The History of Aviation Safety

Safety is one of the top priorities in aircraft design, and as technology continues to advance, so do available aviation safety measures.

According to investigation statistics from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), American aviation safety has steadily improved throughout the years. This is evident in the downward trend in fatal accidents from 2001 to 2020. While fatalities do occur, the number of accidents occurring each year progressively declined:

2001: 1,728 total accidents, 326 of which were fatal
2011: 1,471 total accidents, 270 of which were fatal
2019: 1,220 total accidents, 233 of which were fatal

In this post, we’ll dive into the rich history of aviation and its effect on the evolution of aviation safety.

What Is the History of Aviation?

You can trace aviation history all the way back to the Renaissance, when Italian inventor and artist Leonardo da Vinci wrote down his observations of aerodynamics in his Codex on the Flight of Birds. These principles laid the foundations for the eventual development of aircraft.

Two centuries later, on June 4, 1783, French paper manufacturers Jacques-Étienne and Joseph-Michel Montgolfier — also known as the Montgolfier brothers — built the first recorded hot air balloon and successfully launched it for a crowd of French dignitaries.

More sophisticated aircraft came later, during the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century. Here are some important milestones in early aviation history:

1809: Sir George Cayley published a series of papers entitled On Aerial Navigation, which introduced the world to the study of aerodynamics. Nicknamed the father of aviation, Cayley identified the four forces of flight — lift, drag, weight and thrust.
1852: French engineer Henri Giffard flew the first controllable steam-powered airborne vehicle roughly 17 miles from Paris to Élancourt.
1876: German engineer Nikolaus Otto invented the gas-powered internal combustion engine, which presented a lighter, more efficient alternative to the steam engine.
1903: The Wright Brothers made their historic flights from Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Each brother flew their gasoline-powered wooden biplane twice, with the longest flight lasting just under a minute.

First Passenger Flights

The first recorded instances of passenger transport took place between the 1890s and early 1900s. These early flights allowed commercial and civil aviation to expand over the course of the next century:

1914: On January 1, American pilot Tony Jannus flew the first commercial passenger flight across Tampa Bay in his flying airboat. The 23-mile flight transported Abe Pheil, then mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida, and cost $5.00.
1919: British airline Air Transport and Travel, Ltd. transported a reporter from London to Paris in its inaugural flight, which was also among the first international flights in history. This service prompted many competing airlines to follow suit.

Learning From Early Tragedies

Safety measures in early aircraft were limited due to existing technology, leading to accidents that could have been prevented. These tragedies taught aviation industry experts valuable lessons in preparing for the worst-case scenarios:

1908: During a United States Army demonstration flight on September 17, 1908, Orville Wright’s plane malfunctioned and crashed, severely injuring Wright and killing his passenger, Lt. Thomas E. Selfridge. This date marks the first passenger fatality on a powered airplane.
1931: Transcontinental and Western Air Flight 599 crashed in March 1931, resulting in the death of Knute Rockne, who was the head football coach at the University of Notre Dame at the time. The accident and subsequent public uproar changed aviation history, as airlines faced demands for transparency about accident causes. Aviation companies also subsequently enhanced safety measures to prevent further disasters.
1935: A fatal crash involving New Mexico Senator Bronson M. Cutting triggered the creation of the Civil Aeronautics Authority in 1938, which increased the government’s ability to regulate flight safety.

Establishment of Regulatory Bodies

Early aviation safety was defined by the technological limitations of the time. Industry leaders recognized that commercial aircraft would be forever limited without assistance from the federal government and urged government leaders to establish and improve aviation safety standards.

Following the government’s initial involvement in 1926, federal regulations continued to increase throughout the 20th century, leading to the formation of several different agencies.

Federal Aviation Administration

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is a government agency dedicated to improving aviation safety for both domestic and foreign flights. Its history is a long one, beginning with the Air Commerce Act in 1926. Here’s a timeline of the many iterations of the FAA:

1926: Congress passed the Air Commerce Act, which placed responsibility for duties like licensing pilots, fostering air commerce and certifying aircraft on the Secretary of Commerce. Additionally, within the Department of Commerce, a new Aeronautics Branch took responsibility for aviation oversight.
1934: In response to the growing importance of aviation to the United States, the Department of Commerce created the Bureau of Air Commerce out of the Aeronautics Branch to improve aviation safety.
1938: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Civil Aeronautics Act, which established the independent Civil Aeronautics Authority.
1940: Roosevelt split the CAA into two separate agencies — the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). The CAA’s responsibilities included certifying aircraft and flight personnel, enforcing safety regulations and developing airways. The CAB was responsible for making safety rules, investigating accidents and regulating airline economics.
1958: President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal Aviation Act, which effectively transferred the functions of the CAA to the newly formed Federal Aviation Agency.
1966-1967: Congress formed the Department of Transformation (DOT), combining all major federal transportation responsibilities into one agency. The original FAA was absorbed into this department and was renamed the Federal Aviation Administration. The CAB disbanded and the responsibility of accident investigation was transferred to the newly formed National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in 1967.

