Chinese Aviation Soars

[Capt. Fantastic]

A Wall Street Journal article which merits purchase of a hardcopy. Or a trial online subscription.

"How China Turned Around A Dismal Air-Safety Record"

By ANDY PASZTOR

The first two paragraphs:

"For much of the 1990s, Chinese airlines were arguably the world's most dangerous, beset by persistent pilot errors, unreliable maintenance and erratic government oversight. With crashes at one point taking 550 lives over several years, the issue threatened to impede the nation's economic growth.

"Today, China is an acclaimed global leader in air safety. Despite frequent double-digit annual growth in the number of hours its airlines fly, their most recent fatal-accident rates are lower than America's and Europe's."

Which is more than a little reassuring.

[Coolhand]

Originally Posted by Capt. Fantastic

Which is more than a little reassuring.

Until you actually fly on a Chinese domestic flight! If it actually takes off!

[K2]

India catching up as well ... these new airlines have the luxury of new planes.

Good for China on improving its standards.

[Coolhand]

Originally Posted by K2

Good for China on improving its standards.

I may be a little cynical but this improvement in safety stats may be due to better engineered and safer, easier to fly airplanes - cos I don't see better pilots, etc.

[Masterwoodsman]

Isn't it ironic that they are suddenly publicising these quotes and stats when the Beijing olympics is only just round the corner in 2008, Surely is in their own interest to promote air safety in China so people actually go to watch the games... just a thought