FAAST Blast — Week of March 4-March 10, 2024
Biweekly FAA Safety Briefing News Update
Latest GA Activity Survey Now Underway
The FAA’s 46th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey), reporting on the calendar year 2023, is now underway. The GA Survey is the only source of information on the GA fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use GA aircraft.
Data from this survey are used by governmental agencies and industry to compute safety metrics such as fatal accidents rates; understand the impact of the GA industry on jobs, economic output, and investments in aviation infrastructure; track the success of safety initiatives, including avionics recommendations; determine funding for infrastructure and service needs; and assess the impact of regulatory changes.
The FAA and industry need accurate data on a broad range of aircraft. Your participation is voluntary, but we need your help. We encourage everyone who is contacted to respond to the survey so that all aviation activity is represented. If you have questions, call 800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com.
Schools Nationwide Receive $13.5 Million in FAA Grants to Develop the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals
Thirty-two schools will receive $13.5 million in grants from the FAA to help attract and train students for careers as pilots and aviation maintenance technicians.
Twelve of the schools will receive $4.5 million from the FAA’s Aircraft Pilots Aviation Workforce Development Grants (www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/pilots) program that they can use to prepare high school students to become pilots, aerospace engineers or drone operators. Grants may also be used to support the professional development of teachers. The other $9 million will go to 20 schools as part of the FAA’s Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development (www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/technical) program. These grants will help build back the pipeline of maintenance professionals.
Recipients can use the funding to establish new educational programs; provide scholarships or apprenticeships; conduct outreach about careers in the aviation maintenance industry; and support educational opportunities related to aviation maintenance in economically disadvantaged areas.
Visit www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ang/grants/awd/awards for additional details.
Pushing Your Luck
It’s crucial to approach flying in challenging weather with the respect it’s due because when things go wrong, it can easily turn fatal. Gambling can be a fun pastime in a casino, but you shouldn’t do it in an airplane when the odds are stacked against you. Instead, make your own luck and keep the odds in your favor by following the recommendations in the article “Pushing Your Luck” at medium.com/faa/pushing-your-luck-39cc43d65c95 in the Mar/Apr 2024 issue of FAA Safety Briefing. See the entire weather-themed issue at www.faa.gov/safety_briefing.
Produced by the FAA Safety Briefing editors: www.faa.gov/safety_briefing
Address questions or comments to: SafetyBriefing@faa.gov
Follow us on Twitter: @FAASafetyBrief or https://twitter.com/FAASafetyBrief
