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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 1/97 NO TIME TO SPARE by Wolfdietrich Hoeveler Language problems and poorly trained controllers: These were the first speculations after a Saudi Arabian 747 and a Kazakhstanian freighter collided in mid-air in the vicinity of New Delhi. Speakers of airline pilot associations were fast, stating that flying over many regions of India is almost like being blind. However, the investigation of this accident proved once more that the search for the cause of aircraft accidents is extensive and time consuming. Whoever is looking for an objective judgment, must be patient. We now know: there were no language problems and the Indian air traffic controllers gave the correct and clear instructions. Still, the catastrophic mid-air collision happened. It is also known that the Delhi's air traffic control is suffering from two handicaps. First, there is a lack of secondary search radar equipment that gives exact aircraft altitudes, and second, the approach and departure routings being only flown in/from one direction is insufficient. Experts in Europe are cautious with their statements concerning this recent accident. They know that even our air traffic control systems have significant faults. Although the air traffic control systems, which are operating under national responsibility, have reached a high standard in Europe, the system is complicated and too costly. Dr. Klaus Nittinger is member of Lufthansa's board of directors and responsible for the airline's flight operation. Just recently he expressed his complaints about the current situation in front of European parliamentarians and bureaucrats: 52 radar control centers are covering our continent. This can't be efficient. National pride and the business with differing air traffic control fees have been hindering the creation of an effective and united air traffic control system over years. The EU commission has now made another step into complicating the situation even more. Since the nations can't agree, the committees of Eurocontrol and of the European aviation authority JAA have each been supplemented with an EU representative. Even though these representatives can join the discussion they have no authorization to make a decision as long as the governments in the capitols have not decided. While airlines and aircraft manufacturers haven't got a minute to spare, politicians adjourn. The organization of the world's airlines IATA is afraid that the number of aircraft accidents, although statistically almost unchanged, might irritate the consumers. According to the IATA's forecast and based on the prognosted doubling of worldwide air traffic until 2015, the total loss of one airliner per week has to be anticipated if the accident rate cannot be decreased. Since 75 percent of all accidents, not counting terrorist assassination attempts, are related to human mistakes, the systems and procedures have to be correct. For Europe this means: There must be a cut with the national egoisms. A new air traffic control system and a binding certification authority are urgently needed. Whoever doesn't do something now will be to blame. From page 4 of FLUG REVUE 1/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 1/97 Copyright 1996 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated December 11, 1996