|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
   |
View items related to this story
FLYING FOREIGN WITH NO JITTERSEdward Barnes, a political correspondent for Time magazine, has been flying around the globe for 15 years. To distinguish between airlines that fly rust-bucket rejects and carriers whose operations exceed the strictest safety standards, Barnes depends on word of mouth or goes on past experience. But for the less traveled who don't have the chance to network like Barnes does, there are an increasing number of easy ways to improve the chances of arriving safely. Researching airline safety is something to consider: Some foreign carriers, such as Korean Air and Thai Airways, have accident rates as high as five times the rate of U.S. lines, while others simply keep no figures at all. RUSSIAN ROULETTE. To investigate the safety of a foreign airline, you need to ask the right questions. For instance, what is the type and age of an airplane? Aircraft not produced by such majors as Boeing, Airbus, McDonnell Douglas, or Fokker can be a red flag. Avoid planes manufactured by Russian companies Tupolev and Ilyushin, for which few parts are still produced and maintenance is generally below Western standards. Aircraft more than 20 years old, the average intended life of most planes, need increasing amounts of maintenance. If these higher levels of care aren't performed, the aircraft's safety could be compromised. Also, find out whether the carrier has outfitted its fleet with a collision avoidance system, a key piece of safety detection equipment. This is especially important in Third World countries, such as those in Africa, where air traffic control is below par. Armed with the right questions, where do you turn? Travel agencies can tell you the type and age of the aircraft on a particular route. State Dept. and U.S. embassy personnel in other countries usually have enough data to steer you away from carriers with bad safety records. The State Dept.'s World Wide Web page reports areas to avoid and warnings about air service in certain countries. One of the best sources for travelers is the International Airline Passengers Assn. (IAPA), which periodically publishes accident rates on foreign airlines. In mid-February, the association will release its latest survey, a safety ranking of regions around the world through 1995. The study includes the number of airplane accidents in every country over the past decade and explains why accident rates in certain regions are higher. The IAPA will also tell you the age and makeup of foreign carriers' fleets and the total number of employees. The association plans to open a free Web site by midyear. Or subscribe to the quarterly newsletter: Membership dues range from $49 to $149. The Federal Aviation Administration reviews the aviation regulatory authorities of those countries whose airlines enter the U.S. Through its International Aviation Safety Assessment program (IASA), countries are divided into three categories based on how well they oversee their carriers, maintain aviation infrastructure such as their air traffic control systems, and adhere to internationally accepted safety standards. FAA officials expect to finish a review of 100 countries and post it on the FAA's Web site in February. The IASA system is a simple one that hints at the performance of a country's carriers. For instance, airlines from Category 1 countries, such as Israel, enjoy unlimited access to the U.S.; those from Category 2 face certain limits such as the inability to expand service in the U.S., and carriers from Category 3, like Suriname, are banned. Travelers would do best to stick with carriers in Category 1. CLUNKER SHUTTLES.You might consider subscribing to the online edition of the Official Airline Guide (OAG). It reports the aircraft type an airline uses on specific routes. This is especially useful information when traveling from one city to another within Eastern Europe, where less reliable equipment is often pressed into service. To get the OAG service, there is a one-time hook-up charge of $25. The cost per minute depends on time of day. Flight data are updated every 10 minutes. Also, you might want to check if your corporate travel department has Federal Express Aviation Services' two-volume set called Commercial Jet Fleets. The publication reviews, in technical detail, the world's airlines, including the age and composition of fleets. The $1,295-a-year price tag for the report, which is updated quarterly, may seem sky-high, but Federal Express also offers a semiannual subscription for $895. The next time you plan a trip abroad, let your fingers do the walking. Otherwise, you may end up on an airline where you'd rather walk than fly.
By Christina Del Valle
|
Updated June 15, 1997 by bwwebmaster
Copyright 1997, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use