LAGOS – Although Africa achieved a marginal improvement in accident rate in 2011, the International Air Transport Association, IATA, has said for the continent to notch up zero accident, its airlines must attain IATA Operational Safety Audit, IOSA, as quickly as possible.
Recall that only two Nigerian carriers, Air Nigeria and Arik Air, are IOSA-certified, having undergone two years of gruelling audit by the international air transport body.
IOSA is the highest level of safety in global aviation, which also gives certified airlines the opportunity for full integration with the major airlines of the world, in terms of code-share or interlining agreements.
The audit involves the entire gamut of airlines’ business, ranging from operations, personnel, to management
IATA’s Director-General, Tony Tyler, said in the association’s annual report released in Montreal, Canada, that the rate of safety in Africa improved by 56%, from 3.27 in 2010 to 7.41 in 2011.
Even at that, Tyler said the continent remained the worst region in terms of air safety, stressing the need for African airlines to embrace the IOSA audit.
Tyler said: “Safety is the air transport industry’s number one priority. It is also a team effort. The entire stakeholder community, airlines, airports, air navigation service providers and safety regulators, works together everyday to make the skies safer based on global standards.
“As a result, flying is one of the safest things that a person could do. But, every accident is one too many, and each fatality is a human tragedy. The ultimate goal of zero accidents keeps everyone involved in aviation focused on building an ever safer industry.
“The rate for Africa improved by 56 per cent to 3.27 from 7.41 in 2010 but still was the worst performing region in the industry. IOSA carriers in Africa had a zero hull loss rate in 2011.
“The total number of accidents for African airlines dropped from 18 in 2010 to eight in 2011. The total accident rate for African airlines that are on the IOSA registry was almost equivalent to the world average.”
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