Partners and Programs:
  • BARS
  • GSIP
  • SKYbrary
  • ASN
  • Contact Us
  • Members' Center
  • Login
  • Support Aviation Safety

  • Industry Updates
  • The Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • Asia Pacific Centre for Aviation Safety
    • Founders
    • Mission
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Officers and Staff
    • Media/Communications
    • Aviation Award & Scholarship Programs
    • Work with Us
    • Join Us
  • Events
  • AeroSafety World
  • Toolkits & Resources
    • COVID-19 Crisis Resources
    • Fatigue Management
    • Flight Path Monitoring
    • Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Excursions (GAPPRE)
    • Go-Around Project
    • Global Safety Assessment Project
    • Learning From All Operations
    • Past Safety Initiatives
    • Pilot Training and Competency
    • Special Reports
  • Industry Updates
  • The Foundation
    • About the Foundation
    • Asia Pacific Centre for Aviation Safety
    • Founders
    • Mission
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Officers and Staff
    • Media/Communications
    • Aviation Award & Scholarship Programs
    • Work with Us
    • Join Us
  • Events
  • AeroSafety World
  • Toolkits & Resources
    • COVID-19 Crisis Resources
    • Fatigue Management
    • Flight Path Monitoring
    • Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Runway Excursions (GAPPRE)
    • Go-Around Project
    • Global Safety Assessment Project
    • Learning From All Operations
    • Past Safety Initiatives
    • Pilot Training and Competency
    • Special Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Members' Center
  • Login
  • Support Aviation Safety
Partners and Programs:
  • BARS
  • GSIP
  • SKYbrary
  • ASN

FLIGHT SAFETY FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

701 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 250,
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Phone: +1 703 739 6700 Fax: +1 703 739 6708

  • Aviation Safety Experts
  • AeroSafety World
  • AeroSafety World September 2018
  • Downturn

DataLink

Downturn

Data for 2017 show no fatal accidents for European CAT airlines and NCC business operations.

by Linda Werfelman | September 26, 2018

Commercial air transport (CAT) airlines1 registered in European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) member states were involved in 15 accidents — none of them fatal — in 2017, according to EASA data.

In its Annual Safety Review 2018, EASA noted that the CAT airline accidents recorded in 2017 matched the number recorded in 2016; one of the 2016 crashes was a fatal accident (Figure 1).2

Figure 1 — Fatal Accidents, Nonfatal Accidents and Serious Incidents for CAT Airlines, 2007–2017

Chart for figure 1

CAT = commercial air transport

Source: European Aviation Safety Agency

The number of serious incidents — which EASA defines as incidents involving circumstances that indicate an accident nearly occurred — for CAT airlines recorded in 2017 — 99 — declined from the 10-year high of 109 recorded in 2016; the relatively higher numbers of incidents in these two years resulted from a “more stringent classification of separation minima infringements,” the report said. In the two previous years, serious incidents numbered in the 60s.

Data showed the rate of accidents, including fatal accidents, and serious incidents in 2017 was 13 per 1 million flights (Figure 2). That figure represented a decline from 15 occurrences per million flights in 2016 — the highest annual rate in the five years from 2013 through 2017. The lowest rate was recorded in 2015 — 11 accidents and serious incidents per million flights.

Figure 2 — Fatal Accidents, Nonfatal Accidents and Serious Incidents for CAT Airlines, 2013–2017

CAT = commercial air transport

Source: European Aviation Safety Agency

Although no fatalities resulted from CAT airline accidents in 2017, 12 serious injuries were reported (Figure 3). In comparison, two fatalities and nine serious injuries were reported in 2016.

Figure 3 — Fatalities and Serious Injuries Involving CAT Airlines, 2007–2017

Chart for figure 3

CAT = commercial air transport

Source: European Aviation Safety Agency

The report also said that, as in previous years, more CAT airline accidents and serious incidents occurred en route than in any other phase of flight. The document did not elaborate on what types of occurrences were included in this en route category. Data showed 42 en route accidents and serious incidents in 2017, compared with an annual average of 32.8.

Takeoff and landing accidents and serious incidents were second most frequent in 2017, with 19 accidents and serious incidents recorded in each category; in comparison, the annual averages from 2007 through 2016 were 18.8 takeoff accidents and serious incidents and 15.6 landing accidents and serious incidents.

Looking at all sectors of the industry, the report said the highest number of fatal accidents involved noncommercial operations, with 34 fatal accidents in 2017 (Table 1).

