General Aviation Safety, Learn What Makes Flying the Safest Form of Transportation

General Aviation (GA) in the United States is one of the world’s safest forms of public transportation. Part of that outstanding track record comes from the steady improvements in technology and certification standards that have made GA safe for those flying and those on the ground.

Another Very Safe Year

In 2006, GA pilots completed another outstanding year of safe flying, with 22.8 million hours of flight operations and only 303 fatal accidents.

Safer & Safer with Every Year

The graph above shows the result of industry-wide efforts to continuously improve the safety of GA. Since 1950, the accident rate per flying hour has been cut by more than 86 percent, even while the amount of GA flying has skyrocketed because of its critical role in our nation’s economy and lifestyle.

The steady improvement of the GA safety record is the result of dozens of programs within all areas of GA, from pilot education and training, to better technology, to improved operating methods and practices, to a more complete body of knowledge learned during more than 100 years of flying.


	Every pilot must complete formal training, and the Federal Aviation Administration must approve every aspect of that training: the curriculum, flight school, aircraft, and flight instructor. Learn more...		All aircraft must undergo mandatory periodic maintenance and inspections every 50 hours, 100 hours, or annually (the frequency depends upon the type of use for each aircraft). Learn more...

	GA is deeply rooted in a time-tested set of practices and standards. These are embodied in the Federal Aviation Regulations, a set of rules pilots must follow, and the Aeronautical Information Manual, a compilation of technical explanations and recommended procedures. Learn more...		Compared with every other form of transportation (cars, trucks, buses, boats, motorcycles, bicycles, and walking), GA accidents are exceedingly rare. But, while rare, they do occur. Learn more...

			Next: Strict Standards for Pilots >


	Also in this section:	• Standards for Pilots • Aircraft Maintenance	• Education & Training • When Things Go Wrong