Flying is safe? Yes, but...

Is flying still safer than driving?

When comparing fatal accident rates per 100,000 hours traveled, the data shows: Commercial Airlines Fatal Accident Rate: 0.0002 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours. Automobiles: Fatal Accident Rate: 0.0033 fatalities per 100,000 driving hours. Driving is ~16.6 times more dangerous than flying commercially when measured per hour traveled. General aviation IS riskier than commercial airlines and cars when looking at all activity, including medevac, helicopter offshore and riskier flying, but the aircraft type, training, maintenance, and safety measures can mitigate risks.

FAA Layoff Drama

Some media outlets report significant layoffs at the FAA on the heels of the public’s concern about the safety of the aviation system. However, DOT Secretary Sean Duffey says “Zero air traffic controllers and critical safety personnel were let go.” An unnamed controller says the layoffs were primarily “personnel hired for FAA radar, landing and navigational aid maintenance.” The SpaceX team is set to visit the FAA this week to suggest improvements to the FAA’s air traffic control system.

Eviation Lays Off Most Employees, Pauses Alice Development

In a slew of recent electric aviation company bankruptcies and program cancellations, Eviation is the latest company to announce mass layoffs and the pause of its Alice aircraft development. The firm had over 600 aircraft orders totaling over $5 billion. Both Airbus and Rolls-Royce recently announced plans to pause the development of their eVTOL projects.

FAA Will Be Attending ICAO Emissions Meetings

After an “unauthorized communication sent by an employee” went out earlier this month saying the FAA would not be attending safety and standards committees they typically attend, representatives are expected to attend the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). The committee is debating, among other issues, the rules for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme (CORSIA); the standards set will impact US manufacturers that sell aircraft in Europe and other markets, making the FAA’s attendance critical for the industry.

Gulfstream 650 Production Ends

The last G650 has officially rolled off the production line and is headed for completion in Appleton, Wisconsin. An industry icon since 2008, the aircraft has logged over 1 million hours fleetwide, flew the fastest-ever circumnavigation of the Earth, and was the first entirely SAF-powered flight. The Gulfstream 800 was designed to succeed the 650; the aircraft is expected to fly 8,000 nautical miles at Mach .85.