A Low-Cos Ali Low w/c SWI 108200 986498 769265 661729 460027 396161 3572271 3759108) 89200 300118) 199480 1439541 20944 13251 10776 777723 5000 196099 105470 183962 205152) 227707 230008 1233398 200000 823479 873546 952269: 9315421 853882 837960 5472678 110000 460614 541639 473023 483634. 486285 497893 3053288. 23000 950505 971129 10016C5: 10111141 939158 889392: 5785903 140000 566084 547790 543743 537450; 517927. 517480 3370474. 68000 277897 276424 270716 274238 283508: 292892 1743675 192000, 780864 731282 7550941 721502 6914021 670772 4543516 190000 798035 886484 873338 819962: 946009 1043340 5659168 928000 4853777; 5013764 5054350 50845941 4947878 4979737, 3086210C 36000 144378) 133934 114458 118969 111707; 1119401 769396 964000 4998155| 5147698 5168818' 5201563 5059585 5091677: 31631498 AIR CARRIER SAFETY IN RECENT YEARS GENERAL In an industry with 9 zillion aircraft departures per year, major accidents such as Miazi remain rare events for air carriers that operate large aircraft. U.S. carriers had one such accident in 1995 and three in 1994, but none for the preceding two-and-a-half years. Since 1980, the U.S. has averaged just over 1 major fatal accident per year, despite continued growth in the industry. Total accident numbers have increased in recent years, particularly in 1995 and thus far in 1996. Accidents increased from 23 in 1994 to 35 in 1995, though major fatal accidents decreased from 3 in 1994 to 1 in 1995. Accidents are up again in 1996. Miami was the 14th accident this year, compared to 10 at this time last year. However, the increase in the absolute number of accidents is due to steady increases in relatively minor accidents. 21 of the 35 accidents in 1995 involved turbulence or accidents at the gate or on the ramp (such as striking a tow vehicle, etc.); most other accidents were characterized by overruns and hard landings. Of the 14 accidents so far this year, 9 involve LOF-COST CARRIERS Generalizing about low-cost carriers is difficult because a single carrier so dominates total departures (Southwest) and just 2 carriers have had accidents of note (Tower and, particularly, ValuJet). Ranking new-start carriers by safety rates also requires cautien. Most such carriers began operations or expanded only recently, which limits their total exposure (departures cr flight hours). Consequently, a single accident, even a minor gate event, could suddenly zove a given carrier from an accident rate of zero to the highest in the industry. Conversely, with such limited exposure, a zero accident rate also has licited meaning. In the aggregate, counting Southwest, low-cost carriers have accident rates and runway incursion rates that are comparable to the higher-cost or more established carriers. However, some lowcost carriers have had high rates, though, again, such rates must be treated with some caution. |