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Abstract
The centennial of powered flight was celebrated last year, yet the history of significant
development of the aviation industry only spans the past 50 years. Aviation professionals
can point to significant events in aviation with a relative ease. Many of these events have
a direct cause and effect relationship with changes in safety and security regulations,
policies and technology. There are also cases of technological development that have
resulted in changes in operations, regulations and policies.
Analysis of major events related to aviation safety, such as a specific accident, clearly
show the corresponding outcomes across a wide spectrum. Less clear is an in-depth
understanding of specific correlations between aviation accidents and their outcomes.
This paper will examine how milestone accidents in aviation safety, from 1988 through
2002, have lead to significant changes in the areas of policy, regulation, industry and
technology. The authors hypothesize that outcomes in these areas are characterized by
reactive as opposed to proactive solutions.
Methodology includes use of expert interviews and surveys combined with content
review of U.S. Congressional record, Federal Aviation Administration regulations,
including the code of federal regulations, news articles and trade journals.