General aviation hardly boasts a stellar safety record compared to our siblings flying heavy iron. This partly reflects the flexibility of the regulations governing general aviation operations compared with a much more regimented structure for the airlines. With the objective of improving safety, back in 1991, the FAA introduced the concept of sound aeronautical decision-making (ADM) practices to general aviation. Let’s look at the history of aeronautical decision-making and describe the findings of a recent study by two Embry Riddle researchers to determine the extent to which general aviation pilots have “bought in” to (or to be more exact: “ignored”) such safety practices.
Sound ADM Practices
We often say—and more often hear—that GA isn’t as safe as the airlines. But, let’s put some numbers on that. During 2018 through 2022, there were 518 fatal general aviation accidents compared with a paltry 3 for the airlines. That’s a 173:1 difference—not particularly impressive. Of course, several reasons underlie this disparity and as mentioned above, it’s partly due to the flexibility of general aviation operating regulations. For example an air carrier aircraft is prohibited from departing to its destination if the TAF for the arrival airport is forecasting weather below minimums at the ETA. But, there’s nothing illegal with a general aviation pilot undertaking this trip.
