The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has created the Safety Trend Evaluation, Analysis & Data Exchange System, known as STEADES. This system originated from British Airways’ innovative approach to large-scale safety information exchange (SIE), which was initially designed for its BASIS Safety Data System users. When British Airways chose to discontinue this service for other users, IATA stepped in to take over the SIE component and launched the STEADES project. Today, STEADES boasts the world’s largest collection of de-identified air safety reports. Subscribers can access this extensive database for a fee, receiving valuable analyses based on the data.
These analyses often include trend reports that help develop prevention strategies across various sectors of the air transport industry. This includes airline management, ground handling, air traffic control, maintenance organizations, and regulatory bodies. However, it’s important to note that the database does not represent a stratified random sample. The reports may not include conclusions from thorough investigations, so caution is advised when interpreting the analysis results.
To facilitate user interaction, the STEADES Query Tool allows subscribers to directly engage with the database, extracting structured data and tailored analyses. This tool supports several key objectives: benchmarking against broader industry performance, identifying specific operational safety issues at different airports, and determining if certain safety concerns are shared among users. Additionally, subscribers receive a quarterly report detailing global safety trends derived from the data, complete with insights from aviation industry experts.
