and a convergence with global norms. India has adopted the ICAO's National Aviation Safety Plan template; it actively engages in worldwide safety discussions and seems to want to be up to speed with the current global conversations on air of this changes the terrible loss of Flight AI171. When people die, no amount of data can mean anything to their families and friends. But for the millions still flying every day—to work, to family, to opportunity, it may be worthwhile to know what bigger picture really still looks is why, late on July 17, the Indian government's Aircraft Accidents Investigation Bureau, uncharacteristically issued a statement criticising 'a section of the international media' and remarked: 'While the accident of this dimension has drawn public attention and shock, it needs to be appreciated that this is not the time to create public anxiety or angst towards safety of the Indian aviation industry, particularly on the basis of unfounded facts.'One terrible day does not define the skies. The real measure is how safely passengers travel on all the other days. On that count, India's skies are not just open. They are still among the safest in the to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch

Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post, ETInfra
Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post, ETInfra

Time of India

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Time of India

Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post, ETInfra

Advt President Donald Trump is nominating former Delta Air Lines pilot Jeffrey Anderson to serve as US ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the White House said on Thursday, in a move opposed by a major airline pilots' nomination comes as some US senators push for the Trump administration to advocate at the Montreal-based UN civil aviation body for raising the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 65 to United States has not had a permanent ambassador at ICAO since July 2022, when C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed an Airbus A320 on New York's Hudson River in 2009, stepped Air Line Pilots Association, a union representing over 79,000 pilots at 42 US and Canadian airlines, criticised Trump's nomination of Anderson, calling him unqualified.'It appears that Mr. Anderson's only real qualification for the post is his support of a position — raising the mandatory pilot retirement age — that would leave the United States as an outlier in the global aviation space and create chaos on pilot labour, and international and domestic flight operations,' the union said in a year, Congress rejected a proposal to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65. International rules prevent airline pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the White House defended Anderson's nomination in a statement, noting he was a decorated veteran naval aviator with decades of experience as a Delta pilot and a negotiator for ALPA 'who will deliver on President Trump's vision of aviation safety for the American people at ICAO.'ICAO plays a key role in global aviation safety. While it has no policing powers, ICAO uses consensus to set standards on everything from runways to seat belts. The agency was created after the United States invited more than 50 allies in 1944 to agree on a common air navigation 193-nation body will hold its triennial assembly from September 23 to October 3 this year.

Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post
Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post

Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Straits Times

Trump nominating former Delta pilot to international aviation post

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is nominating former Delta Air Lines pilot Jeffrey Anderson to serve as U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, the White House said on Thursday, in a move opposed by a major airline pilots' union. The nomination comes as some U.S. senators want the Trump administration to advocate at the Montreal-based U.N. civil aviation body for raising the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots from 65 to 67. The United States has not had a permanent ambassador at ICAO since July 2022 when C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who safely landed an Airbus A320 on New York's Hudson River in 2009 after hitting a flock of geese, stepped down. The Air Line Pilots Association, a union which represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines, criticized Trump's nomination of Anderson, calling him unqualified. "It appears that Mr. Anderson's only real qualification for the post is his support of a position – raising the mandatory pilot retirement age – that would leave the United States as an outlier in the global aviation space and create chaos on pilot labor, and international and domestic flight operations," the union said in a statement. Last year, Congress rejected a push to raise the mandatory airline pilot retirement age to 67 from 65. International rules prevent airline pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the U.S. The White House defended Anderson's nomination in a statement, noting he was a decorated veteran naval aviator with decades of experience as a pilot for Delta and a negotiator for ALPA "who will deliver on President Trump's vision of aviation safety for the American people at ICAO." ICAO plays a key role in global aviation safety. While it has no policing powers, ICAO uses consensus to set standards on everything from runways to seat belts. The agency was created after the United States invited more than 50 allies to agree in 1944 to a common air navigation system. The 193-nation body will hold its triennial assembly from September 23 to October 3 this year. REUTERS

Asia-Pacific regulators release world's first guidelines for commercial operation of air taxis, drones
Asia-Pacific regulators release world's first guidelines for commercial operation of air taxis, drones

Business Times

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Business Times

Asia-Pacific regulators release world's first guidelines for commercial operation of air taxis, drones

