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.