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The 6th Annual World Aviation Safety Summit (WASS) is set to take place on 11th and 12th December in Dubai, with the aim of focusing on approaches for handling dangerous goods.
More than 1.25 million dangerous goods shipments are handled and transported by air each year, according to statistics from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), with air cargo forecast to increase 4.9% annually for the next five years. Against the backdrop of this expected rise in dangerous goods transportation, WASS 2018 will address areas at the forefront of debate among policy-making and regulatory bodies.
In particular, Lithium-Ion batteries used to power mobile phones, laptops and other consumer devices have been a longstanding focus for regulators, airlines and cargo service operators alike. In 2010, a UPS aircraft transporting 80,000 Lithium-Ion batteries crashed after a fire broke out onboard. This year, the US Federal Aviation Administration reported a 48% increase in Lithium-Ion related incidents as compared to last year, from 31 in 2016 to 46 in 2017.
During WASS 2017, risks of stowing Lithium-Ion batteries on passenger flights were discussed following US and UK electronics bans that prevented travelers from certain countries from taking electrical items larger than a smartphone into the cabin. Many carriers around the world have since restricted the storage of Lithium-Ion devices in aircraft holds.
Hosted by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, the 2018 edition of the Summit will bring together local and international stakeholders, providing a platform to assess the latest aviation safety procedures and future-proof regulatory frameworks. Attendees and participants include officials from regulatory authorities, airline and airport operators, aircraft manufacturers, pilot associations, safety organisations and air traffic control service providers.
Nicholas Webb, Managing Partner of Streamline Marketing Group, the event organisers, said, "While air transport is one of the safest means of mass travel in the world, maintaining this status requires constant vigilance and concerted efforts to mitigate against emerging safety concerns. The World Aviation Safety Summit is recognised globally as an essential gathering for industry and sector leaders. It is an important opportunity to develop discussions among key circles, from manufacturers and pilots to policy-makers and regulators."
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