NASA Chief Warns of Air Crash Increase

Without dramatic improvements in safety, the frequency of aircraft accidents could increase within 20 years to one a week, the head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration warned. NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin cited predictions that the number of aircraft flying will double in 12 years and triple in 20. At the current rate of 1.5 accidents for every million flights, he said, the industry is headed for major problems. NASA’s top goal, out of 10 for the next century, is to provide the technology to reduce the aircraft accident rate by a factor of five in 10 years and by a factor of 10 in 20 years, Goldin said.