Strong Safety Culture a Key Focus, say IATA

At the 2024 IATA World Safety and Operations Conference in Marrakech, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted three critical priorities for the industry: global standards, safety culture, and the use of data. 

It said these areas are pivotal to navigating the increasingly complex challenges the aviation sector faces, such as regional conflicts, cybersecurity threats, and rising operational demands.

“Safety is aviation’s main priority," said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

"Over 4.4 billion travellers flew safely in 2023 despite an increasingly complex operating environment. To progress even further, we must prioritise global standards—implementation and continuous modernisation.

"We must also continue to cultivate a safety culture with an emphasis on collaboration and strong leadership. And we must utilise the rapidly growing capabilities of data analysis to better understand risks and drive innovation. Together, these are a winning strategy to make our safe industry even safer,”

Global Standards: A Foundation for Safety

One key example of global safety standards being implemented is the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), which IATA said had proven to be instrumental in reducing accident rates. 

The 2019-2023 average accident rate of IOSA airlines was 0.84 per million sectors which is almost three times better than the non-IOSA average of 2.24.

With a transition to Risk-based IOSA Audits, IATA is focusing on airline-specific risks, tailoring its oversight to address the particular challenges faced by each carrier. It says that the shift modernises the audit process but also ensures that safety standards remain high and adaptable to evolving risks.

Another important aspect of global standards is the timely publication of accident investigation reports, a critical tool for learning from accidents and preventing future occurrences. With only 48% of accidents having had a final report published, IATA called on governments worldwide to prioritise meeting their obligations under the Chicago Convention and ensure accident reports are published swiftly and thoroughly. 

Building a Strong Safety Culture: The Role of Leadership

A robust safety culture is crucial to the success of the global aviation training community, IATA said, adding that senior leaders must foster environments where employees feel empowered to raise safety concerns. 

IATA’s Safety Leadership Charter, which outlines eight fundamental principles of safety leadership, has been signed by 100 airline CEOs, reflecting the industry's commitment to building strong safety cultures from the top down.

Additionally, IATA Connect offers a platform for airlines, auditors, and regulators to collaborate and share safety information in real time. This fosters open communication, supports data-driven risk management, and helps the industry address safety issues promptly.

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Leveraging Data for Continuous Improvement

IATA added that the use of data is becoming increasingly critical to advancing aviation safety. With the rapid development of big data, machine learning, and AI, IATA said it was harnessing the power of Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) to monitor risks and drive innovation. It noted that platforms such as Flight Data eXchange (FDX) and Turbulence Aware are helping airlines access real-time insights and manage risks more effectively.

"The role of data in aviation will only grow," Walsh said. "By analysing and sharing data from multiple sources and millions of flights we can see patterns that would otherwise be undetectable. And from this analysis we will find innovations that will improve safety, raise efficiency to the next level and contribute to our net zero carbon emissions by 2050 goal."

The Aviation Training Community’s Role in Safety

A strong safety culture is at the heart of aviation’s success, and effective training is essential to maintaining and enhancing this culture. The European Airline Training Symposium (EATS 2024) and the World Aviation Training Summit (WATS 2025) will provide invaluable platforms for the global aviation training community to come together and discuss the latest safety developments and innovations. 

These events will offer attendees the chance to learn from industry leaders and explore new training methodologies that can further strengthen the link between training and safety.

By participating, you’ll gain insight into the latest strategies for fostering a strong safety culture and optimising training programs for individuals and teams alike. 

Don’t miss your opportunity to contribute to the future of aviation safety and ensure that our safe industry becomes even safer.