Addressing a National Priority
The Federal Aviation Administration’s priority: improving safety in America’s largest aviation segment.
Why it matters here
A documented gap, not a theory.
In 2024, U.S. Part 121 airlines recorded a fatal accident rate of 0.0 per 100,000 flight hours, and zero fatal accidents. General aviation’s fatal rate that year was 0.721 per 100,000 flight hours, with an overall rate of about 5.0 to 6.0. NTSB Special Investigation Report AIR-24-03, released in August 2024, examined hundreds of accidents among smaller operators from 2010 to 2022. Part 91 was excluded. The systemic issues it named were inadequate procedures, weak operational control, lack of a safety management system, and insufficient oversight.
The FAA and the general aviation industry met a goal of cutting the fatal accident rate by 10 percent between 2009 and 2018, and are working toward a further one percent a year. The 2025 FAA fact sheet describes a 2024 fatal accident rate of 0.72, and says more has to be done. The year-by-year series published with that fact sheet, below, uses fiscal years and lists an FY24 estimate of 0.68. Those are different series. Both are cited.
ISSA does not replace the FAA. It gives a smaller operator an external, internationally recognized way to show the system is in place.
We help you put a practical, scalable Safety Management System in place, with the policies, procedures, and processes your flight operation actually runs. The approach takes world-leading IATA and ISBAO standards and makes them usable at a cost a small team can carry.
General Aviation is the largest aviation segment in the U.S., and it is central to how people and goods move outside the airline network. Regardless of the size of the operation, the operators who have documented Policies and Procedures, operational control, and oversight have confidence, and a workforce that knows the safety standard.
The benefit for you is a stronger safety culture, less risk exposure, a clearer position with insurers, more confidence from clients, and a system ready for a regulatory change or for growth.
| Category | Fatal accident rate | Overall accident rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled airlines (Part 121) | 0.0 | Very low, typically under 0.3 | Zero fatal accidents in 2024 |
| General aviation | 0.721 | About 5.0–6.0 | Includes mostly Part 91 operations |
In 2024, U.S. general aviation logged about 29 million flight hours, according to the FAA General Aviation Activity Survey, at an overall accident rate of roughly 5.0 to 6.0 per 100,000 flight hours. Preliminary National Safety Council data recorded 1,201 overall accidents involving U.S.-registered civilian aircraft that year. The vast majority - estimated at 1,100 to 1,200 (195 fatal) - were in general aviation.
NTSB Special Investigation Report AIR-24-03, released in August 2024, examined hundreds of accidents involving Part 135 operators between 2010 and 2022 (Part 91 was outside the scope of the report). The NTSB identified several systemic safety issues across Part 135 operations: Inadequate Procedures, Weak Operational Control, Lack of Safety Management Systems, and Insufficient Oversight. This report noted repeated deficiencies identified during FAA inspections that were not adequately corrected by operators.
As a result of the NTSB’s report, all FAA Part 135 operators must develop and implement a Safety Management System (SMS) meeting 14 CFR Part 5 by May 28, 2027, and submit a formal declaration of compliance to the FAA by the same date. There is no regulatory mandate for Part 91 operators.
The NTSB has urged the FAA to publish guidance for scaling an SMS, and in 2024 the FAA issued revised Advisory Circular 120-92D, including a guide for small operators.
- FAA - General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey
- NTSB - Special Investigation Report AIR-24-03 (PDF)
- FAA - Advisory Circular 120-92D, Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers (PDF)
- FAA SMS Aviation Rulemaking Committee - scalability for smaller operators (PDF)
- Full source list, including the FAA fact sheet and IATA ISSA
The record
General aviation fatal accident rates, eight fiscal years.
| Year | Fatal accidents per 100,000 hours | Fatal accidents | Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY17 | 0.83 | 209 | 347 |
| FY18 | 0.89 | 226 | 387 |
| FY19 | 0.95 | 243 | 426 |
| FY20 | 0.91 | 211 | 377 |
| FY21 | 0.75 | 192 | 323 |
| FY22 | 0.90 | 242 | 376 |
| FY23 | 0.71 | 200 | 335 |
| FY24 (est.) | 0.68 | 195 | 337 |
Addressing a National Priority
The NTSB identified several systemic safety issues across operations:
- Inadequate Procedures: Many operators lacked robust standard operating procedures for critical functions such as flight release, operational control, weather assessment, and risk management.
- Weak Operational Control: In multiple accidents, flight coordinators or dispatch personnel were not properly trained or qualified, leading to poor decision-making before and during flights.
- Lack of Safety Management Systems: Most operators are not required to implement formal SMS. The NTSB found that the absence of structured hazard identification and risk mitigation processes contributed to many preventable accidents.
- Insufficient Oversight: The report noted repeated deficiencies identified during FAA inspections that were not adequately corrected by operators.
The NTSB’s findings in AIR-24-03 confirm a persistent and unacceptable safety gap between scheduled airline operations and the on-demand / charter sector.
