Alaska pilots just recorded their safest year in 20 years. There were “only” 100 accidents in the state in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. By contrast, the worst year for accidents during the period was 1995, chiming in with 173. FAA Administrator Marion Blakey told the Juneau Empire the statistics “just turn one’s head around” and she credited a coordinated effort to improve flight safety in Alaska with the improvement. John Duncan, a spokesman for the FAA’s Flight Standards office in Anchorage, said accident stats have been going down for five years. Several programs, including Capstone, which fits commercial aircraft with the latest in navigation and communications gear, and the Medallion Program, which rewards air carriers with insurance-premium reductions for their completion of safety programs, have been implemented in recent years. Duncan said the next focus will be on flight instructors “to improve the way pilots are trained at the start.”
Safest Year In Two Decades For Alaska
Key Takeaways:
- Alaska pilots recorded their safest year in two decades, with 100 accidents in the last fiscal year compared to 173 in 1995.
- This significant safety improvement is attributed to coordinated efforts and specific programs like Capstone (advanced navigation/communications) and the Medallion Program (safety incentives for air carriers).
- Accident statistics have been declining for five years, and the next focus for safety improvement will be on enhancing flight instructor training.
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