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Stay up to date on airline safety regulations

Airline safety regulations and recommendations are changing constantly. In order to stay up to date with these changes, you have to find reputable sources to alert you when new information is available.

I recommend: Department of Transportation offers an RSS feed to their updates page, which includes a weekly newsletter concerning airline safety regulations. EIN News offers subscription services and RSS feeds to keep you up to date on the latest news in the airline industry, including airplane safety information. Flight offers airline safety information from all over the world.

Take part in an airline safety program

Participating in an airline safety program is one way to help airlines stay as safe as possible, even if you are simply a passenger. Many airline safety programs now include lessons on airline terrorism and other disruptive situations that may occur on airplanes

I recommend: The Federal Aviation Administration website offers numerous programs and articles to help passengers and airline employees safe. AirlineSafety.com has an extensive library of articles concerning airline safety. This company also sells safety items, such as airline safety cards.

Know the airline safety ratings for various airlines

Prior to flying on any airline, you may want to find out about the airline safety ratings from numerous airlines. This information can clue you in on current safety issues as well as things to look for before the flight takes off. While a few airlines have no accidents on file, many airlines have accidents that happened long ago. When you are looking into airline safety records, checking the last 10 years is usually sufficient.

I recommend: PlaneCrashInfo.com offers plane crash information and airline safety rating information dating back to 1920. This website offers the airplane crash records by year in which the accident occurred. AirSafe.com maintains airline safety statistics information. This website has a list of airlines that have clean safety records.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Airline safety data can be hard to decipher. You can call your local airport to find out where you can get assistance to help you decipher the information.

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Find airline safety statistics by topic

Look for fatal events by airline or by aircraft model. Look at turbulence issues or most recent crashes. Find airlines without fatal crashes, or find out other security information.

I recommend: Look to online resources like Airsafe.com or the Air Safety Records to find out the down and dirty facts on particular carriers and their airline safety information.

Look at airline safety accident rates

When you look at accident rates you are taking into account the number of flights, the number of fatal accidents, and sometimes the total number of fatalities in an accident.

I recommend: Look at the accident rates for major carriers from the last 20 years on PlaneCrashInfo.com. You can also check out statistics at AirDisaster.com.

Go to government resources for up-to-date airline safety information

Government entities like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provide the public with air safety information. Many foreign governments look up to them for their aviation expertise.

I recommend: Check out the FAA’s aircraft safety record report. Take a look at the NTSB’s aviation accident database.

Purchase airline safety cards and other airline safety precautionary items

Safety items for your airline or aircraft can include anything from metal detectors at gateways, to safety cards on the plane, to seat belts or floatation device seats. Search out reputable dealers to stock your plane or fill your airline's needs.

I recommend: Find airline safety cards from retailers such as Cabin Safety International, Ltd. or Aero Safety Graphics, Inc. Check out aircraft seat belts from Aircraft Belts, Inc.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have a fear about a particular airline or aviation issue, don't be afraid to look up the actual airline crash statistics on it or ask questions of your preferred carrier. Chances are your fears will not be supported by the data--flying in a plane is actually safer than setting foot in a car.

1. Enroll in formal courses addressing airline safety at an aviation school or college.
2. Sign up for an internship covering airline safety with a major airline carrier.
3. Take advantage of airline safety educational and training opportunities offered by aviation associations.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn airline safety in a formal classroom setting

You're likely to find courses on airline safety at most aviation schools or college aviation programs. Some airline safety classes are part of a school's curriculum or are offered as separate programs. Airline safety standards, regulations, operations, management and other topics will be addressed in airline safety classes.

I recommend: The program at the Aviation Institute at Broward College includes a course on aviation safety as well as on airline/airport security. George Washington University offers an Aviation Safety and Security Certificate Program covering airline safety regulations, management and airline safety operations.

Serve an internship in airline safety with a commercial airliner

Hands-on experience is perhaps the best way to learn about airline safety programs. Some commercial airlines and government organizations offer internships in several areas of aviation, including airline safety. Internships give you the chance to work closely with professional inspectors, investigators and other airline personnel working within an airline safety program.

I recommend: Alaska Airlines offers internships that focus on ground safety or flight safety. Southwest Airlines offers internships in many areas, including operational safety. Gain invaluable experience when you sign on for an internship through the Office of Aviation Safety at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Attend airline safety seminars and conferences

There are many benefits to becoming a member of a professional aviation association. One of the greatest benefits is the opportunity to attend training seminars and educational conferences. Many of these associations will offer seminars and conferences on airline safety information, as well as provide additional learning and training tools on this subject.

I recommend: The Flight Safety Foundation conducts several annual seminars regarding airline safety, addressing maintenance, operations, training and more. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) offers online, interactive airline safety courses, a safety blog and safety publications. Enroll in classes addressing airline safety systems, processes and management at International Air Transport Association (IATA).