More than 140 safety professionals representing Asia Pacific’s regulators and airlines are gathered in Bangkok for the Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2014 (APASS 2014), organized by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
APASS 2014 provides the Asia Pacific viewpoint on safety.
“Flying is now part of everyday modern life,” AAPA Director General Andrew Herdman said. “Over the past decade, as an industry we have been able to demonstrate continuous improvement in aviation safety performance. This can be attributed to regulatory and industry collaborative efforts, including improvements in technology, designs and certification standards applied to aircraft over the years, further enhanced by refinements to operational performance standards and safety training. This explains why 2013 was one of the safest years ever in terms of commercial airline jet fatalities.”
APASS 2014, endorsed by the Flight Safety Foundation, and Airports Council International – Asia Pacific, is hosted by Thai Airways International, with additional support from Eva Air, Airbus, Boeing, CEFA Aviation, SAGEM and Teledyne Controls.
“There is no room for complacency, as we continue to strive to prevent further accidents. The recent tragic loss of MH370 remains a mystery, but has again highlighted the challenges of air traffic management in keeping track of more than 30 million flights a year. AAPA is a member of the industry task force led by IATA which is assessing various technologies and operational changes that could support enhanced global surveillance of all commercial aircraft movements,” Herdman said. “Safety requires close cooperation between regulators, airlines and other involved stakeholders; with the sharing of data and best practices, as well as effective consultation processes and communications.”
Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong, chairman of the board of directors of Thai Airways International, delivered the APASS 2014 keynote address on behalf of the Ministry of Transport.
“In the constantly growing global market for air services, the safety, security and sustainability of air navigation are paramount,” Juntong said. “Ensuring safety remains the top priority. The continuous improvement in global aviation safety is fundamental to ensuring that air transport continues to play a major role in driving sustainable economic and social development around the world. It is also important that we focus on strategies to promote the manufacturing industry for aircraft parts and engines, developing maintenance and overhaul facilities as well as training pilots and crew to accommodate the growth of the industry. Cooperation and collaboration in the aviation safety and aviation industry are keys to achieving sustainable growth in aviation.”