B-52H Crash Fairchild AFB 1994

B-52H Crash Fairchild AFB 1994 Name Affiliation Date B-52H Crash Fairchild AFB 1994 Abstract The critical role that the aviation industry plays has led to massive investments to ensure that safety of aircraft during the flights. Initially, aviation safety was viewed majorly from a technical point of view where an aircraft deemed safe if it is functioning well. However, the occurrence of accidents due other causes other than technical failure has drawn a lot of attention from the global aviation community in this matter. Consequently, aviation safety now requires a multidisciplinary approach from technical, economic, managerial, human behavior as well as legal. This paper analyses the safety measures that the airline industry has taken to prevent the accidents. Focus is given on the crash of the B-52H and highlights some of the mistakes made by both the pilot and the commander in charge as well as other safety hazards that can occur during a flight. The paper takes into consideration the lessons learned from the crash and highlights the developments that have occurred so far. Lastly, the study highlights aviation safety practices that have been developed to prevent accidents from occurring frequently. Introduction Aviation safety is a concern for many people who recognize its importance. Indeed, when major accidents have taken place in the industry, people react from different parts of the world. Vital aviation accidents have led to the loss of lives in large numbers and heavy casualties for the industry. As a result, the industry has continued to be of importance to all the stakeholders including the public, governments, and the industry. When the B-52H crashed at Fairchild Air Force Base in 1994 killing all the four crew on board, the importance of aviation safety has become a critical issue. Significant research has been done on similar accidents to establish their cause as well as come up with measures that ensure that similar scenarios do not occur. Safety is used in everyday life to imply freedom from any form of danger. However, if aviation must be completely free of risk, then it will not exist in the first place. Huang (2009) states that flight cannot be free of hazards since it occurs at an environment which is hostile at high speed. Consequently, aviation safety has evolved to encompass the investigation, analysis of failures, and the regulation, and training with the aim of avoiding future accidents to enhance the security of the passengers. Hence, aviation safety goes beyond the prevention of accidents from a technical point of view and covers other dimensions such as strategic, political and legal dimensions with the aim of ensuring risk management for future flights. Safety Hazards in Aviation The crushing of B-52H awakened the world to the safety measures that need consideration in the industry. The pilot, Lt Col Arthur Holland pushed the plane far much beyond its operational limits. The aircraft lost control and crashed to the ground where it exploded killing the pilot and the other three crew. A report from investigation revealed that the pilot violated the safety procedures. On the other hand, the supervisor was at a fault for allowing...