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Researchers are calling for more training in general aviation as a report reveals an alarmingly poor safety record in the sector.
The study, published in the Journal of Air Transport Management by a team from the University of South Australia (UniSA), is a review of 46 other studies exploring fixed-wing general aviation accidents, and found a “significantly higher” accident rate compared to commercial aviation.
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According to official figures cited by the researchers, light aircraft account for over 90 per cent of aviation-related fatalities. More than half the studies reviewed found human factors, including pilot error, poor decision-making, and reduced situational awareness.
Lead researcher Emma Sheffield, a UniSA PhD candidate and aviation tutor, warned that training is lacking in general aviation despite it being the “foundation for all future airline pilots”.
“It is not just a recreational sector, but an integral part of Australia’s aviation system, yet the data consistently shows a poor safety record when compared with commercial airline operations,” Sheffield said.
“Flying into conditions where visibility is severely reduced – such as cloud, fog or heavy rain – requires pilots to fly solely by reference to instruments. Without proper training, that can be fatal as pilots often lose control within minutes due to spatial disorientation.”
Poor-visibility flights are seven times more likely to lead to fatal crashes, with night flights seeing accident rates up to eight times higher than daytime. Spatial disorientation incidents are also higher among less experienced pilots.
“The study identified specific flight phases (take off, landing and low-altitude manoeuvring) as particularly hazardous because there is little margin for error and many fatal accidents occur due to stalls or loss of control in these critical moments,” the authors wrote.
According to the review, lack of recurrent training – particularly in emergency procedures – is “a critical safety gap”, with co-author UniSA Associate Professor Paul Lee saying many private GA pilots only fly the minimum number of hours to remain legally current.
“While recent requirements ensure legal currency, they are not a guarantee of proficiency. Previous studies have shown that skills decline sharply after long breaks from flying,” he said.
“We need to normalise ongoing, hands-on training, whether in the air, in simulators, or through the use of emerging technologies.”
The team is urging wider adoption of “more affordable and accessible methods of delivering recurrent training”.
“In-air training can be costly, so expanding the use of tools such as flight simulators provides general aviation pilots with the opportunity to practise emergency scenarios and build decision-making skills in a safe and cost-effective way,” Sheffield said.
“Emerging technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence also hold potential for developing alternative training methods that are more accessible to pilots.”
The study comes after a survey released last month on poor mental health in general aviation, with more than half of GA workers (53 per cent) saying that the industry has had a negative effect on their psychological well-being.
