Germany's Leipzig Airport is the nation's most secure aviation hub
Leipzig-Halle Airport has been recognised as the safest in Germany by the Cockpit Association, a pilots' union. However, it's important to note that there is no specific information about the airport being singled out for specific safety features praised by pilots.
The Cockpit Association's annual safety check on German commercial airports, which began in 1978 and later included regional airports, evaluates airports based on a catalog of criteria that includes both international regulations and additional equipment deemed sensible from the pilots' perspective. This year, the methodology has been slightly adjusted to place greater emphasis on effective safety measures.
Safety measures at airports and airlines often revolve around rigorous maintenance and operational protocols. These can include regular aircraft maintenance, extensive training for pilots to handle various scenarios, including emergencies, safety audits to identify and rectify any concerns, clear protocols for emergency situations, and the utilisation of advanced navigation and communication systems.
Lübeck, on the other hand, has slipped to the bottom of the safety table for German airports. One of the issues highlighted is the lack of adequately paved clearways of sufficient length (300 meters) at the ends of the runway in Lübeck. Another concern is that stop bars, designed to prevent runway collisions, are usually only turned on by air traffic control during poor visibility conditions. In a recent incident, a catastrophic collision of two aircraft occurred at Tokyo-Haneda, where stop bars were present but faulty at the time of the accident.
Pilots have also expressed concerns about the non-continuous operation of stop bars at Munich airport, which contributed to the airport slipping to second place in the current evaluation. They have urged the installation of backup systems for the US GPS system due to its frequent disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions such as the Ukraine war.
The Cockpit Association emphasises that there is almost always room for improvement in striving for maximum safety. They also mentioned that colleagues from Switzerland have been involved in the safety check for the second time.
Despite these concerns, the Cockpit Association estimates that all German airports are safe enough for passenger flights. They praise the exemplary lighting systems on the runways at Leipzig-Halle, including continuously illuminated stop bars, as contributing to the airport's safety record. However, for specific details about Leipzig-Halle's safety practices, further information or direct statements from the Cockpit Association would be necessary.
- The Cockpit Association's safety check considers various aspects of safety in airports, including finances, as adequate funding ensures proper maintenance and equipment upgrades.
- The aviation industry's commitment to safety extends beyond airports, encompassing transportation networks, as the efficiency of these links significantly impacts overall airport safety.
