While increased  air travel in the South-East Asian region means more tourism and its related benefits, it is about time a there is a concerted effort to ensure increased safety in our skies.

Governments, civil aviation authorities and airlines must come together to deal with issues of crowded air space, infrastructure, working conditions and attitudes of all personnel linked to the aviation sector and this not includes not only  pilots and air crew but control tower operators as well. In my extensive travels in the Asean region, I have come across lackadaisical safety attitudes in several  airports.

This ranges from cursory security screening while being preoccupied with fidgeting with mobile phones to immigration authorities who appear clearly irritated that their phone texting has been interrupted by a passenger presenting his passport. In one airline which has stopped operating now, the air steward even answered his mobile phone as soon as he had finished the safety announcement advising passengers to switch off their phones!

In addition to more disciplined security screening, mental health assessment exceeding the current basic requirement must be in place especially for pilots and control tower personnel. This is to ensure that aviation personnel are psychologically fit to respond appropriately to challenging situations.

DR ANDREW MOHANRAJ is a consultant psychiatrist.