Impaired Flying Targeted

According to the FAA and its Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, CAMI, between six and 14 percent of pilot fatalities are related to alcohol intoxication. While that seems like a very high number of pilots in our experience-and a wide, inexact statistical range-the agency said it reached its conclusion by analyzing deceased pilots blood and tissue samples after accidents.

Monday, October 24, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is campaigning to raise pilot awareness of impairment from alcohol, legal/illegal drugs, and fatigue, citing that 6-14% of pilot fatalities are related to alcohol intoxication.
To improve winter runway safety, the FAA launched the Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment (TALPA) program, introducing new objective runway condition codes (RwyCCs) that replace subjective assessments and Mu values.
The FAA updated its list of cold temperature restricted airports and introduced an "all segments method" for pilots to apply altimetry corrections to prevent errors in extremely cold conditions.

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According to the FAA and its Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, CAMI, between six and 14 percent of pilot fatalities are related to alcohol intoxication. While that seems like a very high number of pilots in our experience—and a wide, inexact statistical range—the agency said it reached its conclusion by analyzing deceased pilots’ blood and tissue samples after accidents.

Regardless of their validity, those numbers are backing a campaign designed to raise pilot awareness of the dangers of impaired flying. The FAA is quick to point out that alcohol alone isn’t its focus; legal and illegal drugs and even simple fatigue can contribute to pilot impairment and an accident. And impairment, the agency says, may cause a pilot to exceed an aircraft’s operating limitations and lose control.