Partners in Aviation Safety
The 21st Century has brought an unprecedented wealth of information to general aviation cockpits. Near real-time graphical and textual weather products contribute greatly to pilot situational awareness and decision-making. However, pilots must understand the capabilities and limitations of the equipment and the information it provides. Let’s explore how general aviation pilots can use available weather […]
Multiple NTSB accident reports cite mismanagement of short-field takeoffs and landings involving pilots with and without experience in this type of operation. Some factors include inaccurate or incomplete performance calculations and improper short-field techniques. The General Aviation Joint Safety Committee believes that training and practice in short-field operations can help improve short-field performance and reduce loss-of-control and […]
The term “human factors” refers to the wide range of issues affecting how people perform tasks in their work and leisure environments. Human factors study applies knowledge of the human body and mind to better understand human capabilities and limitations. This allows us to better design tasks and technology to optimize the relationship between human […]
When it comes to aerodynamics, it helps to think of energy like a savings account. Learn how to draw on the basics of flight to better manage emergency situations. Go to the Fly Safe topic about energy management.
Incidents where an aircraft takes off or lands on the wrong surface — or at the wrong airport — pose a serious threat to aviation safety and occur more often than you might think. According to the FAA, there were 1,641 incorrect surface approach and landing events from October 2016 through December 2022, an average […]
On April 12, 2022, the GAJSC Charter was updated and the name changed from General Aviation Steering Committee to General Aviation Safety Committee. PURPOSE As part of the Safer Skies initiative, launched in 1998, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the general aviation (GA) community jointly developed a goal of reducing GA fatal accidents. The […]
Midair collisions are a persistent and deadly threat to aviation safety. From 2016 to 2021, there were 43 reports of midair collisions involving GA operations in the United States, resulting in 79 fatalities. Data from the FAA’s Aviation Safety Information and Analysis Sharing (ASIAS) GA team indicate that over time, general aviation operators with Traffic […]
The GAJSC’s latest report, the Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) Working Group is now available online HERE! The GAJSC analyzes aviation safety data to identify emerging issues and develop mitigation strategies to address and prioritize safety issues. The GAJSC previously investigated CFIT accidents in 2000, which placed focus on equipping GA airplanes with — and […]
Last week, the GAJSC Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) Working Group met for the last time at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Working Group finished drafting safety recommendations targeted at reducing the number of CFIT general aviation accidents. The NTSB’s 2019-2020 Most Wanted List includes a discussion of CFIT avoidance as part of […]
The GAJSC Controlled Flight Into Terrain Working Group met for the last time in 2018 at Signature BOS in Boston, MA. Currently, the Working Group is drafting detailed, data-driven safety recommendations aimed at mitigating controlled flight into terrain accidents. Draft recommendations include a wide range of interventions, from technological tools to training, outreach, and education. The […]