Since the 1960s, the FAA’s responsibilities have continued to grow. Currently, their safety programs include:

Creating systems for military and commercial air traffic control, such as airport towers and flight service stations
Establishing airways and air traffic rules
Licensing pilots and maintenance technicians
Certifying repair stations, technicians, mechanics and flight crews
Participating in international conferences and exchanges with regulatory bodies in other countries
Developing manufacturing standards for airworthiness

National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates accidents in public transportation, including aircraft. The NTSB was established in 1967 when Congress first created the Department of Transportation.

Originally intended as an organization within the DOT, the NTSB became its own independent organization in 1974 to ensure fair, objective investigations and recommendations. Additionally, the NTSB’s duties expanded in 1996 to include providing federal assistance to families of aviation accident victims.

However, the NTSB is not involved with the operation, regulation or funding of any mode of transportation that falls under government authority. The Board has conducted almost 152,000 investigations since its humble beginnings in 1967 and continues to perform this duty to this day.

World Wars Push Aviation Forward

When World War I broke out in July of 1914, aviation experts realized the strategic advantage of using aircraft for military applications. As wartime airplane use became increasingly common, aircraft designs evolved, leading to the development of enhanced navigation and visualization technologies that would form the framework for later safety improvements.

World War I

World War I planes were mostly used for reconnaissance, allowing pilots to fly into enemy territory and gain intel they could have only dreamed of in previous years. While the pilot focused on flying the plane, the passenger would sketch or take notes of his observations, which proved critical early on in the war.

Fighter planes entered the scene in 1915, when combatants realized that striking down enemy spy planes would prevent the other side from getting the information they needed.

Further, the invention of the radiotelephone during World War I created a way for pilots to communicate while in the air, which significantly reduced the risk of collision. Aircraft design also changed significantly in response to military needs. Manufacturers began building planes out of aluminum rather than wood and fabric, which resulted in lighter, more durable vessels and reduced aircraft flammability.

World War II

By World War II, the double-wing biplane design had essentially become obsolete. The sleek, efficient monoplane took over as the superior air vehicle.

Innovation extended to the cockpit, as well. Radar systems were developed during World War II, providing pilots with a more accurate idea of their plane’s position in relation to other planes and environmental obstacles such as mountains or skyscrapers. It also helped pilots make more controlled landings, ensuring their safety as well as extending the life of their planes.

The manufacturing process changed significantly in response to wartime events. From 1941 to the end of the war in 1945, American manufacturers made an astonishing 300,317 military planes. The explosion in demand as well as the increasing complexity of aircraft parts and systems prompted standardization across the industry.

Airline Deregulation

By the mid-20th century, many believed that the Civil Aeronautics Board had outlived its usefulness. Unregulated airlines were charging lower fares, which meant they were getting more business. Despite lobbying from airlines who were against deregulation, Congress passed the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978, which transformed the commercial airline industry by allowing airlines to set their own routes and fares.

This act sparked intense competition between airlines and drove prices down, which prompted an explosion in passenger flights. Dozens of new airlines popped up as existing companies expanded their reach.

However, demand slowed during the recession of the 1980s, driving many airlines out of business and spurring others to merge. For example, the former airline giant Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) ended in bankruptcy in 1991 due to the pressures of deregulation on legacy airlines.

Key Innovations

While many elements of early aircraft came and went, the following developments were crucial in improving aviation efficiency and safety throughout history. Some, including glass cockpit systems, are still in use today.

Jet Engines

Military research conducted in multiple countries during the 1930s and 1940s led to the invention of the jet engine, one of the most significant innovations in the history of aviation. While it may have begun as military technology, the jet engine revolutionized commercial aviation by providing a more efficient and reliable alternative to traditional piston engines.

Modern commercial airplanes are equipped with multiple turbine engines so that even if one engine fails, the backups are able to produce enough power to enable a safe landing.

Cabin Pressurization

Air pressure decreases the higher you go, which can be dangerous without supplemental oxygen.

The air pressure at sea level is approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch (psi), but at 18,000 feet, it drops to about 7.3 psi. At this pressure, you’ll last about 30 minutes before losing consciousness. Maintaining a low altitude pressure of around 11 to 12 psi within the cabin ensures a safe ascension to high altitudes.

