Should Passengers of Small Aircraft Be Concerned About Safety?

Much has been made recently from news stories regarding the training and safety measures that are in place for smaller aircraft as opposed to their larger counterparts. The crash of the commuter plane in Buffalo, New York, and the recent release of the audio from the cockpit recordings of crew members' final discussions, have led passengers to question if appropriate safety measures are being taken at the regional level. These recordings told the story of the crew discussing their lack of experience flying in icy conditions, which is exactly what they were doing at the time of the crash.

Smaller airports most often utilize the smaller, regional jets (RJs) with twin engines that were the norm in travel before larger planes began to take over the market. In fact, among the smaller airports in the country, such as those in Richmond, VA; Colorado Springs, CO; and Ontario, CA, a dominant percent of the market share belongs to these regional jets. They serve a valuable function in the day-to-day needs of the traveling public.

Officials representing several regional airline carriers have stated that the same rules, regulations, and training procedures do apply to the smaller planes as well as the larger planes with the more well-known names. Many larger airlines utilizing larger aircraft also use turboprop aircraft to act as "feeder" planes, which serve to take passengers from a more populated destination to a more rural one.

An FAA spokesperson has stated that each airline has its own training program. One of the vice presidents of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Mr. Paul Rice, expressed the opinion recently that this segment of the airline industry has experienced tremendous growth recently. He went on to state that sometimes pilots may not be given enough opportunities to gain a familiarity with many situations first-hand before they are asked to play the lead role in piloting an aircraft. Some in the industry are calling for training programs to step up to meet the needs of the current times.

Still other industry experts, such as the president of the Regional Airline Association, Mr. Roger Cohen, has stated that all pilots are required to pursue and receive designated certificates before they are allowed at the controls of an airplane. Furthermore, in a situation where an aircraft weighs more than 12,500 pounds, the individual pursuing the title of captain must also be "type-rated" in the specific aircraft in which he intends to fly.

Yet another specialist who has worked for Boeing in the past, as well as the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Todd Curtis, states that there are differences between flying smaller planes and larger planes, and the risks are different as well. Therefore, training, it can be assumed, should be mandated that is specific to each type of aircraft and not cover a general overall view. Currently, the FAA goes by the guidelines that both major sizes and types of aircraft can operate under the same set of safety rules and regulations.

There is no doubt that we need smaller airplanes to serve the segment of the aviation industry that would otherwise not be able to have air transportation offered. This segment consists of a large percentage of small towns, cities, and rural areas. Until this most recent crash of the Continental Connection aircraft in Buffalo, most passengers had never questioned the safety of smaller airplanes. This tragedy has brought to light the need to re-examine and re-evaluate how training occurs and how the two sizes and different types of aircraft should be considered. It has also revealed that a better mechanism needs to be put into place for scrutinizing pilot applications, as well as taking into consideration the burden that the increase in commuter traffic has placed on the human individuals at the controls.

More Business Travel News & Updates from Convention Trip.com

---