Alexandria, VA, March 2, 2007 — The Flight Safety Foundation announced today its strong support of regulatory changes proposed by Transport Canada that would require Canadian airlines to implement safety management systems (SMSs).
“The old systems of government oversight relied almost exclusively on targeted checks by inspectors that would guarantee the safety of specific flights,” said William R. Voss, FSF president and CEO. “Given today’s safety demands, that is simply not good enough. The changes proposed by Transport Canada require every airline to put in place systems that prove every flight is safe. This is a tough new way of doing business.”
Under standards introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in November 2006, ICAO’s 189 member states are required to ensure that aircraft and airport operators, air traffic services providers and maintenance organizations implement SMSs. Canada is one of the first states to take steps toward this progressive safety effort. Another pioneer in this effort is Australia, which has never had a fatal accident in high-capacity air transport.
“Since the very beginning, Transport Canada has been seen as a world leader in safety management,” Voss said. “When Canadians board a Canadian airliner, they should feel safe … and proud.”
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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, Director of Communications, 1-703-739-6700, ext. 126; mcgee@webdeva.flightsafety.org
