Maxime Coffin, Director of Safety Control at the DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority)

While global air traffic has doubled in the last twenty years, how has safety and the number of accidents evolved?

Maxime Coffin: Over the years, improvements in aviation safety have helped to limit the number of technically-related accidents worldwide. According to figures published by the ICAO, there were 0.5 fatal accidents for every million flight hours between 1997 and 2007. Between 1987 and 1997, the figure was 1 % per million. Between 1967 and 1977, the figure was 2.5 %. Although the number of accidents is slowing down, an examination by geographical area shows that sectors such as South America and Africa can present significantly poorer levels of performance.

In terms of air safety, what do the DGAC require of airlines?

M. C. : As the French government's supervisory body, we require French airlines to demonstrate their compliance with international standards. Whether they operate scheduled, non-scheduled or low-cost flights, they must obtain an air operator's certificate subject to the same technical rules laid down by the DGAC.

When French airlines use code-share arrangements with foreign airlines to serve their national territory, they must inform us after checking the technical capabilities of these partners.

In the event of a sub-charter, i.e. when an aircraft has to be replaced by another at the last minute, they must first have a list of "charterable" airlines which they have submitted for prior evaluation.

What is the DGCA doing in terms of technical cooperation to help certain countries bring their aviation safety up to standard?

M. C. : At this stage, we need to combine funding with assistance. The financial resources come mainly from the ICAO, the World Bank and Europe, or from French cooperation credits. Once the funds have been raised, the DGCA provides expertise through structured programmes, particularly in West Africa. We also carry out more ad hoc missions; for example, recently in India to set up an aircrew training centre.