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Experts unite to improve winter aviation safety
20/04/2006
Aircraft de/anti-icing experts are working together to plan vital safety improvements in this unregulated area.
A unique workshop arranged by the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) and Swiss International Air Lines saw 65 delegates representing airlines, aircraft manufacturers, service providers, national authorities, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), JAA, accident investigators, fluid manufacturers, flight and cabin crew unions and auditors meet in Basel, Switzerland, from 11-12 April.
The workshop set out to find solutions to the safety problems caused by thickened fluid residues and inconsistent standards of service provision within Europe.
Following detailed discussions the following goals were unanimously agreed upon:
- Type I de-icing fluid should be more readily available at more airports;
- Operators should be able to receive on demand the service they request, including two-step de/anti-icing;
- Service providers should be licensed and overseen by a regulatory body;
- De/anti-icing personnel should be licensed by a regulatory body;
- Consideration should be given to the certification of de/anti-icing products;
- A greater amount of independent research and development should be conducted into the behaviour of thickened fluids and the prevention of residue formation.
New UK Air Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) recommendations, presented at the workshop, clearly indicate it is time regulatory bodies within Europe took some responsibility and helped the industry by developing suitable legislative solutions. Operators have previously developed their own detailed and costly maintenance programmes to mitigate against the risks that exist from re-hydrating fluid residues. The problems, which include the freezing of flight control surfaces, have existed for more than nine years and delegates at the workshop were adamant that action needs to be taken immediately to reduce the likelihood of an accident.
ERA will use the workshop consensus to encourage national authorities to combine knowledge and resources and set a timetable for addressing these action points. ERA does not consider inaction to be an acceptable option.
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