2.1 THE CONCEPT OF SAFETY
2.1.1 Within the context of aviation, safety is ―the state in which the possibility of harm to persons or of property
damage is reduced to, and maintained at or below, an acceptable level through a continuing process of hazard
identification and safety risk management.‖
2.1.2 While the elimination of aircraft accidents and/or serious incidents remains the ultimate goal, it is
recognized that the aviation system cannot be completely free of hazards and associated risks. Human activities or
human-built systems cannot be guaranteed to be absolutely free from operational errors and their consequences.
Therefore, safety is a dynamic characteristic of the aviation system, whereby safety risks must be continuously mitigated.
It is important to note that the acceptability of safety performance is often influenced by domestic and international
norms and culture. As long as safety risks are kept under an appropriate level of control, a system as open and dynamic
as aviation can still be managed to maintain the appropriate balance between production and protection.