As the World fleet multiplies and passenger traffic is counted in billions, one of aviation's major challenges is to drive down the accident rate. And meeting that goal, requires a new method of prevention, harvesting terabytes of data from safety reporting systems, to identify causal precursors and stop the smoking hole from happening (Aviation Week & Space Technology, October 1, 2007). We are living in an era of unprecedented aviation safety, both in the U.S and around the World. Last year, the U.S. recorded 0.223 total accidents, and 0.018 fatal accidents, per 100,000 departures (according to International Airline Association). 2006 was declared "the safest year ever" for world aviation with 1.0 accident per 1.5 million departures, and 0.65 fatal accidents for every 1 million departures.
From 1946 to the present, the U.S fatal accident rate dipped due to interventions put in place. In this period, the traditional post-accident diagnostic method of prevention was in play: first, the crash occurred; second, an investigative agency found probable cause; third, recommendations, regulations were enacted to prevent reoccurrence. Common- cause accidents are now rare in North America, and Europe. Each and every accident these days has unique circumstances.
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