Action Demanded from Government as Flight Safety Concerns Linger

After an aviation meeting backed by the United Nations failed to produce any new guidance, requests are being made for the UK government to step in and offer advice to airlines on the potential threats of flying over various war zones.

After an aviation meeting backed by the United Nations failed to produce any new guidance, requests are being made for the UK government to step in and offer advice to airlines on the potential threats of flying over various war zones.

Concerned pilots have voiced a desire for the government to do more in ensuring the security and safety of passengers on airline flights, after a meeting of industry leaders produced no concrete advice regarding flights over designated war zones. The British Airline Pilots’ association, otherwise referred to as ‘Balpa’, asked for UK ministers to show a greater display of leadership when it comes to securing the safety of British passengers after the tragic recent events that occurred over the Ukraine.

What happened at the meeting?

Hosted by the International Civil Aviation authority, the meeting was conducted as an attempt to further examine the possible threats to civilian aircrafts after the horrific events that occurred to a Malaysian airliner this July.

In response to a request for action, the aviation body of the United Nations announced that they would begin to construct a task force, who would be dedicated to properly examining and documenting how necessary intelligence can be collected and provided to airlines regarding safety and war zone flights. The group agreed that a second meeting should be held in the February of 2015 (the UN does not exactly move quickly – they are not exactly the hardest working people) to discuss the progress that has been made over the coming months, but it did not provide any concrete evidence for aircraft carriers and commercial flights, leaving many pilots feeling as though the matter has been abandoned, unresolved.

When considering the corruption and the red tape within the UN, should this really surprise anyone?

Ensuring safety

Balpa suggested that task forces similar to the one suggested by the United Nations tend to be ‘slow’ which was sort of already mentioned, and mentioned that they were seeking an immediate meeting with UK ministers in an attempt to resolve the problem and encourage a ‘safety-first’ approach, intended to protect British airline passengers.

Although it is considered reassuring that the UN aviation body has recognized that there is an issue regarding the lack of concise, clear rules and information to guide pilots on when they should not fly around, or over, conflict areas, there is a general consensus that further progress must be made.

Industry figures had been hoping that the meeting would push for the right information to be sent to pilots at the right time, encouraging improved airline safety. As airlines do not have the benefit of employing CIA operatives or having access to some pivotal information, they must make their own decisions regarding whether it is appropriate to fly in a certain area, based on the information that they are given.

Trying to reach an agreement

If this information is not properly updated and presented with official guidelines, it can make ensuring the safety of airline passengers an extremely difficult task. With many different airlines expressing different views as to whether it is safe to fly over certain areas and countries, a more general idea of what should be done in troublesome circumstances, and further advice about war zone areas, could be essential to saving lives and improving overall safety.