SAFETY

Recent aircraft incidents show safety jeopardized

A recent spate of air safety incidents mostly caused by human error has prompted administrative authorities to take action.

One result has been the creation of an air safety measure commission, formed at the Construction and Transport Ministry Monday. The commission is charged with working out safety measures by investigating the causes and contributing factors of such incidents.

Yoshiyuki Funatsu, the late former managing director of All Nippon Airways, used to say, "What's important is to do all you can [to ensure air safety] every day, rather than think too much about your accident-free record".

In 1971, an ANA plane collided with a Self-Defense Forces aircraft in the air over Shizukuishicho, Iwate Prefecture. The collision claimed 162 lives.

Funatsu, a former Transport Ministry official, became an adviser to ANA that same year and strove to establish a standard for the company's safety measures. Since then, ANA has had a good reputation as a safe airline free from fatal accidents.

However, on June 5 there was an incident that caused a stir in which an ANA pilot was found to have overlooked a malfunction in the plane's altimeter, causing the aircraft to fly much higher than air traffic controllers had instructed. Many are concerned that such incidents will someday lead to a fatal accident. The ministry's commission therefore is intended to play a role in revamping aviation safety. As such, it is facing a broad range of issues as the number of air incidents caused by various factors has risen since 2003.

One incident in January involved a Japan Airlines aircraft that attempted to take off without approval from air traffic control.

The deadliest accident in aviation history occurred in 1977 when two 747s collided on a runway at Tenerife Airport on the Canary Islands, Spain, killing 583 people. The tragedy reportedly was caused by one of the jets trying to make an unauthorized takeoff. The January incident involving Japan Airlines could have become a similar tragedy.

In a June 15 incident at Haneda Airport also involving the nation's largest airliner, two front tires from the plane's landing gear came off on touch down. This incident also could have resulted in numerous casualties if the plane's fuel tank had been damaged and caught fire. Haneda Airport also recently saw an incident in which air traffic controllers instructed a pilot to land his plane on a closed runway.

Such human errors have occurred at various levels regardless of rank and job, indicating aviation safety has been jeopardized in the wider context.

Given the situation, the safety commission should give more consideration to background factors that lead to human error. For example, in a case in which several mechanics whose experience and abilities are different repeatedly fail to detect certain errors, the commission could figure out measures to prevent similar incidents by identifying contributing factors behind the incident.

In the industry, some people argue that airlines face similar problems to West Japan Railway Co., which was responsible for the derailment of a train on the JR Fukuchiyama Line on April 25 in which 107 people died.

The derailment in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, shed light on the pressure drivers are under to meet the company's busy train timetables. The drivers reportedly were told to speed up to compensate for delays.

In the aviation industry, workers also increasingly have faced time pressure. According to sources familiar with the industry, the number of flights has been rising despite a cut in the number of mechanics, which means a heavier workload on those who remain. Addressing such issues in the field is essential to drawing up practical safety measures.

Meanwhile, some analysts say Japan's aircraft safety level has fallen since the nation began using international safety standards, which were promoted by the ministry and other countries, and the commission also should investigate how such changes have affected the industry.

From the 22 May 2005 Flight Safety Information newsletter (#228)