|
Cirrus Safety History
Cirrus is proud that our
owners and pilots, supported by our service
network, training network, owners groups and
others, are establishing a strong safety record.
In 2007 it was second to none (figure 1). The
differences in rates between all models of
aircraft, though, are very small. Analysis in
other periods will likely re-order airplane
models.
Also, over the past few years Cirrus owners have
consistently posted total accident rates
(accidents per 100,000 flight hours) lower than
general aviation averages (figure 2).
As cautioned below, though, even one accident
can change a model's record. This effect would
be seen if figure 2 looked only at accidents
with fatalities. In 2006, the Cirrus accident
rate would "blip" above background levels. Prior
trends followed in 2007 and rose again in early
2008.
Discussing “statistics” always raises the
specter, as popularized by Mark Twain, of,
“Lies, damned lies and statistics!” Nowhere is
this more relevant than in the context of
aircraft accidents. These are few in number,
with the worst accidents – those with fatalities
- very rare indeed. The timeframe selected for
analysis can grossly affect the outcome and even
one mishap can skew accident rate information
dramatically.
So do your own analysis. Take the opportunity
not only to develop those statistics but to look
at the reports of actual accidents (see sidebar
for sources).
But remember, avoiding accidents isn’t about
picking an airplane to play the odds. Avoiding
accidents is about avoiding practices that can
lead to accidents. When it comes to your safety,
you have to decide if a particular aircraft is
right for you. Not the numbers.
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation publishes an
annual analysis of general aviation accidents
(The Nall Report)
. This is a valuable
resource for anyone interested in aviation
safety. It clearly brings out the practices that
can lead to mishaps.
» The 2007
General Aviation Safety Record |
