Briefing: April 2010

The AOPA Air Safety Foundations annual Nall Report found an increase in accidents involving amateur-built aircraft. The statistics from 2008 showed the highest rate of fatal accidents and fatalities in 10 years. The 27-percent lethality rate in these accidents was 10 full percentage points higher than that for accidents in type-certificated airplanes, according to the report.

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, January 06, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The Nall Report indicates a significant increase in fatal accidents involving amateur-built aircraft, highlighting a 27-percent lethality rate, much higher than type-certificated airplanes.
New regulations and proposals include the Air Force planning large restricted airspaces for military UAVs in North Dakota, and the NTSB recommending mandatory periodic review of cockpit voice recorder data for professional pilots to monitor work habits.
Efforts to find lead-free 100LL alternatives are underway, with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University testing a switchgrass-based biofuel (SwiftFuel) and General Aviation Modifications (GAMI) developing a petroleum-based option.
A pilot won an appeal against the Social Security Administration for improperly disclosing his medical records, including his HIV-positive status, to the FAA.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Homebuilt accident rate rises
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation’s annual Nall Report found an increase in accidents involving amateur-built aircraft. The statistics from 2008 showed the highest rate of fatal accidents and fatalities in 10 years. “The 27-percent lethality rate in these accidents was 10 full percentage points higher than that for accidents in type-certificated airplanes,” according to the report.

A New kind of restricted airspace for a new kind of military flying
The Air Force has a plan to create some large, new restricted areas near Grand Forks, N.D., for military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The proposal is to restrict the airspace in three layers: The bottom layer would be from 6000 to 10,000 feet MSL, a second layer from 10,000 to 14,000 feet, and a third layer from 14,000 to 18,000. When one section was being used by a UAV, civilian aircraft could freely use the other two levels. Several transit areas are also proposed.