No US Commercial Aviation Fatalities in 2002

[AtlPax]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- No one died aboard a passenger or cargo airliner in the United States in 2002, the third time in a decade that a year went by without a fatality on a commercial plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration credited new air traffic control technology, better training and vigilance by the aviation industry.

Agency spokesman Greg Martin said there were more than 13 million takeoffs and landings last year without a single death.

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More here (http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/01/03/safer.flying.ap/index.html) at CNN.

Just wanted to give everyone involved a hearty congratulations and please keep up the good work! It is appreciated. :)

[WHBM]

Well done all the aviation professionals in the USA for this (and everywhere else where there was the same record, which I think is most countries). As it's fashionable to blame "pilot error" whenever possible, lets now give some praise where it is due.

You have done far more for the safety of the passengers who you carry than any number of "security bureaucrats" thinking up further senseless rules. And everyone else involved, in ATC, in Ops, the Manufacturers, etc can count themselves in on the praise too.

It's disappointing the FAA in the quote above have only credited themselves!

Frequent SLF

[Scudhunter]

Did this poor soul, killed just before Christmas, not count as a commercial pilot then?


17 December 2002

A Cessna 208B operated by Planemasters as flight 1627, collided with the trees and terrain while on the ILS Runway 07 approach to the Greater Rockford Airport, Rockford, Illinois.

The pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. The 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight was transporting cargo for United Parcel Service at the time of the accident.

[PaperTiger]

I think the press release limited itself to part 121 - note the word 'airliner'. It wasn't a particularly safe year for part 135, according to the NTSB there were 17 fatal accidents and 33 deaths.

[RaTa]

Considering the vast amount of flying in the USA........that is a record to be very proud of.:)