# How Aircraft Health And Safety Is Drastically Improving

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/thailand-prnews/how-aircraft-health-and-safety-is-drastically-improving
- Published: 2024-10-02T15:26:32+07:00
- Author: PR Desk

Flying has long been regarded as the safest way to travel. In fact, more people 
are involved in road accidents on the way to the airport than they are in air accidents.

Of course, flying can still be made safer. Emerging technology may be able to greatly
reduce air accidents, while also tackling other health dangers associated with flying.
This article explains more as to some of the improvements currently being made.

**Improved auto-pilot**

Auto-pilot features have long been used in planes. Today, almost 90% of a commercial
flight journey is carried out by auto-pilot. Take-off and landing is still largely
done manually, but new technology could eventually allow this to be automated too.
Meanwhile, AI is being developed to help prevent collisions and overcome the [stabilize-avoid challenge](https://news.mit.edu/2023/safe-and-reliable-autopilots-flying-0612).
Given that many air accidents are caused by human error, increased use of AI is 
certain to be a good thing. Of course, it may take some convincing for everyday 
people to trust the idea of a self-flying plane. 

**AI traffic control**

Air traffic is increasing every year. In order to prevent congestion and prevent
accidents, air traffic control centres are beginning to embrace AI. The predictive
abilities of artificial intelligence combined with its quick reactions could help
to prevent many air accidents that typically take place around airports. AI can 
even be used to improve visibility, as a [trial at London Heathrow Airport](https://www.airwaysmag.com/legacy-posts/artificial-intelligence-air-traffic-control)
discovered earlier this year.

**Advanced testing equipment**

Improvements are constantly being made to [avionics testing equipment](https://pilotjohn.com/c/avionics/aircraft-test-equipment)
to ensure that all planes being manufactured are completely safe to fly. Several
manufacturers have come under scrutiny in recent years for engineering issues. Testing
methods like digital twin technology will hopefully prevent these faults from occuring
in the future – allowing much more thorough testing in a range of different scenarios.

**Noise reduction**

Jet engines remain the biggest source of noise pollution. Studies have found that
such noise creates increased stress levels in local wildlife, which can lead to 
behavioural changes and even reproduction issues. Humans are affected too – with
many people living near airports experiencing hearing loss. [Electric airplanes](https://www.drax.com/electrification/how-electric-planes-could-help-clean-up-the-skies/)
will drastically reduce noise pollution and are likely to replace jet planes within
the next few decades. Hybrid aircraft are already in development and may be the 
first to be adopted. Such airplanes could not only reduce noise pollution, but also
reduce carbon emissions and flying costs. 

**Smart ventilation**

Covid-19 has prompted airplane engineers to reconsider the design of airplane ventilation
systems in an attempt to prevent them being a spreader of airborne diseases. Many
of us have fell ill with a cold after taking a flight, and this is because airplane
ventilation systems make very little effort to purify air, allowing bacteria and
viruses to be passed to passengers throughout the plane. Future airplane ventilation
systems will be much better at removing contaminants from the air thanks to the 
recent standardisation of [HEPA filters](https://aircraft.airbus.com/en/newsroom/news/2021-01-cabin-air-quality-key-to-a-comfortable-flight)
and ozone converters, helping to make air travel safer for those low immune systems
or respiratory issues.