COVID19 & Aviation: Time to rethink!

Sep 24 in Safety News

COVID19 & Aviation: Time to rethink!

Organisations representing all categories of staff in our industry just issued a joint statement – “Time to Rethink” – calling for a safe, social & sustainable recovery from the COVID crisis. The President of AEI, Ola Blomqvist says, – “This is a powerful message to the aviation industry and to the political leadership of Europe.”

At an early stage of the COVID crisis AEI reported about problems with airworthiness of aircraft during and after a period of parking and storage. The COVID pandemic has also been used as an excuse to put pressure on licensed aircraft engineers, pilots, air traffic controllers and other staff. AEI have also experienced an increasing pressure from the industry towards more flexible regulations.

“ This is not a successful path to walk. We have to remind everyone involved that we are dealing with the safety of the flying public, says AEI president, Ola Blomqvist”

The crisis also revealed deep structural weaknesses in our industry, created by years of cost-cutting, a generation of industry leaders fond of fueling a ‘race to the bottom’ and authorities struggling to catch up.

Returning to ‘business as usual’ after COVID is not an option. 

AEI President, Ola Blomqvist, added, – “Even if this statement is written from a European perspective AEI is an international organisation and the need to rethink is equally important in many other parts of the world.”

TO READ THE FULL TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE PLEASE CLICK  HERE