Methodology for Justification of Aviation Safety Investments

Abstract

Investment into safety is often seen as cost with little benefit; an obligation to meet standards rather than effort to truly improve on safety. Aviation industry of today already achieved excellent safety record and so it is hard to justify such investment in apparently resilient system. This study works with the assumption that safety and overall efficiency of operations are dependent. It analyzes data from safety occurrences in the aviation industry and provides mapping to relevant costs, both considering the remedy and possible prevention. It further provides base methodology for evaluation of current safety investments in the industry. In conclusion, the significant difference between costs related to remedy and prevention is used to justify trial of new technologies and measures to further improve on safety.