Top 10 General Aviation Stories Of The Year

Here are the blockbuster aviation stories of a remarkable 2018 for GA.

Plane & Pilot

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at 05:08 AM ET

Verified

Plane flies by control tower.

Key Takeaways:

General aviation in 2018 saw a mix of challenges and successes, including the successful defense against ATC privatization, a record-setting year for aviation safety, and the Cirrus Vision Jet winning the Collier Trophy, contrasted with concerns over the ADS-B mandate deadline and FBO fees.
The aviation landscape is rapidly changing with disruptive technologies like widespread drone integration, which presents significant regulatory and safety hurdles, and the speculative development of autonomous "Uber-of-the-skies" urban air mobility.
The airline industry experienced a major hiring boom due to pilot retirements and increased air travel, creating a high demand for ATPs and leading to improved wages and benefits for pilots.

See a mistake? Contact us.

3. Safest Year In Aviation!Ever

Airplane in hanger. — Aviation had safest year ever.

According to the AOPA Air Safety Institute, 2016 was the safest year in GA history. While there are various explanations for why we’ve seen such a decline in accidents—no one seems shy about rushing in and taking credit—the truth is that there are dozens of possible contributors. The bottom line is a wonder to behold. In 2016, accidents were down by 57 percent compared to a baseline standard that averaged accident rates for a five-year period from 2001 to 2005. Fatal accidents in 2016 were 41 percent lower than during that same baseline period. The even better news? Based on data trends, 2017 looks as though it could be safer still.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10