UPS had good safety record
Cargo airlines worldwide for many years have had a higher accident rate than passenger carriers.
Dubai: Cargo airlines worldwide for many years have had a higher accident rate than passenger carriers.
But air safety experts have attributed that largely to older aircraft used by many operators from developing markets, deficient maintenance and inadequate pilot training provided by some financially-strapped cargo carriers.
But United Parcel Service (UPS), with its modern fleet and advanced pilot training, doesn't fall into such category. And the relatively new 747-400 model that crashed has an outstanding record for safety and reliability. It was the first fatal plane crash for UPS, which has been an industry leader in promoting and using advanced navigation aids to enhance safety and efficiency at its primary US hub airport in Louisville, Kentucky.
UPS has had four other aircraft incidents since 1985, most recently in February 2006 when a DC-8 jet that had a fire onboard burst into flames after landing in Philadelphia, according to the Aviation Safety Network.
The most recent crash of a freighter operated by a major cargo airline before Friday occurred in late July.
