Impact of COVID-19 on aviation unimaginable-Flight Safety Foundation

As global society struggles with the tragic and unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) has described the impact of coronavirus on aviation sector as unimaginable

The group represents the voice of safety leaders from across the world, from every aviation sector, operations to infrastructure, regulators to academia.

Its guidance on COVID-19 represents a road map of sensible, practical actions that can supplement company procedures and lead to a safe, harmonized and sustainable return to global air transportation.

They deliberately do not discuss specific coronavirus advice, which is properly the preserve of national governments. Specific aviation advice on detailed medical procedures associated with personnel protection, equipment cleaning, protective clothing and individual and group behavior is well described elsewhere.

The group lamented that the International Air Transport Association’s  latest projection shows that 2020 passenger revenues could fall $252 billion, or 44 percent from last year’s level, assuming severe travel restrictions remain in place for up to three months and are followed by a gradual economic recovery later this year.

As has been well documented, it noted that passenger operations have been slashed, fleet of aircraft ground, and thousands of employees furloughed, but expressed  joy that at the same time, the global aviation system is still functioning as air traffic control towers and en route centers continue to guide aircraft to their destinations; airports are open and operating, albeit at much reduced capacity just as; pilots and flight attendants continue to operate airplanes that maintenance engineers are ensure are airworthy.

In a safety bulletin made available to the media, the aviation safety group further stated that in the midst of crisis, safety must still prevail, stressing that it is essential to maintain high safety performance in continuing operations, in reduced operations and, hopefully sooner rather than later, in increasing operations as carriers begin bringing aircraft and service back online.

According to FSF, “The coronavirus pandemic is having a devastating effect on aviation and represents the biggest strategic shock to the global aviation system since international air travel began. Whereas we need to acknowledge that the crisis is first and foremost a human tragedy, and everyone’s first priority is to ensure their own family’s safety, we also need to understand that our world as we know it will not be the same even after the virus is contained”.

“Flight Safety Foundation’s mission is to connect, influence and lead global aviation safety. Never has there been such a critical time to bring together the world’s aviation community for the protection of our people and our operations”.

“Through its independence, impartiality and international community, the Foundation is in a unique position to assist with safe navigation through these exceptional times. Together we must establish a broad industry set of guidelines of “good things to do” in an increasingly fragmented and complex situation, recognizing that financial pressures will be acute and that there are no limits to the benefits of sharing information and learning”.

Buttressing the harrowing experiences of carriers in the face of the pandemic, it said some airlines are shutting down their operations while others continue to run on reduced schedules as cargo operations, air traffic control, airport and ground services now become critical elements in society’s efforts to overcome the crisis.

“Some routes and services are already reopening. All these changes are putting a massive strain on the system and generating clear business, operations and safety risks. Industry leaders and managers will need to take care that the understandable focus on financial viability in the coming months does not include diversion of resources from safety activities”.