The Impact of Covid-19 on the Air Accidents Investigation Branch
This article covers how the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has reacted to the events of 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Documents
Details
Whilst flying is the safest form of transport on the planet (per mile travelled), as a high technology industry it has always been an enterprise susceptible to a lack of attention to detail. However, few could have anticipated the devastation that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) particle, as small as 60µm, would have on aviation globally.
One of the significant challenges for aviation has been how, after such a long hiatus, to safely get aircraft, pilots and passengers back flying. The statistics for the past year make interesting reading, and show that despite a disproportionate lack of flying, the amount of safety reporting has remained relatively high, at levels 86% of the year before. Despite huge efforts by regulators, operators and manufacturers to raise awareness of the potential hazards to enable a measured safe return to flying for all types of aviation there have inevitably been mishaps, serious incidents and, unfortunately, accidents. This article covers how the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has reacted to these events in the midst of a pandemic.