To prepare for situations in which the cabin depressurizes, airplanes stow oxygen masks in the ceilings above passengers.

Communication Technology

In the early days of aviation, ground crews would use visual aids like flags and colored paddles to send messages to aircraft. While this strategy worked well for the ground crews, pilots were unable to send messages back.

During the World Wars, development of these technologies ramped up even more, producing high-tech planes with effective communication capabilities.

With so many planes in the air at the same time, maintaining clear communication between pilots and air traffic controllers (ATC) is crucial for preventing collisions and other accidents. Aviation communication has gone through several different iterations through the years:

Radiotelegraphy: Wireless telegraphy entered the scene in the late 19th century with the invention of Morse code.
VHF radio: Following the end of World War II, very high frequency (VHF) radios became standard for commercial and civil aircraft.
UHF radio: While the private sector adopted VHF radio, the military implemented ultrahigh-frequency radio (UHF). UHF communications are typically broadcast at a frequency between 300 megahertz and 3 gigahertz.

Glass Cockpit Technology

A crucial innovation in aircraft safety history was the glass cockpit, named for the digital screens that replaced traditional analog gauges. Initially, these displays were cathode ray tubes, but modern versions use liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens.

The first plane to include a true glass cockpit was the 1981 Boeing 767 — now, this technology is used in aircraft of all shapes and sizes. Some common glass cockpit instruments include:

Fly-by-wire: This is a computerized flight control system that processes pilot inputs and moves control surfaces accordingly to more effectively maneuver the aircraft.
Radar: Radar stands for radio detection and ranging. It uses radio waves to determine the locations of nearby objects, which helps pilots navigate around potential obstacles or turbulence.
Global positioning system (GPS): GPS is a U.S. government-owned system that uses satellites to provide users with positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) information. Pilots can utilize GPS to more easily navigate airways.
Autopilot: Autopilot software manages an aircraft by controlling the aircraft’s movements after takeoff. Contrary to popular belief, it’s meant to augment the pilot in situations where visibility is low or the flight system is malfunctioning rather than replace them.
Artificial intelligence (AI): NASA’s Learn-to-Fly program is developing algorithms for use by pilots to help manage emergency situations. According to the researchers, these algorithms can assist AI software in determining how to fix novel flight situations, like restoring control to the pilot in dangerous weather.

How Has the History of Airplane Safety Changed Since Deregulation?

In the years since Congress passed the Aircraft Deregulation Act, the commercial aviation industry has seen significant changes in business and safety requirements. The explosion in passenger flights significantly increased the duties of the FAA, demonstrating a need to modernize the National Airspace System (NAS), the network of controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

Since 2002, the FAA has worked to develop strategies for increasing the affordability and safety of commercial aviation. Following are some important FAA initiatives for improving aviation safety in the years to come.

Safety Assurance System

The FAA’s Safety Assurance System (SAS) is a tool the agency uses to certify and monitor aircraft and aviation personnel. It includes a set of policies and software that allows the FAA Flight Standards Service to capture important data.

Overall, the goal of this system is to identify hazards and control or eliminate associated risks by utilizing information collected during design and performance assessments. This information allows the FAA to standardize compliance requirements and helps aviation safety inspectors (ASIs) to determine the best oversight decisions in multiple types of situations.

NextGen Initiative

In response to the rapid rise of airline popularity brought on by deregulation, the FAA has placed a new focus on modernizing the NAS. This new initiative, titled the NextGen program, comprises a series of programs, technologies and policies that aim to improve NAS operations moving forward.

Part of this initiative involves leveraging existing and new infrastructure to support new innovations. According to the NextGen Annual Report, some new developments in modernization include:

En-route data communications: According to the report, NextGen aims to expand en-route data services to include the exchange of advisory messages and holding instructions via existing data communications technology.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B): The improved accuracy of ADS-B allows pilots and air traffic controllers to monitor aircraft position at lower altitudes than were previously possible using traditional radar systems. It also gives pilots insight into what controllers see, which enables them to more effectively detect and avoid potential conflicts, further improving flight safety.
Decision Support System (DSS) Automation: This technology allows controllers and other stakeholders to more quickly and efficiently navigate around changes in traffic and weather conditions.
Remote control towers: Advancements in communication and visualization technology enable air traffic controllers and managers to monitor and respond to conditions from facilities outside of airports. With detailed visual depictions of the airport and surrounding airspace, airlines can increase safety and efficiency at airports and in flight.
Alternative jet fuels: In addition to onboard safety, the FAA is also prioritizing environmental safety as part of its NextGen initiative. The organization is currently focusing on testing the safety of various alternative jet fuels as well as analyzing those test results to understand each fuel’s various benefits and potential for mass production.

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