The amateur-built aircraft accident rate has taken a major decline over the past year, with EAA reportedly playing a major role in the remarkable reduction in accidents and fatalities.

Figures released by the FAA indicate that the homebuilt aircraft accident rate has dropped 25 percent for the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2003. Over that same period, the fatal accident rate has dropped an even more remarkable 36 percent. These figures are especially impressive because registrations of amateur-built aircraft have reached record numbers. Over that same 12-month period, total homebuilt aircraft registrations grew to more than an all-time high of 25,000 in the U.S. alone.

"This is the kind of news everybody in aviation enjoys hearing, with lower accident rates and solid growth in new homebuilt aircraft flying," EAA President Tom Poberezny said. "EAA has long spearheaded programs that help ensure that both new homebuilt aircraft and the people who pilot them are fully ready to fly safely when they take to the sky. EAA members, Chapters and staff will keep working to enhance this year's good news even further."

Among the key EAA groups focused on amateur-built aircraft issues is the Homebuilt Aircraft Council, a volunteer committee of EAA members who are also experienced aircraft builders, who help shape programs and policy to assist other builders. That group provides solid support for EAA programs that enhance safety for homebuilt aircraft such as Technical Counselors, who advise builders during aircraft construction or restoration, and Flight Advisors, who help pilots evaluate their own flying skills as they transition to newly constructed or restored aircraft.

Poberezny also credited the valuable "peer influence" provided by the 1,000 EAA Chapters around the world (more than 900 in the U.S. alone) for the lower accident rate. EAA Chapters often include a number of experienced builders and pilots who provide an excellent forum for fellow enthusiasts as they complete their aircraft projects. In addition, most EAA Technical Counselors and Flight Advisors are associated with at least one local EAA Chapter.

Currently, there are more than 1,250 Technical Counselors and 560 Flight Advisors currently active, located mostly throughout the U.S. but also in 15 other countries. They are dedicated to the EAA philosophy of "member-helping-member" and promoting safety in aviation. Accident rates for aircraft builders who use the EAA programs are shown to be significantly lower than for pilots who are not EAA members or do not utilize these established programs.

The FAA has specifically recognized EAA's homebuilt programs as a major factor in the reduced homebuilt accident rate. The agency also encouraged formation of similar programs for all of general aviation that, according to FAA figures, has unfortunately shown a slight accident-rate increase over the past 12 months.

EAA is continuing to develop additional programs to enhance amateur-built aircraft safety, which has steadily improved over the past 20 years. These programs, which will be announced during 2004, include continued improvement in the SportAir Workshop seminar series; training for designated airworthiness representatives (DARs); and best-practices procedures that recognize and reward aircraft builders who follow certain protocol during construction.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.eaa.org