Written by Staff Writer
CNN
(CNN) — Four years ago, two major airlines were forced to retest their emergency landing techniques after a series of incidents — all of which forced emergency landings.
American Airlines and British Airways both launched their latest probes after a series of emergency landings which forced ground crews to pull out all the stops to help the aircraft land safely.
In September 2015, British Airways’ Boeing 777-200 was forced to make an emergency landing after smoke appeared from its cockpit and emergency oxygen was cut.
In June of the same year, American Airlines returned to Baku, Azerbaijan, an American Boeing 767 passenger jet after realizing it had made a false ascent in good weather conditions.
While some airlines conduct ground-based tests to check the techniques they use during emergency landings, others also turn to a scientific body known as TAT for guidance, as explained in an infographic released by the Chicago Fire Department
Voluntary association
Cities across the US and Canada regularly field TAT teams which work with the airport to assess and prioritize critical points.
Ultimately, airlines choose not to be members of the voluntary organization, but many are members of TAT’s aviation safety working group.
There are currently more than 1,500 TAT members in 120 different countries, according to TAT.