Ascend: Industry Cutbacks Threaten Air Safety

Aviation Insiders` Survey Backs Hudson Hero Captain Sullenberger`s Concerns

LONDON & NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
In a year already struck by high-profile accidents, the aviation industry has
repeated its anxiety about safety, in a survey for Ascend, the aerospace
specialists.

Along with poor financial health, a shortage of experienced personnel, fatigue
and tough work practices were considered the greatest dangers to air safety,
mirroring concerns expressed in an Ascend survey last year. This year, fears
over complacency had significantly increased.

The results come shortly after Captain Chesley Sullenberger`s comments that cost
cutting practices, putting pressure on airline staff, are threatening safety.
Speaking about his successful landing of US Airways flight 1549 in New York`s
Hudson river, he said, "One way of looking at this might be that, for 42 years,
I`ve been making regular deposits in this bank of experience: education and
training. And on January 15th the balance was sufficient so that I could make a
very large withdrawal." Sullenberger is alarmed at practices, which he fears
threaten that bank.

Ascend Safety director Paul Hayes agrees with the sentiment. "Industry cutbacks
are causing concerns. Aviation personnel are aware that they are working harder
for less money, and they link this with increased risks to safety," he says.

"However, these views need to be balanced with the fact that safety is expected
to continue improving over the next five years thanks to better technology and
management accountability for safety. It follows that respondents overwhelmingly
placed responsibility for continued improvement with management. They feared
that inexperience, fatigue and complacency threaten the value of safety
improvements."

Almost 200 aviation insiders from over 40 countries responded to the survey,
conducted in March by Ascend.

Ranking safety threats from 1 (least important) to 10 (most important), most
insiders rated: a shortage of experienced personnel at +7; airline financial
health +7,management experience and culture +8; fatigue/difficult work practices
+7; and complacency +6.

"It`s important for aviation management to take these views onboard and respond
accordingly, seeking to balance economic challenges with appropriate levels of
safety training and sound work practices, says Hayes."

Observations by respondents supported these views:

* "Airline management irresponsibly views safety as an additional cost."
* "Safety is about attitude and accountability."
* "Cost is the problem in all areas."
* "Top down emphasis on safety is what brings it to the fore."
* "Pilots must be trained to immediately to go to manual to avoid secondary
impacts."

For charts on survey results:

http://www.ascendworldwide.com/content/download/SafetyData/AirsafetyData.htm

About Ascend

Ascend (www.ascendworldwide.com) is the world`s leading provider of specialist
information and consultancy services to the global air transport industry. For
over four decades it has supplied the most reliable, trusted and up-to-date
aviation industry information and insight available anywhere.

Today, all of Ascend`s market-leading products and services are built to deliver
decision-support information, insight and consultancy across a wide spectrum.
Offerings include:

* Aviation Fleet Information
* Valuations and Appraisals
* Technical and Commercial Solutions
* Market Analysis
* Airport Economics
* Air Safety
* Space Analytics

From aircraft manufacturers to operators, financiers, lessors and suppliers, the
aviation industry relies on Ascend to help make informed decisions and capture
new opportunities.

Ascend is headquartered in London with offices in New York and Hong Kong.

Tannissan Mae Communications for Ascend
Nancy Prendergast
nancy@tannissanmae.com
+44 (0) 20 7243 4440

Copyright Business Wire 2009