EASA - 2011 sikrest noensinne

Aviation accidents in Europe fall to new low

" This mixed picture does not give us any room for complacency"
EASA

The number of aviation accidents in Europe has fallen to an all-time low, according to a new report.

The study, by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), says that in 2011 there was not a single fatal accident in scheduled operations.

According to EASA's annual safety review the rate of accidents in scheduled operations in EASA member states between 2002 and 2011 was one of the lowest in the world, with 1.6 fatal accidents per 10 million flights.

On a global level, accidents of the year 2011 send a contradictory signal, says the report.

While the number of accidents involving passenger fatalities scheduled operations remained high at 16, the related number of fatalities to passengers dropped from 658 in 2010 to 330.

This drop can be mainly attributed, says EASA, to the smaller aircraft involved, as well as to a lower proportion of fatalities.

Commenting on the release of the review, EASA's executive director, Patrick Goudou, said, "This mixed picture does not give us any room for complacency.

"Efforts must continue from both regulators and the industry to work towards a continuous improvement in global aviation safety levels."

The review also addresses, for the first time, aerodrome safety covering issues such as runway excursions and bird strikes.

It also includes information developed by the Brussels-based Eurocontrol on traffic movements in Europe and airline fleet sizes.

EASA is the centrepiece of the EU's strategy for aviation safety whose mission is to promote and achieve the highest common standards of safety and environmental protection in civil aviation.

Based in Cologne, the agency currently employs more than 650 experts and administrators from all over Europe.