More than 160 safety professionals from thirty seven (37) airlines are gathered in Tokyo, Japan this week meeting with other stakeholders including regulators, airframe manufacturers and service providers for the Asia Pacific Aviation Safety Seminar 2016 (APASS 2016), organised by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
APASS 2016 will provide the
Asia Pacific perspective on key aviation safety issues and discuss how the region can meet the growing demand for air travel whilst further enhancing safety performance.
Discussions will focus on lessons to be learnt, how to effectively use data in safety management and addressing particular safety concerns. The seminar includes practical workshops addressing specific safety topics including turboprops, flight operations and cabin safety, enabling participants to openly discuss practical issues, safety threats and challenges, and innovative solutions.
The seminar is hosted by
All Nippon Airways, with welcome additional support from
Airbus,
Boeing,
ATR,
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, Aerobytes,
CEFA Aviation, Flight Data Services, SAFRAN, Teledyne Controls, and Weathernews.
Welcoming delegates to APASS 2016,
AAPA Director General Mr. Andrew Herdman said, "The
Asia Pacific region is an exciting region for aviation where our contribution to economic and social development is widely appreciated."
Mr. Herdman continued, "Safety is acknowledged as a shared responsibility and requires close cooperation between regulators, airlines and other stakeholders in future rulemaking and standard setting. There is a need for effective consultation processes and communications supported by comprehensive data analysis."
Mr. Herdman noted, "Dramatic expansion of the air transport sector in the
Asia Pacific region brings with it considerable challenges, including the need for governments to maintain effective regulatory oversight in full compliance with agreed
ICAO standards, the recruitment and training of skilled personnel, and appropriate investments in aviation infrastructure. As industry we are supportive of the
ICAO 'No Country Left Behind' campaign which aims to address evident disparities in the quality of regulatory oversight amongst different states through improved implementation and compliance."
Mr. Herdman expressed further: "Safety is an issue that demands constant vigilance and the
AAPA is strongly determined to work with regulators and other industry stakeholders to support initiatives and efforts that ensure that further improvements are achieved across the region."
Aviation is widely recognised as a key contributor to economic and social development, with 3.6 billion passengers annually or 10 million passengers flying safely and securely every day. About one third of those passengers are being carried by airlines from the Asia Pacific region, where air transport supports almost 29 million jobs and USD 626 billion in GDP.