|
|
|
Vol. 2, No. 3 Summer 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the latest edition of the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee's (GAJSC) quarterly newsletter, the FlySafe Flyer! This newsletter is intended to keep you apprised of GAJSC-related news and updates, as well as relevant safety information that impacts the general aviation community. The FlySafe Flyer also aims to convey the GAJSC's purpose and collaborative role in advancing aviation safety. We encourage you to read and share this content with your fellow airmen. Please copy the link here to share. For a list of previous newsletters, go to gajsc.org/newsletter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Importance of Safety Culture
|
A Welcome Message from Jeffrey U. Vincent, Acting Executive Director of the FAA Office of Accident Investigation and Prevention
|
|
|
|
Hello everyone. I’m pleased to serve as government co-chair of the GAJSC, alongside our industry co-chairs Sean Elliott and Mike Ginter.
|
We’ve seen the GA fatal accident rate come down significantly over the past 15 years. Preliminary numbers show that Fiscal Year 2024 had the lowest rate of GA fatal accidents — 0.68 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours — since the FAA began tracking this metric in 2009. I think GAJSC’s 46 safety enhancements encompassing a combination of technology, training and safety promotion are making a big difference.
|
This is an accomplishment to be proud of. But we must remain vigilant in our dedication to safety. We want people to enjoy flying and come home safely. Fundamentally, an active and vibrant Safety Culture — for both operators and organizations — is essential.
|
A little about me and my thoughts about Safety Culture. I started in the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller in 1986 at Boston Logan International Airport following a military career in Air Traffic. I have seen both ends of the spectrum as it relates to safety culture. I have seen individuals motivated to do an outstanding job based on the application of performance management. I have also seen individuals be reluctant to admit that they made a mistake or needed assistance based on the application of performance management.
|
As I rose through the ranks of management and went on to serve as Vice President of Air Traffic Services, I saw the benefits of a Just Culture — an essential component of a healthy safety culture where controllers, technicians, and other employees were encouraged to admit unintentional errors and express safety concerns without fear of possible adverse effects of performance management. By submitting a voluntary, confidential safety report, employees contributed to our vast collection of safety data, helping us identify and mitigate risks before an accident occurs.
|
If you’re a GA pilot, you want to be as safe as possible. But mistakes happen. For example, unintentionally flying into IMC conditions. When something like this occurs, be sure to submit a report through the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) and get the appropriate training to ensure that you minimize the possibility of making the same error again.
|
Your report helps everyone to learn about the root causes of incidents and unsafe events and helps other pilots avoid making the same mistake. ASRS reports also help the FAA and the broader aviation community learn about safety issues that may not be related to a mistake. All ASRS reports help us better understand what you, and others, see in the system.
|
Thanks everyone. Have a fun and safe summer!
|
|
Jeffrey Vincent — GAJSC Co-Chair
|
|
|
|
General Aviation Safety Performance Update
|
|
Here's a look at the GA fatal accident rate for fiscal year (FY) 2025. As you can see in the chart here, the estimated GA fatal accident rate is at 0.60 accidents per 100,000 flight hours (as of Aug 15, 2025), well below the yearly target of 0.92. You can also see the total GA fatal accidents broken out by month in FY25 here (as of Aug 10, 2025).
|
|
For more details, see the Pareto chart on general aviation fatal accidents, which can be customized to display a specific date range of accident data and sort results by aircraft classification, FAR part, operational category, and accident category.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Tips to Speed Up Medical Certification
|
In a recent episode of the Pilot Minute video series, Federal Air Surgeon Susan Northrup, MD, MPH discusses tips pilots can use to speed up the process of their medical certification. Be sure to also read about some important updates to improve the MedXPress system in the article here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Rotorcraft Collective Video on Smartwatch Safety
|
Many pilots wear smartwatches while flying. With GPS capabilities, aviation-specific watches can serve as emergency navigation tools and even find the nearest airports, complete with maps, NEXRAD, current weather, and radio frequencies. This recent video from the Rotorcraft Collective discusses benefits and tips for safely using a smartwatch in the air.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
System Component Failure Non-Powerplant Working Group Update
The GAJSC’s System Component Failure - Non-Powerplant Working Group wrapped up work this past June. Led by co-chairs Tom Charpentier (EAA) and Corey Stephens (FAA), the working group is now in the process of finalizing a set of safety enhancements — safety and mitigation strategies that will aim to make a difference in reducing accidents in this category.
|
Be on the lookout for updates on the Working Group and the new SEs in the next FlySafe Flyer!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did You Miss the FAA’s Pilot Phraseology Workshop?
Last May the FAA hosted a From the Flight Deck Live Pilot Phraseology Workshop that covered common phraseology mistakes, important safety tips, and ways that pilots and controllers can work together to ensure clear, effective communication for safe takeoffs and landings. You can still watch the event here as well as earn WINGS credit. For more on the From the Flight Deck video series and other runway safety products, go to faa.gov/flight_deck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Safety Enhancement Spotlight — Overreliance on Automation
The GAJSC analyzes general aviation (GA) safety data to develop intervention strategies to prevent or mitigate problems associated with accident causes, called Safety Enhancements (SE). These SEs may include procedures, training, and equipment installations that, when implemented, may reduce the likelihood of accidents in the future.
|
In this issue of FlySafe Flyer, we'd like to introduce SE 04 - Overreliance on Automation.
|
Among the objectives with this SE is to encourage training that requires pilots to demonstrate proficiency in manual flying skills in the event of automation malfunction or failure. Here are a few good resources that emphasize the importance of this SE:
|
|
Please see the GAJSC SE page here for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
|
GAJSC Member Profile — NBAA
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The association represents more than 11,000 companies and professionals and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE), the world’s largest civil aviation trade show.
|
See the NBAA website for more information. See here for a list of all GAJSC partners.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for reading and #FlySafe!
|
|
Partners in Aviation Safety
|
|
|
|
|
We need your feedback! Please tell us what you think.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
