Ever since the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, new airline safety and regulations have been put in place for the safety of travel. Last year there was a total of 13 commercial jet incidents.
Some of these new regulations include a passcode on the cockpit door and improvements on security screening.
President and CEO of the London International Airport, Michael Seabrook says that it is still the safest way to travel, “We’re probably one of the most regulated industries in Canada and worldwide the aviation industry is. Right from the people, to the equipment and the inspection, you should feel safe flying in Canada on a Canadian carrier.”
“We have emergency procedures that have been put in place and that we practice. At the airport today, we have our own fire hall, we have staff trained in aircraft rescue and fuel compression. We’ve been very fortunate over the years here in London,” says Seabrook.
“Generally what you do find, 9/11 may have one of the only exceptions, the incidents that have taken place are related to aircraft problems, they’re usually never related to pilot competence.”
London though has had some scary moments over the years though.
Emergency landing dispatcher for the London airport, Anthony Graves recalls a time when he first started to work when a passenger jet had to make an emergency landing, “The first day by myself, it was actually just right after training, I got a call on the radio, and I read the report afterwards, the door flew off the plane during take-off, and I heard from the radio tower that the plane had to turn around and make an emergency landing, emergency crews were then sent out but thankfully no one was hurt.”
“My heart was racing I can tell you that much,” says Graves.
Seabrook says that passengers play a major roll in the protection of passengers and you can check out the Canadian Air Transportation Safety Agency (CATSA) website about what to bring on a plane and what to leave at home when travelling.
