On March 27, 1977, two Boeing 747 passenger jets collided on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport in the Canary Islands. One of the planes, piloted by a seasoned veteran of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, had proceeded down the main runway in order to take off . The e other plane, owned and operated by the storied carrier Pan American Airways, was on that runway moving slowing in the direction of the oncoming KLM aircraft. When the pilots of each plane realized what was happening, it was too late to avoid contact. Five-hundred and eighty-three people died in the ensuing crush of metal and fire. A number of factors played a role in the Canary Island disaster, the world’s worst aviation accident. The unusually large number of aircraft crowding the airfield and its taxiways certainly played a role that day. Following a bombing at a nearby tourist destination, several aircraft had been diverted to the small Los Rodeos airport. The heavy fog that rolled in just before the accident also played a role. Misunderstandings, though, played a paramount role. For many incidents, human failure to effectively provide or receive information has been cited as a key factor.

Questions:

1. What has the airline industry done to combat communication problems? Name 3 standardizations the airline industry has put into place.

2. What are the major obstacles impinging communication in such an environment?

3. What organizational and individual changes needs to be in place to minimize such accidents?