Association Says Accurate Data Is Critical For Obtaining Good Statistics

In early June 2013, the FAA will be issuing invitations for participation in its 35th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey. Accurate survey data is critical in developing the FAA’s accident statistics for general aviation and on-demand charter operations. This data also is used for FAA planning and forecasting purposes, according to the NBAA.

On its website, the organization says it strongly encourages all operators who receive a survey invitation from the FAA to complete the survey. Accurate representation and full participation benefits the entire industry.

The FAA’s annual GA Survey is the only source of information on the general aviation fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use general aviation aircraft. The data helps determine funding for infrastructure and service needs, assess the impact of regulatory changes and measure aviation safety. The GA Survey is also used to prepare safety statistics and calculate the rate of accidents among general aviation aircraft.

Those who are invited to participate can complete the survey on-line, or a survey form will be mailed to you along with a postage-paid envelope.

The FAA says the survey allows it to prepare accurate estimates of aviation safety. Data from this survey are used to calculate fatal accident rates for general aviation and Part 135 aircraft. The agency encourages everyone invited to respond, "even if you did not fly your aircraft during 2012, you sold it, or the plane was damaged."

Responses are confidential, and the FAA says a short survey form will be available for owners of multiple aircraft.

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