Notes Development of Safety Initiatives and Improvements
Contact: Emily McGee
Director of Communications
+1 703.739.6700 (ext. 126)
mcgee@webdeva.flightsafety.org
Alexandria, VA, July 12, 2006 — Approaching the 10th anniversary of the tragic TWA 800 accident near Long Island, New York on July 16, 1996, the Flight Safety Foundation issued a statement noting the success of the safety initiatives spurred by the double disasters in 1996 of TWA 800 and the ValuJet 592 accident in Florida.
“The entire aviation community was shocked 10 years ago by the crash of TWA 800, especially so soon after the tragedy of ValuJet 592,” commented FSF President and CEO Stuart Matthews. “Immediately after these crashes, the industry and the U.S. government put a focus on aviation safety that led to the development of the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST). The Flight Safety Foundation has been a leading participant in that effort from the start.”
Following the recommendations of two federal commissions, a national goal was set in 1997 to reduce the aviation accident rate in the U.S. by 80 percent by 2007 and CAST was tasked with accomplishing this goal. CAST is comprised of industry, government and other aviation safety experts and has seen a 73 percent reduction in the accident rate in nine years due in part to the initiatives, studies and other efforts of the team.
“From the start, the members of CAST embraced the concept of lowering the accident rate as instructed by the federal commissions, but some — including myself — were not sure that an 80 percent reduction was possible,” Matthews continued. “But now, nine years later, we know that it is possible and that we have very nearly reached that goal. Commercial aviation has never been safer in the U.S., and we are well underway with our efforts to spread these safety practices worldwide.”
###
Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of global aviation safety and the prevention of accidents. www.flightsafetstg.wpenginepowered.com
Contact: Emily McGee, 1-703-739-6700, ext. 126; mcgee@webdeva.flightsafety.org