[SINGAPORE] Asia-Pacific aviation regulators have published the world's first set of guidelines on air taxis and drones, anticipating future commercial operation of these vehicles in the region. Regulators can voluntarily adopt the guidelines, which will also be submitted to the International Civil Aviation Organization to be adopted as a global standard. The guidelines were released on Monday (Jul 14) at the second meeting of Apac regulators on advanced air mobility (AAM) and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), spearheaded by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). AAM is a new type of aviation characterised by compact aircraft designed for shorter-range travel, including air taxis. Many of these are electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) craft, being developed by startups such as Archer Aviation and Volocopter. CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan said: 'The Asia-Pacific region will be a major market for AAM, which will transform the way people work, move and live and be another engine of economic growth.' The launch of the guidelines 'is a significant step forward to more widespread use of drones and making air taxi operations a reality', he added. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Known as reference materials, the guidelines are a starting point for formal regulations regarding the new technologies. Regulators can use or adapt the materials to prepare for and facilitate commercial operations of air taxis and drones. The materials also aim to raise awareness of these technologies and regulatory approaches, as well as considerations when integrating eVTOLs and more complex UAS operations into existing aviation regulations. Representatives of 20 countries and 21 AAM companies and organisations discussed plans for the launch of air taxi operations and expanded uses of drones in the next five years, as well as cooperation on such operations. PHOTO: CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE They were created by 24 states and administrations, led by China, the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Incorporating industry feedback, the guidelines include safety targets for eVTOL operations, industry standards and compliance. They will be updated regularly, in line with the fast-paced development of AAM and UAS technology. The meeting was attended by representatives of 20 countries and 21 AAM companies and organisations, who discussed plans for the launch of air taxi operations and expanded uses of drones in the next five years, as well as cooperation on such operations. It was part of High-Level Aviation Week, which runs from Jul 14 to 19, where government and industry leaders gather in Singapore for discussions. The event was also marked by the debut of a regional sustainability centre for aviation. The first meeting of Apac regulators on AAM took place in November 2023, during which the development of the reference materials was mooted by CAAS.

India's draft aircraft rules: What they say and why they matter
India's draft aircraft rules: What they say and why they matter

Mint

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Mint

India's draft aircraft rules: What they say and why they matter

India's ministry of civil aviation notified the draft Indian Aircraft Rules 2025 on 15 July. The new rules would eventually replace two British era laws and align with the laws of the International Civil Aviation Organization. What does the draft rule say, and why are these important? Mint breaks it down. Why do the new aviation rules matter? The Indian Aircraft Rules, 2025 (Bharatiya Vayuyan Niyam) is an effort to update rules and regulations in India's aviation sector, making these more modern. The new rules would replace two British era laws—the Aircraft Rules, 1937 and the Aircraft Rules, 1920. The RT (Restricted) Operator Licence Rules, 2025, will also be replaced by the new law. The new rules align with the laws of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agency of the United Nations. A refresh is needed as India's aviation market is expanding rapidly—it is the third largest domestic market, after the US and China. Indian airlines have big expansion plans, with over 1,500 aircraft on order. The new rules could also boost the confidence of foreign lessors. What are the major reforms proposed in the draft? The draft proposes reforms across several areas: Public and industry stakeholders will have time till 14 August to respond with their feedback. Next, the ministry of civil aviation will go through comments, make the necessary changes, and then notify the rules through a gazette notification. What are the changes proposed in pilot licensing? The new rules propose to relax educational qualifications, making it easier to attain a student pilot licence. Earlier, it was mandatory for an aspirational pilot to have a science background in high school with mathematics and physics as subjects. In the current proposal, students pursuing arts and commerce can also opt for a student pilot's licence. Anyone with a Class 10 qualification can apply for a student pilot licence and a private pilot's licence for airplane and helicopters. Currently, it is essential to have a 10+2 qualification. The new rules also propose to make it easier to attain a commerical pilot's licence and airline transport pilot licence with a minimum educational qualification of Class 12. How will easier licensing rules help? India has a huge shortage of pilots. As per CAPA India, by 2030, India would require at least 10,000 new pilots. Experts say relaxing rules for student pilots will be a win-win situation for all stakeholders. Any rules around aviation safety? The proposed rules talk about enhanced focus on safety management systems for all entities. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will establish an enhanced mandatory safety reporting system to facilitate collection of safety data and safety information on actual or potential safety. The draft laws have also included 'fatigue management' as a separate section. In the British era laws, fatigue was missing. Fatigue management would be applicable to the crew, pilots and air traffic controllers. What exactly is a fatigue management system? It is a system to ensure that the crew and pilots are well-rested and fit for duty. For pilots, as per the flight duty time limitation (FDTL), the duty hours are currently 13 hours maximum per day, including up to 9 hours of flying. For cabin crew members, the mandate is 12 hours of rest daily and a 48-hour mandatory rest period weekly. What are the current fatigue rules? In January 2024, the DGCA announced new flight duty time limitation (FDTL) rules, which were supposed to be implemented from 1 July 2025. The draft rules propose an enhanced rest period for pilots to reduce fatigue. This would increase weekly rest from 36 to 48 hours and reduce permissible night flying from 1 November. The airlines have sought more time for implementation as it would lead to increased cost. Moreover, there is a shortage of pilots. Nonetheless, the airlines have started to implement some rules in a phased manner. Currently, rosters, for example, are being made in compliance with the order. The 'night duty' period is now calculated till 6 am, instead of the earlier 5 am.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store