The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) hosted a virtual safety forum on June 30, 2026, bringing together regional airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and industry partners to discuss operational challenges specific to turboprop and regional jet operations.
Around 15 regional operators participated in the Asia Pacific Turboprop and Regional Jet Safety Exchange, alongside manufacturers ATR, Embraer, and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada.
Confidential exchange of safety data
A central feature of the event was a confidential exchange of aggregated safety data submitted by participating operators.
According to AAPA, the information was anonymized, allowing airlines to identify common operational themes and discuss lessons learned without revealing which carrier experienced what.
Participants also discussed safety performance, training practices, human factors, and future priorities for strengthening regional aviation safety across the Asia Pacific.
Captain Somchai Sopanon of Bangkok Airways, who chaired the event, said regional and turboprop operations play a vital role in connecting communities across the region.
“While these operations often present unique operational challenges, they also provide significant opportunities for collaboration,” Sopanon said. “Today’s Safety Exchange demonstrates the willingness of operators, manufacturers and industry partners to openly share experiences and work collectively to further strengthen aviation safety across the region.”
Two regional initiatives
Participants received updates on two ongoing AAPA-led projects.
The first is the Asia Pacific Flight Path Management Manual, being developed by the Flight Safety Foundation with support from AAPA and regional operators. Attendees were encouraged to contribute feedback through a regional survey to ensure the manual reflects local operational realities.
The second is the recently completed Asia Pacific Crew Resource Management Manual, a collaborative effort involving regulators, airlines, an aircraft manufacturer, training organizations, and academic institutions. The manual, which focuses on human factors, was recently presented to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Asia/Pacific Regional Aviation Safety Team.