Spate Of Recent Accidents A Concern, Agency Says

The FAA's Alaska Division Manager has sent a letter to pilots in the state saying the agency is concerned about a recent increase in Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) accidents.

FAA statistics indicate that there have been 24 fatalities and serious injuries resulting from aircraft accidents in the past year. Many of those involve bad weather and other unsafe flying conditions.

Television station KTUU reports that Alaskan Region Flight Standards Division Manager Clint Wease said in the letter that most CFIT accidents occur "because of inappropriate or non-existent safety cultures, leaving all decisions up to and placing all responsibilities on a pilot who may have to make split second, life or death decisions.”

The FAA plans to work with The Medallion Foundation, an Alaska-based non-profit that was founded by air carriers hoping to improve the safety culture in the state. Pilots would be eligible to train in the foundation's 21 simulators located around the state.

The FAA said it also plans to continue to engage the industry to increase awareness of safety practices.

(NTSB image from file)

FMI: http://medallionfoundation.org, www.faa.gov/airports/alaska