Table 1 — EASA Member State Aircraft Fatal Accidents and Fatalities, 2007–2017
Aircraft Domain Fatal Accidents 2017 Fatal Accidents 2007–2016 Mean Fatalities 2017 Fatalities Annual 2007–2016 Mean Fatalities Annual 2007–2016 Median

CAT = commercial air transport; NCC = noncommercial complex

Source: European Aviation Safety Agency

Airplanes
CAT — Airlines 0 0.9 0 66.4 4.0
NCC — Business 0 0.4 0 0.6 0.0
Specialized operations 3 7.3 4 18.1 16.5
Noncommercial operations 34 50.1 62 92.2 91.0
Rotorcraft
Offshore CAT 0 4.0 0 3.6 0.0
Onshore CAT 1 1.7 6 5.4 6.0
Specialized operations 3 4.0 4 7.5 6.0
Noncommercial operations 3 10.2 7 18.7 19.0
Balloons 3 5.6 7 13.2 12.5
Sailplanes 25 25.4 27 29.5 29.5

“This domain also has the highest mean number of fatal accidents and the highest mean and median number of fatalities over the preceding 10 years,” the report said. “By contrast, there were no fatal accidents in CAT airlines, NCC [noncommercial complex] business and offshore CAT rotorcraft in 2017.”

In that 10-year period from 2007 through 2016, the lowest mean number of fatal accidents a year was recorded in commercial air transport, the report said. The lowest number of fatalities was recorded in NCC-business operations, followed by offshore CAT helicopters.

Despite the absence in 2017 of fatal CAT airline accidents, the fatal accidents in EASA member states involving other sectors of the industry, as well as fatal accidents worldwide in the earliest weeks of 2018, “demonstrate the need to continuously drive safety improvements across the board, to share lessons learned,” said EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky.

“This is achieved through the safety actions that are identified in the European Plan for Aviation Safety (EPAS). In partnership with our member states, we are developing a better view of safety and defining a collective response. Additionally, EASA coordinates beyond Europe at a global level in order to help protect our citizens when they travel beyond our borders” (see “A New Way to Measure”).

Data showed that 2017 was the fourth consecutive year without a fatal accident involving an NCC business flight3 from any EASA member state. NCC business flights were involved in no nonfatal accidents in 2017, the report said, adding that five serious incidents were reported (Figure 4). In the 10 years from 2007 through 2016, the annual number of nonfatal accidents ranged from one to three, and the annual number of serious incidents, from two to eight.

Figure 4 — Fatal Accidents, Nonfatal Accidents and Serious Incidents for NCC Business Operations, 2007–2017

 

NCC = noncommercial complex

Source: European Aviation Safety Agency

Notes

  1. CAT airline operations are those involving airline passenger and/or cargo airplanes with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 5,700 kg (12,566 lb) that are registered in EASA member states.
  2. EASA. Annual Safety Review 2018.
  3. NCC business operations are those involving complex airplanes with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 5,700 kg that are registered in EASA member states and are not being flown for purposes classified as special operations.

Share:

Print:

Key Safety Issues

  • Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)
  • Loss of Control–In Flight (LOC-I)
  • Mechanical Issues
  • Runway Safety (approach and landing)
  • Sabotage/Intentional Acts
  • Midair Collisions (MAC)
  • Runway Safety (Conflicts)
  • Wildlife Issues
  • Fatigue
  • Cabin Safety
  • Emerging Safety Issues
    • Lithium Batteries
    • Safety Information Sharing and Protection
    • Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Related Content

accident data, News

More Accidents, Less Risk

IATA saw declines in fatal commercial aviation accidents and fatality risk in 2022, an increase in total accidents and, over the decade, a 48 percent improvement in the accident rate.

by FSF Editorial Staff

COVID-19, Flight Training, News

Safety News in Brief

The FAA has rejected Republic Airways’ request for an exemption to the 1,500-hour rule.

by FSF Editorial Staff

accident data, News

By the Numbers

Boeing statistics show the number of accidents increased in 2021 over the previous year, but fatal accidents and fatalities declined.

by FSF Editorial Staff

Read more articles

701 N. Fairfax Street, Suite 250, Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Phone: +1 703 739 6700 Fax: +1 703 739 6708

Flight Safety Foundation on Twitter

Stop by the @Boeing booth and drop off your business card for a chance to win this 777-9 model! The drawing is on… https://t.co/iZfKWRtYpI

March 22, 2023

Follow @flightsafety

Projects & Partners

  • Basic Aviation Risk Standard
  • Global Safety Information Project
  • SKYbrary
  • Aviation Safety Network
  • Donate
  • Advertise on our website
  • Sponsor & Exhibit at our Events
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Privacy

© 2023 Flight Safety Foundation

Join our group on LinkedIn