AS9100 Certification: Keeping More People from Dying in Plane Accidents (Demo)

An Associated Press report published by the Huffington Post indicates that these days, more passengers are likely to survive plane crashes than in the past. This was evident in Asiana Airlines’ Flight 214 that crashed in San Francisco last July 6, 2013 and was almost totally destroyed. Many passengers were subsequently injured, mostly slight and some serious, but only two of the 307 people onboard the ill-fated plane died. These passengers and crew were not just lucky to escape relatively unscathed from such a major disaster. Planes are now more structurally sound with stronger seats that are less likely to move and crush passengers—and that also includes fire retardant cushions and carpeting. Doors are now also easier to open, allowing people to exit faster and these (and other improvements) are in keeping with the aerospace industry’s maintenance of strict management standards through an AS9100 certification. An AS9100 certification is proof of an airline company’s dedication to uphold the highest quality standards in all aspects of the business. This includes passenger service, airplane maintenance, security, and safety including work efficiency and better management operations. This certification has made it possible for improvements in cockpit technology to change the nature and severity of airplane crashes. According to Kevin Hiatt, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization for improving air safety, crashes are now more survivable than they were several decades ago. People in the industry have learned from past accidents and have made adjustments for improvements, particularly in matters of passenger safety. This has resulted in advances in airplane technology that have addressed such concerns. Although investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause of the Asiana Airlines plane crash, the trend shows that fewer people are dying in aviation accidents. For example, records show that from 1962 to 1981, fifty four percent of people in plane crashes died. It improved slightly during the period from 1982 to 2009 when only 39 percent where killed, but the figures were only for crashes with at least one fatality, as there had been others where everybody survived. Today, with more aviation companies trying to achieve AS9100 certification standards, the number of plane crash incidents has been considerably reduced. These sought-after certifications are issued by the International Standards Authority, Inc. or ISA, to enforce the highest quality of safety and performance in the aerospace industry. When an airline company has been granted said certification, it means that it has met rigid standards of quality recognized the world over.