ASIA PACIFIC AVIATION EXPERTS MEET TO ADDRESS SAFETY CHALLENGES

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – Over 120 airline safety professionals are gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam today for the Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2012 (APASS 2012), organised by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

Topics to be addressed include: safety challenges with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific region; safety management systems (SMS); responding to regional safety threats; cabin safety; runway safety; and safety applications.

The seminar, endorsed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the Flight Safety Foundation, and Airports Council International – Asia Pacific, is hosted by Vietnam Airlines, with additional support from Asiana Airlines, Airbus, Boeing, Aerobytes, CEFA Aviation, SAGEM (SAFRAN Group), and Teledyne Controls.

Welcoming delegates to APASS 2012, AAPA Director General Mr. Andrew Herdman said, “Air travel is now part of everyday modern life. Here in the dynamic Asia Pacific region, on a daily basis, three million passengers, representing 34% of global air passenger traffic, take to the air in the knowledge that flying is safe, secure and convenient.”

Mr. Herdman further noted, “Last year was the safest ever for air travel worldwide, with a major accident rate of one in three million flights, and the industry is committed to further enhancing this already excellent safety performance. Safety requires close cooperation between regulators, airlines and other stakeholders; with the sharing of data and best practices; as well as effective consultation processes and communications. AAPA is committed to playing a critical role in ensuring that airlines in the region remain vigilant in maintaining the very highest safety standards.”

In his APASS 2012 keynote address, Mr. Duong Tri Thanh Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, emphasised that: “Safety is our number one priority, and safety conscious operations are a key feature of the way Vietnam Airlines does business. It is important that all our staff, whether at the frontline or in the back office, place a very high premium on maintaining the highest safety standards.”

Mr. Lai Xuan Thanh, Deputy Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) informed the meeting about efforts to further strengthen regulatory oversight, and said that he was encouraged by AAPA’s efforts to support industry initiatives in line with ICAO’s established safety priorities. He commented, “APASS 2012 presents a valuable opportunity to share lessons learned amongst regional and local experts, to further improve aviation safety performance standards within the region.”