Improving general aviation safety is a top priority for the FAA, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta told industry leaders when he met with them Jan. 27 to jump start efforts for this year’s flying season.
Huerta reported that the general aviation fatal accident rate has flattened over the past six years, noting there were 259 fatal accidents in 2013, at a cost of 449 lives.
During the meeting, Huerta and GA’s leaders agreed to work together to raise awareness to prevent weather related accidents for the upcoming flying season.
The FAA is also working with industry on a prototype program to use de-identified GA operations data in the Aviation Safety Information Analysis and Sharing (ASIAS) program to help identify risks before they become accidents.
Lastly, Huerta announced that the agency is issuing a policy that streamlines the process for granting approval to use Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM). The new policy establishes a more flexible and efficient process that will allow the FAA to customize its evaluation for RVSM based on the circumstances of the applicant, he noted.
Since 2005, RVSM has allowed pilots to fly with 1,000 feet of vertical separation rather than the previous 2,000 feet at cruising altitudes.
The FAA will consider previous operator and aircraft experience in determining the extent of the evaluation, and this will reduce the amount of time for operators to receive an authorization, FAA officials said.
For more information: FAA.gov
The FAA mandate was changed in 1996 with the wording changed from “promote” to “encourage” it had the effect of nearly stopping any pro-aviation activity by the FAA. Those that do receive some “encouragement and promotion” are the business flyers. It is understandable as they are “visible” and most “recreational” or small business flyers are not. It is no different than the local airport being thrilled by a corporate jet that buys $1000 worth of fuel once and ignoring the piston single. The single may buy $1000 worth over the whole year, the jet may only be there once, but the jet handed over a single big check and that gets noticed, $100 dollars ten times is easy to overlook buy many.The alphabet groups many of us directly fund are not doing much to support us through lower cost or easing the post 9/11 regulations. If our own organizations work against ,(or ignore)us, why should the administration that is charged with safety first and then encouragement?
Airlines want GA out of the skies like we want geese and other big birds out of the sky.
We are just a nuisance to them.
And The Federation to Abolish Aviation has been doing a good job of beating GA to death.
Huerta has done nothing, to my knowledge, to actually promote GA.
The safety issue will continue to resolve itself as the annual flight hours decline. Less flying, less accidents. John and Martha would tell you the low risk option is staying in bed!
There is no interest on the FAA’s part to increase GA activity. They are firmly entrenched as a large bureaucracy and will soldier on regardless. He brings good news on RVSM so we know his heart is in the right place? Sleep apnea, drivers license medical, mogas, now reduced credit for simulator training, hey it could be worse, couldn’t it?
JH
Well put Dick. RVSM is for the bizjets flying IFR up at the Flight Levels and does not do a thing for GA operations. We need the Drivers License replacement of the 3rd class medical and we need an approved affordable lead free avgas. That will give GA a good kick in the pants. Oh and they can dicth that rediculus Sleep Apneia screening idea (and the people that thought it up).
And what does RVSM have to do with GA? I may be a wee confused but have been around GA, military & commercial aviation since the 1950’s, ad see little advancement in the GA area. Perhaps, that may be due to GA occupying the back seat in the limo called HQS FAA, think? I believe the enactment of HR3708 would enhance GA ops and as well as stimulate the growth of General Aviation as we once new it in our US!