AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - September 2024 - 4

PRESIDENT 'S POSITION
Safety in the
numbers
One remarkable week bodes well
for our future
BY MARK BAKER / President and CEO
AOPA Foundation Legacy Society member
GENERAL AVIATION EXPERIENCED a quiet victory this spring-
we had one solid week during which no fatal aviation accidents
occurred. To some, that might sound unremarkable, but for me
and the hard-working staff of AOPA and the AOPA Air Safety
Institute, I think that's cause for celebration. It means our
efforts are paying off, that the work we do resonates with you,
our members, and the whole pilot community. And I want to add
that this banner week took place during a great weather moment
across the country when many of us were out flying. We are flying
more, and our accident rate is decreasing. That's a win-win.
That ASI is here to remind us how important
our responsibilty is, is the reason we are
flying better, flying safer.
The expression " safety in numbers " usually applies to the
number of individuals involved in a situation. But I think it
applies to accident statistics, too. There is safety in the number
of accidents decreasing over time. Did you know that 2024 is
shaping up to be the second safest year on record behind 2021?
The statistics compiled by ASI for more than 30 years in the
Richard G. McSpadden Report (formerly the Joseph T. Nall Report)
show that in the 50 years since ASI was formed, the accident rate
has steadily fallen. In fact, the McSpadden Report shows that
between 2012 and 2021 while flight activity increased, the rate of
fatal accidents fell from 6.5 percent to 4.87 percent. According to
the report, the year 2021 (the latest gathered statistics) trended
downward, ending the year with a total accident rate of 4.28
per 100,000 hours and a fatal accident rate of 0.77 per 100,000
hours. Flight activity rose from 22.4 million hours in 2020 to 26.4
million hours in 2021.
Of course, any accident is one more than what we want. But
since pilot error is the number one cause of fatal GA accidents, I
believe that the work of ASI, its free resources and its nationwide
outreach, are the reason for this positive trend. That we are flying
more but flying safer is a testament to the work AOPA and ASI
4
AOPA PILOT / September 2024
do to educate and inform pilots. ASI offers online courses and
in-person education. Topics such as aeronautical decision making,
technology and aircraft systems, flight planning, situational
awareness, health and medical issues, and weather, offer the
resources to ensure your flying is the best-the safest-it can be.
I believe pilots have one overriding personality trait that
usually serves us well: responsibility. The duty to care with the
utmost respect for our aircraft, our passengers, the regulations,
and our personal health and well-being. That ASI is here to
remind us how important our responsibility is, is the reason we
are flying better, flying safer. I am very proud, and also humbled,
by the role we are playing in this safety success.
I would be remiss not to acknowledge the work of my friend
and colleague Richard McSpadden, the former senior vice
president of ASI whose work focused on reaching audiences with
relevant, timely, and engaging content. I believe Richard's tireless
efforts to improve aviation safety are a driver for this positive
trend. Sadly, he died in an aircraft accident last fall. Losing such
a leader was a brutal blow, but one I know he would expect us
to overcome.
So, I am pleased to have the honor to announce the promotion
of Mike Ginter to senior vice president of ASI. Mike is a pilot's
pilot, a former naval aviator who recently helped me and our
staff execute one of the most thrilling flying events of my career,
the National Celebration of General Aviation D.C. Flyover this
past May. To coordinate and flawlessly execute the dramatic
vision of more than 50 different GA aircraft flying in the most
restricted airspace in the world, over our nation's capital, was a
feat few could imagine (see " A Very Special Day, " August 2024
AOPA Pilot). Mike did so without breaking a sweat (that I know
of!). Taking the helm of the most important aviation safety
organization in the country should be right up Mike's alley.
As we enjoy the clear and often
cloudless beautiful blue skies of late
summer, take pride in knowing this
association is working tirelessly
on the behalf of all pilots-and the
nation-to keep our skies safe.
Blue skies! mark@aopa.org
MARK BAKER is
a commercial pilot
with single- and
multiengine land and
seaplane ratings and
a rotorcraft rating.
AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - September 2024

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