Aviation News Item: 03939

13th Jan 2010

Source: flightglobal.com

Despite a marked reversal in 2007-08, the accident figures for US business aviation seem to have resumed their gradual long-term improvement. This is indicated by figures from the US National Transportation Safety Board and the analyst Robert E Breiling Associates. US-registered business jets suffered five fatal accidents in 2008, but there was only one in 2009.

There were fewer flights last year, so the rate improvement - when it has been confirmed - will be less dramatic than the raw numbers, but preliminary NTSB figures suggest it will still be good.

Breiling says the total number of US-registered business jet accidents - both fatal and non-fatal - in 2009 was eight, compared with 23 the previous year. The figures for 2008 were particularly bad: NTSB accident rates per 100,000 flying hours jumped to 1.27 from 0.72 in 2007, the latter being more representative of the figures since 2003.

Breiling's 2009 figures for business turboprop accidents also show improvement, but less dramatic than for jets. In 2009 there were 36 turboprop accidents, including seven fatal crashes, compared with 41 - of which 18 were fatal - in 2008.

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