Aviation Industry Under Fire Around Safety Issues

Ten years after Swissair Flight 111 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia, airlines have yet to act on many of the recommendations stemming from one of lengthiest and most expensive air investigations in Canadian history. While aviation officials continue to disagree over the level of risk involved, crash experts worry that the industry is flirting with disaster.

"For example, instead of conducting an inspection to assess whether the tires in the aircraft landing gear are sufficiently inflated, Transport Canada will assess whether a company has the systems in place to ensure that the tires are inflated, following up if necessary. The goal is to make companies more accountable for the management of risks. Transport Canada will still be accountable for safety oversight. The department maintains that safety management systems will allow more thorough identification and resolution of potential safety problems, making the transportation system safer."