The number of airplane safety checks is increasing.

Jim Fitzpatrick, the UK’s Aviation Minister, has announced plans to dramatically increase the number of unannounced safety checks carried out on foreign aircraft in the UK – rising 300% from 250 in 2007 to 1000 in 2009.

The safety checks, known as ‘ramp inspections’, are carried out by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in accordance with international standards set out by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the UN body responsible for developing international minimum standards for civil aviation.

The inspections to both cargo and passenger planes include checking that the required safety equipment is operative, that cargo has been loaded properly and that there are no obvious defects to the plane.

Mr Fitzpatrick made the announcement during a visit to London’s Gatwick Airport. He said: “The Government is totally committed to ensuring that foreign aircraft coming to this country are operated safely and that unsafe aircraft do not find their way into European skies.

“I have been extremely impressed by the thoroughness of the CAA’s rigorous safety inspections. We hope that the increase in the number of annual inspections to 1,000 every year will help give passengers full confidence in their aircraft’s safety, whether it is owned by a foreign operator or not.”

The results from the ramp inspections are inputted onto a common database held on behalf of the European Commission (EU). Airlines that do not meet the inspection standards are placed on a ‘blacklist’, prohibiting the company from operating anywhere within the EU.