Aviation “CON”fusion

Civil aviation in India needs to do a lot of self analysis. Timely introspection and action may prevent a tragedy that is lurking around the corner due to gross inaction. 911772611 may sound like a mobile telephone number. When it is broken up as 9/11, 7/7 and 26/11, it becomes the dateline for the terror attacks, which drew the world’s attention.
Several nations have implemented the the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation norms. Aviation accidents have also to the fore the concern and attention of the international aviation community. In the keynote address to the ISASI (International Society of Air Safety Investigators) held in September 9, 2008, Wendy Tadros, the chairperson of Transportation Safety Board of Canada, said “Since the Air France accident at Toronto, 10 other wide body aircrafts have gone of the runway around the world in bad weather. This tells us that the potential for landing accidents in bad weather remains.”
ICAO Security Manual requires ID cards to be displayed on the outer garment above the waistline. This rule is not enforced.
How do we address aviation safety and security in India? The ICAO Standards and Recommendations pertaining to Annex 14 (Aerodrommes) and Annex 17 (Safeguarding International Civil Aviation against acts of Unlawful interference ), Doc.8973 (Security Manual ) and Doc. 9811 (Manual on Implementation of the Security Provisions of Annex 6 ) are followed more in the breach. The security in aviation comes under the Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS ) and some aspects of security come under the Director General Civil Aviation and the Airport Authority of India, and they are supposed to enforce and implement the ICAO regulations. The layout and design of airports and the surroundings are to follow the laid down norms. Unfortunately, Ignorance or incompetence seems to prevail in ensuring a safe and secure environment.
George Bernard Shaw said that cricket was a game played by 11 flannelled fools and watched by 11000 fools. Today, the number 11 is played around with nonchalance. Everything revolves around the term “9/11”. The tragic event took place in 2001. ICAO issued the first edition of Doc.9811 in 2002 and the latest Annex 17 was issued in 2006. We the 110 million will be fools if we remain silent spectators to the incompetence of the playing 11 comprising the DGCA, AAI and BCAS.
18/01/09 Capt A. Ranganathan/The Hindu

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Categories: Safety Jan 2009