Business Aviation Safety Nearly Unchanged in 2010

Despite a modest increase in the number of business aircraft flight hours last year, the number of accidents remained virtually static compared with those in 2009, according to year-end statistics released by Boca Raton, Fla.-based industry safety analyst Robert E. Breiling Associates. There was just one more accident last year involving U.S.-registered business aircraft than in the previous year, with the total business jet accidents rising to nine from eight. Both years saw just one fatal jet crash, each claiming two lives. The fractional market saw one nonfatal accident in 2010, up from zero the previous year. In the turboprop sector, the total number of accidents remained unchanged at 36, but the number of fatal accidents decreased by one, to six, in 2010. The total number of fatalities in those accidents dropped from 30 in 2009 to 17 last year. However, the number of Part 135 turboprop accidents increased sharply from 11 nonfatal crashes in 2009 to 17 (two fatal) last year. Robert E. Breiling Associates publishes The Annual Business Turbine Aircraft Accident Review.