Independent Review of Brazilian Aviation Safety Urged

The International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers’ Associations (IFATCA) believes an independent review by foreign aviation experts of last week’s fatal TAM Airbus A320 crash would help Brazil fix its chaotic air travel system. “Following the mid-air collision in September 2006, this is yet another disastrous civil aviation accident in Brazil in a short period. In both cases numerous warning signs, multiple risks and safety relevant reports were ignored,” states the controllers union. IFATCA has condemned the stance of the Brazilian Government to let the military intervene. This plan replaces civilian controllers with military air defense personnel who are neither trained, nor qualified to control civil air traffic, charges the Montreal-based air traffic controllers group. IFATCA President Marc Baumgartner says “the Brazilian government has focused much energy in chasing scapegoats instead of re-engineering the necessary safety oversight and risk assessment to prevent Brazilian civil aviation from falling into deeper chaos. By delegating safety oversight, safety management and safety provision to (the military), the Brazilian government is endangering the lives of the traveling public in Brazil. Warnings on the conditions at the airport in Congonhas have repeatedly been ignored by the authorities. Continuing to ignore internationally agreed standards on Air Traffic Management and Airport design (layout) will only lead to further hardship and possibly more accidents,” warns the president of IFATCA.