We have failproof early-warning systems for natural disasters such as typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, and volcanic eruptions.
Satellites and advanced monitoring technologies allow us to take timely precautions and avert potential tragedies.
Travelling by airplane is widely regarded as one of the safest modes of transportation.
Aviation is heavily regulated worldwide, with strict safety protocols that airlines and airports must follow. Commercial pilots undergo rigorous training and continuous assessment, while aircraft are equipped with advanced navigation and safety systems and undergo frequent inspections and maintenance.
Statistics show that chances of being involved in a fatal plane crash are approximately one in 11 million – far lower than the risks associated with road travel.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) provides guidance for global aviation safety and standardisation. Despite these measures, a critical safety protocol is missing: there is no single international body overseeing all aircraft maintenance records. Information on maintenance is not submitted to a central organisation that could monitor and analyse trends or defects.
Not every defect is spotted during aircraft production. Timely sharing of maintenance reports with manufacturers or a central aviation authority could detect potential issues early, preventing accidents.
Currently, maintenance records are held by the aircraft owner or operator and the Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) or Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO), and are often retained only for a limited period, sometimes just one year.
Unlike the motor vehicle industry, there is no universal system that feeds service data directly to manufacturers. The importance of information sharing is underscored by history. During the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States, law enforcement agencies including the FBI and CIA had information on the terrorists but were prohibited from sharing it fully with each other.
This lack of communication allowed the attacks to be carried out, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Similarly, in aviation, failing to share maintenance data among manufacturers, operators, and regulators can prevent early detection of defects, placing millions of passengers at risk.
According to the Air Transport Action Group, airlines carried 4.4 billion passengers in 2023, including 1.8 billion international travellers and 2.6 billion domestic passengers.
Passenger numbers were expected to rise to five billion in 2024. Sharing aircraft maintenance records is not only beneficial for manufacturers but is also life-saving for passengers.
I urge governments, aviation authorities, manufacturers , and industry experts to establish an international organisation dedicated solely to monitoring and sharing aircraft maintenance records.
If the motor vehicle industry can report defects to manufacturers effectively, the aviation industry, with its far higher stakes, can and must do better.
Early detection of aircraft defects could prevent accidents, safeguard lives, and further enhance the already impressive safety record of air travel.
* Pieter Willemse is an entrepreneur and fingerprint expert