The hiked globalization has resulted into momentous ascend in the trends of air traffic across the globe. Consequently, the aviation business has revolutionized world over owing to the evident air territorial movements. Much emphasis is therefore imminent in this industry since any negligible mistake might cause elevated death incidences culminating from air traffic accidents. About 70% of the aircraft accidents are derivatives of pilot mistakes on flight scheduling, jet handling, and poor fuel management (Wells & Rodrigues, 2004). Additionally, crew and human factors encircling personal characters as well as external pressures compound this situation. Such major problems currently confront the aviation industry thus demanding address to prevent further loss of lives. Exemplary training alone may not help the crew if considerations of flight hours and duty schedules for pilots do not appear as important. According to the figures available at the “Aviation Safety Network,” about 25 jet crushes have transpired owing to crew fatigue and inadequate respite. This is evident from 1947 to 2007 records.
Absence of adequate respite that results into exhaustion is a factor that limits the capacity of team performance and affects flight safety. The pilots though at times bear blames after fatal airplane crushes; they are not the main derivation of the predicament. Employers and airlines stress their pilots with several flights and concentration hours, reducing their interest and concentration in subsequent flights. Accidents consequently result from such circumstances. An overworked flight crew suffers disorientation and lack situational awareness (Oberstar, 2009). Constant sleeps cause distractions, particularly in cockpit that result in message problems amid the flight synchronization squad. The decree is, once an individual contradicts the communication chain, there is an overall misunderstanding that if not contained, can be lethal. Too much fatigue may also result into incapacitation of a pilot, leading to accidents. Other potentially dangerous circumstance like misjudgment on speed or elevation, navigation errors, and non-compliance to standard operating measures and instructions might result from fatigue. Complicated communication procedures between the ground monitoring agents and the crew may also cause exhaustion and tedium. This might result into fatal accidents.
Airline operating safety depends on a sound- rested and vigilant voyage crews. Excellent flight squad interactions, sound harmonization trends, and voyage crew relationship are facets for modification by airline administration to help lessen crew weariness and generate constructive effects on output. Airline executive has the liability of considering the individual factors and constraints that arise from institutional performance, cultures, and administration attitudes (Wells & Rodrigues, 2004). Workload should undergo reduction to minimize the problem of hearing and communication gaps. An example of a fatal accident that occurred due to this is evident in the1977 ground crash between two B-747 aircraft in Tenerife, leading to the greatest loss of lives in an aviation accident. All the airline administration should do adequate assortment and guidance of the group together with pilots. In addition, all airlines and other policy organizations should adopt administrative monitoring strategies. Civil aviation bodies should also monitor and restrict crew exploitation from airlines and other employers. This might not only shield wellbeing but also defend the crews’ career.
In conclusion, the decline in aviation safety is a sensitive problem as indicated by the ASN. So many lives and property are lost from aircraft accidents majorly due to individual factors. Most airlines have scarce workforce and specialized personnel. Instead, they strive for profit realization more than granting quality and efficiency to their clients. The few personnel are over indulging in duties, causing strain and boredom, thus communication process collapse. There is lack of ample rest, thus belittling the affectivity of flight operations, causing accidents that culminate to life and economic losses. Keenness is important in addressing crew welfare, proper placement, and delegation of roles in airline industry especially with the increasing age of international voyage.
References
Oberstar, J. (2009). Critical Lapses in Federal Aviation Administrationżs Safety Oversight of Airlines: Abuses of Regulatory żPartnershipż Programsż: Congressional Hearing. Pennsylvania, PA: DIANE Publishing.
Wells, A. & Rodrigues, C. (2004). Commercial aviation safety. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Professional.