NTSB Has Good News for GA Safety Record

The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report for 2007, and the statistics reveal that general aviation has gotten safer, at least in terms of fatal accidents. The number of accidents involving general aviation aircraft (non-airline; not-for-hire charter) was actually up last year to 1,631 from 1,518 in 2006. But fatalities were down a dramatic 30 percent-to 491 from 703. There were no fatalities involving scheduled Part 121 airline operations, though one mechanic was killed performing maintenance. On-demand charter operations saw an increase in fatalities to 43 from 16 for 2006.