Lessons can India learn from Japan Airlines’

Source: The post lessons can India learn from Japan Airlines has been created, based on the article “Aviation professionalism which India must draw from” published in “The Hindu” on 8th January 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper3

News: A Japan Airlines Airbus A350 collided with a Japanese Coast Guard Bombardier Dash 8 at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, leading to five fatalities on the smaller aircraft while all 379 passengers on the JAL plane survived.

What are some other notable incidents?

Air France AF 358 (2005): Overshot the runway in heavy rain in Toronto, catching fire; all 309 passengers evacuated safely, 11 injured.

Emirates EK 521 (2016): Crashed while landing due to lack of passenger discipline in grabbing hand luggage, delaying evacuation.

Air India Airbus (2023): Experienced an extreme hard landing in Dubai; the aircraft was on the ground for more than a week, reflecting serious operational and safety oversights.

Indian Airlines IC 171 (1976): Crashed due to confusion between operating Boeing and Caravelle aircraft.

Indian Airlines Airbus Crash (1990): 92 fatalities with pilots fresh from conversion training, indicating training deficiencies.

What lessons can India learn from Japan Airlines’ (JAL) plane escape?

Effective Crew Training: The disciplined and orderly evacuation by the JAL crew, despite only three exits available and no functioning cabin public address system, showcases the importance of rigorous emergency training.

Importance of Passenger Discipline: The JAL passengers’ adherence to instructions, evacuating without taking hand luggage, contrasts with other incidents where evacuation was delayed by passengers retrieving bags, emphasizing the need for passenger education on safety protocols.

Rapid and Transparent Response: The swift release of ATC transcripts and prompt preliminary report on the JAL accident highlight the need for immediate and transparent investigation processes, unlike the lengthy delays often seen in India.

Adhering to Safety Protocols: Acknowledging and acting upon issued notices and clearances, as a lapse in these areas speculated in the Coast Guard’s actions, are crucial for preventing runway collisions.

What are the Aircraft Evacuation Standards?

Aircraft evacuation standards demand a full evacuation within 90 seconds using only half of the emergency exits. This simulates scenarios where exits might be unusable due to blockages or damage, ensuring preparedness for various emergencies. The 90-second rule is derived from preventing flashover in post-crash fires.

What is Hard landing?

Hard landings are a critical concern in aviation, often leading to passenger discomfort, damage to the aircraft, and in severe cases, fatalities.

The severity of landings is quantified using “touch down g,” which refers to the gravitational force exerted on the aircraft’s tires at landing. Generally, a landing with a “touch down g” exceeding 1.8 is classified as hard, indicating the force was 1.8 times the aircraft’s weight.

Way forward

To enhance aviation safety, airlines must prioritize rigorous training, strict adherence to operational standards, and address fatigue and stress in pilots. Lessons from incidents like Japan Airlines’ evacuation success and the hard landing of Air India should drive improvements. The focus should be on discipline, clear communication, and maintaining high standards in crew selection and emergency procedures.

Terminology used

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the regulatory body in Civil Aviation, mainly dealing with safety issues. It is responsible for regulation of air transport services to/from/within India and for enforcement of civil air regulations, air safety, and airworthiness standards. The DGCA also co-ordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Question for practice:

Examine how lessons from Japan Airlines’ plane evacuation can contribute to improving aviation safety in India.