NEWSFLASH

AIRLINE INDUSTRY MODERNIZATION PUSHED

Manila, July 22, 2000 - Aviation experts are seeking reforms and modernization in the airline industry to ensure a safe, dependable and efficient air transport system for the flying public.

Air Transportation Office chief Jacinto Ortega says the desired reforms call for Congress to give more teeth to the regulators to be able to enforce rules based on the modern standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Congress must amend RA 776 -- the law mandating ATO as aviation regulator -- and make it attuned to the times, Ortega told a recent symposium with the theme, "Quality and Safety-- Giant Steps to Aviation Excellence."

In the same forum, Capt. John Henley, managing director of Aviation Management Systems (AMS) Pte Ltd., said airline owners must go to extra lengths, upgrade systems and adopt total safety and quality as hallmark of their day-to-day operations. AMS, a Singapore-based aviation safety consultancy firm, has set up AMS Philippines, its regional office in Makati, as part of its expansion.

Stressing that the ATO is always at the forefront of efforts to instill quality and safety in aviation, Ortega said in the race towards excellence, there is no finish line. Aviation quality and safety are continuing concerns, Ortega said, and the driving force must meet the airspace users' requirement and provide the flying public with a safe, dependable, economical and efficient air transport system.

Meanwhile, Henley said the use of state-of-the-art technology can help big or small airline owners improve operations. It must, however, go hand in hand with the other fundamentals of aviation quality and safety (AQS), such as compliance to all regulations and implementation of good industry standards and practices.

Henley urged airline owners to adopt the global baseline of safety and quality known as AQS 9000/121. Henley said the benefits of applying AQS are real: "It will save you money because your procedures will be more soundly based and more effective, it will ensure customer satisfaction, because you have built-in quality at every stage, it will reduce all forms of waste."

Designed following a series of airplane crashes in the 60s up to 70s, 9000/121 has been globally accepted as a high standard of safety and quality. AQS 9000/121 is defined as the synergy between the principles of the ICAO and the minimum acceptable regulatory standards.

Compliance with global standards like AQS is necessary for the implementation worldwide of the "open skies" policy in 2002.

The two major regulators -- Federal Aviation Administration of US and the Joint Airworthiness Administration of Europe -- will see to it that high standards are complied with.

They have given all members of ICAO Until year 2002 to shape up. Those who fail the criteria will not be allowed to fly into ICAO member countries.