Safety in numbers

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.

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.

That ASI is here to remind us how important our responsibility is, is the reason we are flying better, flying safer.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 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!

[email protected]