MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

August air crashes anticipate tighter safety measures

The recent tragic air disasters, from the total loss crashes in Greece and Venezuela to the skidding off the runway by a landing aircraft in Canada fortunately with no victims, are putting on pressure for greater international safety standards and inspections.

For passengers who wish information on airlines and their safety record before climbing on an aircraft is not an easy task, admit air industry experts.

France is sponsoring a system by which airlines are granted an official certification based on safety records which can be made public when promoting the air carrier, The European Union is pressing for a public black list with the names of those companies that cut or make savings in safety matters.

Actually 152 travellers and 8 crewmembers died in a Colombian West Caribbean aircraft, specifically chartered for the flight, which crashed in the Venezuela jungle.

A Cypriot aircraft also crashed while approaching Athens with total loss of life.

So far this month 297 people have died in four air accidents, which could have been even higher if the Air France Airbus A340 with 309 passengers that run off Toronto's main runway and caught fire had ended in a tragedy.