Freight Dog
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2002 Was The Safest Year For Airlines
WASHINGTON (July 13) - Last year was the safest ever for the nation's major airlines, with no deaths and only nine serious injuries due to accidents on U.S. commercial flights.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, there were 34 commercial airline accidents in 2002, but most were considered minor.
The only accident designated ''major'' was the July 26 crash of a Federal Express Corp. cargo plane at Tallahassee, Fla. The plane was destroyed, but the crew survived.
The NTSB classified one 2002 passenger aircraft accident as ''serious.'' That occurred Aug. 28 when an American West plane ran off the runway in Phoenix, injuring 10 people, one seriously.
Though 2002 was the first in 20 years with no fatal airline accidents on U.S. commercial flights, it continues the recent trend in which accident rates have declined to very low levels.
The increase in airline safety is due in part to advanced technology like the enhanced ground proximity warning system, which alerts pilots when they get too close to the ground. Aircraft training simulators also have become increasingly realistic, allowing for more intense and accurate training in a safe environment.
Private contractors, rather than airline employees, now account for nearly half of all airline maintenance. The Transportation Department's inspector general has found that contractors sometimes fail to follow through on the proper procedures, and will require stricter oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The NTSB analysis of the airlines 2002 safety record was first reported by the Washington Post.
WASHINGTON (July 13) - Last year was the safest ever for the nation's major airlines, with no deaths and only nine serious injuries due to accidents on U.S. commercial flights.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, there were 34 commercial airline accidents in 2002, but most were considered minor.
The only accident designated ''major'' was the July 26 crash of a Federal Express Corp. cargo plane at Tallahassee, Fla. The plane was destroyed, but the crew survived.
The NTSB classified one 2002 passenger aircraft accident as ''serious.'' That occurred Aug. 28 when an American West plane ran off the runway in Phoenix, injuring 10 people, one seriously.
Though 2002 was the first in 20 years with no fatal airline accidents on U.S. commercial flights, it continues the recent trend in which accident rates have declined to very low levels.
The increase in airline safety is due in part to advanced technology like the enhanced ground proximity warning system, which alerts pilots when they get too close to the ground. Aircraft training simulators also have become increasingly realistic, allowing for more intense and accurate training in a safe environment.
Private contractors, rather than airline employees, now account for nearly half of all airline maintenance. The Transportation Department's inspector general has found that contractors sometimes fail to follow through on the proper procedures, and will require stricter oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The NTSB analysis of the airlines 2002 safety record was first reported by the Washington Post.
