Safety Is a Year-Round Pursuit

December 2, 2021 – November’s uptick in experimental category aircraft accidents is another reminder that aviation safety is a journey, not a destination. There were seven fatal experimental category accidents last month, well above the two projected as part of the FAA’s not-to-exceed figure for the month. It also put the yearly tally, just two months into the new federal fiscal year, above the FAA not-to-exceed tracking for the year. Early indications show that this increase mirrors a parallel increase in general aviation accidents overall in November.

While we all hope that November’s figure is an anomaly, it is a stark reminder that safety is a continual process. NTSB and FAA investigations will determine the probable cause for these accidents, but many of them will likely fall into the usual categories: stall/spin, fuel starvation, and flight into bad weather conditions, among others.

“Higher accident totals do cause regulators to take closer looks at accident causes and whether additional training and rules might be necessary,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “EAA has always contended that education and awareness are always better than additional regulations, but it is up to us in the GA community to always make safety the first priority and keep pushing that accident total ever lower.”

EAA’s programs offer numerous safety initiatives, ranging from our Flight Test Manual to IMC/VMC Club programming for pilots and EAA chapters. Contact EAA for more information on any of our safety programs.