Airline Safety Scoring Methods and Their Progression Explained
Taking Off with Confidence: The Lowdown on Airline Safety Ratings
In the ever-evolving world of aviation, trust and reliability are the pillars that support the sky-high aspirations of travelers. Back in 2012, Aviation experts Geoffrey Thomas and his wife Christine recognized the need for a transparent and credible safety rating system; thus, Airline Ratings was born.
Over the years, this independently maintained proprietary safety rating system has become the go-to standard for globetrotters in search of safe flights. It has urged major airlines to make safety improvements, with many even achieving the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification. Listed here are the essential components that contribute to the 1-7 star safety rating you find for every airline on AirlineRatings.com.
Assessing Pilot Performance
- Examining Pilot-Related Incidents: To start, we scrutinize if the airline has experienced serious pilot-related safety incidents. If no severe issues are reported, the airline receives a three-star rating. Yet, if incidents do arise, the airline is awarded between zero and two stars, based on the severity and frequency.
Analyzing Fatal Accidents
- Surveying Fatal Accidents over the Last Decade: This portion of our rating process can be sensitive, but it's crucial. If a fatal crash involving passengers or crew occurred in the previous ten years, three stars are deducted from the rating. We've chosen this decade frame because we believe it might take this long for an airline's safety culture to truly evolve—through fleet upgrades, tech investments, or revamped training programs.
That said, not all fatalities are weighted equally:- Accidents instigated by terrorism, hijacking, or pilot suicide do not affect the rating.- Neither do accidents where the airline was not at fault, such as runway incursions caused by other aircraft or vehicles.
The aim is to ensure a balanced and comprehensive assessment.
International Safety Audits
- Evaluating Airlines and Their Home Countries: We also delve into the airlines' and their home countries' performance in significant international safety audits. These include:
- IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit)
- ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) country safety audit
- EU airline bans
- FAA safety ratings
By passing all audits, the airline earns a star. Conversely, a star is removed when audits are not passed.
A unique exception is made for airlines like EasyJet (UK), which have a 30-year history of no crashes but haven't yet completed the IOSA audit. Their safety record alone earns them a star.
What's Scheduled for the Future
To keep up with the rapid advancements in aviation safety technology and changing regulations, Airline Ratings will periodically update its safety rating criteria. This might encompass factors such as:
- Airline policies pertaining to onboard lithium batteries
- Adopting the message to abandon personal belongings during an evacuation in safety videos
- And the implementation of advanced safety monitoring tools
Our ultimate goal is to maintain our ratings as contemporary, precise, and future-oriented as the airlines we evaluate.
Traveling smart and safely has never been easier with Airline Ratings by your side. By providing real-world, evidence-based ratings, we empower travelers to make informed choices when taking flight and encouraging airlines to maintain the highest safety standards.
In the dynamic landscape of the aviation industry, airline safety ratings play a significant role in shaping traveler confidence. Airline News often highlights improvements made by airlines as a result of Airline Ratings' safety evaluations, which include certification like the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit). The technology sector also impacts aviation safety, as Airline Ratings plans to update its rating criteria to reflect advancements in safety technology and changing regulations. Furthermore, the financial sector is indirectly involved as high safety ratings contribute to an airline's positive industry reputation and potential for increased growth in the transportation sector.
