NATA president James K. Coyne cited the overall exemplary safety record of the Part 135 on-demand air charter industry in reacting to the release of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the October 25, 2002, accident of a Raytheon Beechcraft King Air 100 near Eveleth, Minnesota, in which Senator Paul Wellstone was killed.

"This accident--and any accident--is indeed tragic.  However, the outstanding safety record of the Part 135 industry speaks for itself.  Part 135 charter operators fly passengers millions of miles every year without a single incident or accident.  The pilots are trained professionals who undergo rigorous recurrent proficiency training."

Coyne was responding directly to NTSB Chairman Ellen Engleman's comments about the need to improve safety in the on-demand air charter industry. 

"An accident is just that," Coyne continued.  "And it is misleading and wrong for the NTSB to characterize the entire on-demand air charter industry as unsafe because of one isolated incident, regardless of who was on board.  There are approximately 3,000 on-demand air charter operators in the United States who meet and frequently exceed the stringent safety standards set forth by the FAA under Part 135."

The NTSB cited the flightcrew's failure to maintain an appropriate course and speed for the approach to Evelyth as contributing factors in the accident. 

FMI: www.nata-online.org