Flight safety has improved significantly since the 2005 Helios plane accident, said the Head of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Unit, Andreas Paspalides, who notes, however, that there are still some "gaps and weaknesses" in the Department that need to be addressed.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the Helios air crash, which claimed the lives of 121 people, including 22 children and 6 crew members, Paspalides clarified that airlines in Cyprus "are safe" and calls on the travelling public "to feel at ease" and "to travel without fear."

CNA also contacted the member of the Cyprus Aircraft Accident Incident Investigation Board (AAIIB), Ioannis Droussiotis, who, analysing the general safety situation of aviation in Cyprus, said that the level of safety in recent years is considered "high".

According to officials, Cyprus records on average five to six serious incidents per year involving civil aircraft. According to the latest report of the Civil Aviation Department, which concerns the aviation safety situation in Cyprus in 2022 and which was obtained by CNA, a total of 693 mandatory and voluntary reports were submitted to the Civil Aviation Department, which were processed and consolidated into 623 incidents.

As per the report, "incidents more than doubled from 255 reported the previous year", while noting that "the trend over the last four years appears to be slightly increasing both in absolute numbers of reports and reporting rates.”

It is noted that in 2022 there was one non-fatal accident involving a military unmanned aerial vehicle (Drone) that crashed into the sea near Paphos for unknown reasons. Of the five serious incidents reported in 2022, four involved violations of separation minima infringement (SMI), with one incident triggering the Airborne Collision Avoidance Notification System.

The fifth serious incident, according to the same report, involved the declaration of a fuel-related emergency by an unregistered in Cyprus ultralight aircraft (gyrocopter) flying from Rhodes to Paphos, which landed safely. No serious injuries were reported.

In addition, the report records an "upward trend" regarding incidents involving Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management, as well as aircraft collisions with birds.

Asked by CNA to report how flight safety data have changed since the tragic Helios accident, Andreas Paspalides said that the situation has clearly improved, stressing that since then all European regulations concerning supervision are followed faithfully and to the letter, and added that "there are currently 32 licensed organisations that are under the supervision of the Aviation Safety Regulation Unit and any licensing is always in accordance with European regulations".

Asked about the gaps or weaknesses observed in the Department, Paspalides focused on the insufficient staffing of the Department, explaining that the department needs specialized people with expertise, and added that an effort is currently being made to fill the gap by purchasing services from abroad.

Referring to the serious incidents involving civilian aircraft, he said that "when an incident occurs it must be immediately identified", and noted that "whatever happens, there is immediate action on the part of the companies and the civil aviation sector."

Responding to a question, Paspalides said that since the Helios air crash, the flight safety sector is now in Cypriot hands. He explained that previously the sector was under the management of the UK Civil Aviation Authority and noted that the safety sector was officially created after the accident and at the moment all operations and oversight is in Cypriot hands.

Asked whether mistakes were made in the Helios accident on the part of the Civil Aviation Department due to understaffing, Paspalides said that "it was not the Civil Aviation Department's fault that the plane crashed. The Civil Aviation Department is in charge. Based on European regulations, it is the responsibility of each airline to keep the planes in good condition and to operate the airline in an acceptable condition."

Paspalides assured that today "there is continuous and adequate supervision" on the part of his department, adding that what needs to be done on behalf of the companies is adequately done.

Speaking to CNA, Cyprus AAIIB member Ioannis Drousiotis said that the Board constantly monitors airlines and receives information from people working for them, adding that they take the necessary action if anything illegal or violating regulations comes to their attention. He also said that investigations and recommendations are made to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Asked what has changed since the Helios accident, Droussiotis said there has been more proper surveillance of airlines since then and called on stakeholders to understand that reporting, assessing and processing simple incidents and recommending corrective measures is essential for preventing a simple incident from turning into a serious incident or accident.

Moreover, according to the 2022 Civil Aviation Safety Review, the number of flight safety reports reviewed by the AAIIB in the year 2022 amounts to 621, of which 12 were investigated as they were considered as serious incidents.

In total, the Commission has received 621 reports during 2022 compared to 255 reports received in 2020. 

The flight safety reports include bird strikes, harassment of aircraft using LASER machines and Drones, among others.