Airline safety is a branch of aviation medicine that mainly deals with the prevention of any adverse effect on the health of air travelers. Its main objective is to keep aviation as safe as possible by minimizing the risks posed by aviation on the health of the people using it. This is done by performing a risk assessment on an airline or an air traffic controller or other crew members who are part of the air transportation operation. Airline safety also takes into consideration the physical aspects of the pilots and crew as well as other air crew members. It also takes into account the special needs of the different types of air crafts as well as other environmental issues that may affect air transportation.
An airline safety risk assessment focuses on the health aspects of crew members as well as passengers during the course of the flight. This includes preventing unexpected fatalities, improving air traffic control, analyzing air accidents and occurrences and the design of new aircraft and aviation infrastructure, among others. It also takes into account the issues on the ground that may affect the safety of the flight. These include runway conditions, weather reports, emergency situations, oil slicks, ice storms and more.
Airline safety also addresses the issue on the ways to protect the pilot and crew members from any adverse effects on their health due to flying, while also preventing the loss of life. For this reason, there are certain regulations set for pilot training especially when it comes to aviation accidents, turbulence and hazardous flying conditions. In addition to this, there are certain guidelines stipulated when flying in mountainous regions, where the risks of encountering dangerous flying conditions and avalanche are very high. A guide on aviation injuries and safety was released by the FAA in 1997, which aims to provide information about aviation injuries and emergency assistance at airports.
Every airline must have a system that checks inbound and outbound passengers against stringent IATA standards. If you are a passenger, you should check in your baggage that has enough space for you to stand, sit down and be comfortable. You should also check in your luggage if it is light enough and if there are no objects in the way that may obstruct you from moving about. The cabin crew should always ensure that you are comfortable and not complaining about anything. The crew must also not fail to conduct an on-time check-in or delay boarding upon arrival. This will constitute grounds for refusal of service and can result into a fine.
Airline safety also requires that all crew members and pilots adhere to the necessary rules and regulations set forth by the airline. These include wearing the correct uniform of the airline and adhering to the rules about personal hygiene. All pilots must also be competent enough and trained adequately to handle any situation that may arise during the flight. Pilots must strictly avoid alcohol and drugs, especially during pilot training as they may affect their judgment while in the air. Pilots must also strictly avoid extreme temperatures and weather conditions. Pilots are also supposed to have excellent eye vision, which requires them to undergo regular eye checkups and maybe even consulting a LASIK vision center or eye hospital for timely vision correction.
Airline safety has become such a critical factor in the aviation industry that the International Civil Aviation Organization orICAO has set standards and guidelines for operators of commercial airlines. The organization sets down the regulations that must be followed by all pilots and crew members when handling passengers. Pilots are required to adhere to these regulations or face suspension or even termination from their jobs. There are various other organizations and bodies that set down even stricter guidelines for aviation safety. These organizations are the Department of Transportation, FAA, Federal Aviation Administration, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.