But Adds Accidents Increased Among Outside Operators

The European Aviation Safety Agency said Tuesday that 2007 was a good year overall for aviation safety in Europe... but adds that challenges still remain, lest anyone feel complacent.

In its second-annual safety review, EASA says the number of fatal accidents involving aircraft registered in Member States performing commercial air transport operations dropped from six in 2006 to three in 2007. This accounts for only some five percent of all fatal accidents that year.

Regarding aircraft registered in the rest of the world, the number of fatal accidents in the same type of operation increased from 36 in 2006 to 54 in 2007 and is above the decade average (52).

"Nevertheless, and despite the tragic accident of a Spanair MD-82 on August 20, 2008 which caused 154 fatalities (not subject of the report), the trend for the decade still indicates that the number of accidents worldwide in commercial air transport is declining," EASA notes. "The report also includes data on accident rates for commercial helicopter operations, for aircraft involved in General Aviation and for light aircraft."

The Annual Safety Review is compiled by EASA to inform the public of safety levels in civil aviation. The data used are provided by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the NLR Air Transport Safety Institute and the Agency's 31 members, which include the 27 Member States of the European Union, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Maintaining and improving aviation safety in Europe and worldwide is the main priority for the Agency. Through specific certification, rulemaking and standardization activities, the Agency actively engages in accident prevention. It furthermore fosters cooperation between regulators and industry through the European Strategic Safety Initiative (EESI).

Launched in 2006, ESSI aims at further enhancing safety for European citizens, through analysis of data and coordination with safety initiatives worldwide. The 2007 Annual Safety Review is available on the Agency's website.

FMI: www.easa.eu