SKIES DEMAND GREATER VIGILANCE

The recent plane crash is a humbling reminder that aviation safety cannot be taken lightly.

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While air travel is deemed relatively safe, each accident however infrequent highlights shortcomings in the system that need to be dealt with urgently. This accident cannot be seen in isolation or as a case of bad luck. It has to be perceived as an indicator to tighten controls, enhance preparedness, and value human lives over the convenience of procedure.

Today's airplanes and skilled crew members have made flight efficient and routine. But this improvement can be misleading. It should be appreciated that the successful operation of each flight relies on a number of layers of planning, inspection, communication, and choice. A deficiency in any one of them can be disastrous. Hence, the reinforcement of each dimension of aviation ranging from ground checks to cockpit choices is necessary.