14 - Failure of joints in service

Abstract

While media coverage of an air accident is very dramatic and is invariably associated with the loss of lives, the number of air accidents has been steadily decreasing over the last 30 years (Aviation Safety Network 2017 statistics) and air travel is considered to be the safest form of travel. In 1998 the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) established a universal safety oversight audit programme, comprised of regular, mandatory, systematic and harmonized safety audits to be carried out by ICAO on all Contracting States. Since 1 January 1999, the Safety Oversight Audit (SOA) Section of the Air Navigation Bureau of ICAO has been conducting safety oversight audits of the civil aviation authorities of member countries in relation to personnel licensing, operation of aircraft, and airworthiness. The audits are designed to determine the status of States' implementation of the critical elements of a safety oversight system and the implementation of relevant ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, associated procedures, guidance material and safety-related practices. In addition, in March 2006 the EU published a Community list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the European Community. Bans and operational restrictions are only imposed based on evidence of violation of objective and transparent criteria. These criteria focus on the results of checks carried out in European airports; the use of poorly maintained, antiquated or obsolete aircraft; the inability of the airlines to rectify shortcomings identified during inspections; and the inability of the authority responsible for overseeing an airline to perform its task properly. Member States reported that five countries have an inadequate system for regulatory oversight. One important consequence of the black list will be to root out the practice of flags of convenience whereby some countries issue Air Operation Certificates to dubious airline companies (Aviation Safety Network safety assessment information).