Data generates facts: based on the analysis of almost 10,000 incident reports from 2023, the FOCA has again been able to identify the safety issues and associated risks in the five main areas of aerodrome operations, air traffic management, flight operations, helicopter operations and flight technology. Analysing the data is central to ongoing risk assessment, which allows the FOCA to develop targeted measures to further enhance safety in the Swiss aviation system.
The findings from the data analysis help the FOCA to make decisions based on the existing risks and deploy resources in a targeted manner – and to implement projects such as AVISTRAT-CH. The goal: to reorganise Swiss airspace as effectively as possible, taking account of the aviation infrastructure and thus further increasing safety. The incident reports are an important element in this and other projects.
The reports, data and information collected from commercial and non-commercial civil aviation indicate which safety issues are important in Switzerland. The priority is on collisions, whether in mid-air or on the ground.
Switzerland has operated its Airprox Analysis Board (AAB) since 2008 to reduce the risk of a mid-air collision (MAC) in Swiss airspace; other European countries have similar safety bodies. Since 2023, the FOCA has been runnning an internal project entitled Future Aviation Surveillance Services and Technologies (FASST-CH). The FOCA is in contact with representatives of Swiss aviation and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) in connection with FASST-CH. Its task by the end of 2024 is to analyse and assess which services and technologies can and should be used to increase airspace safety in the short and long term. Our safety data also serves as a basis for FASST-CH.
A further priority: risk of collisions at Zurich airport. The system at the largest Swiss airport is complex. A raft of larger-scale measures, such as runway extensions and taxiway routing around runway 28, would be needed to further reduce the risk of a collision. The incident data in the vicinity of the airport is used in assessing the probability of a risk occurring.
The work continues: incident analysis will remain a priority for the FOCA in future. Findings from audits and inspections, accident reports and developments in other countries are used to supplement the reports.
New issues are also relevant: drones, U-space and cyber security. In the future, the FOCA will collect even more data so that it is also able to correctly assess the risks in these areas.
Our overarching goal remains the same: to remain vigilant and sensitive to changes in the Swiss aviation system. To maintain an optimum overview of trends and risks and to act in an anticipatory manner. So that we avoid a risk becoming a reality.
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone in the aviation community who has reported a safety-related event to the FOCA. It's the right thing to do, and it's an important contribution – to helping us learn from our mistakes and further improve aviation safety in a targeted and cooperative manner.
