What happened
In February 2018, an extensive online survey was conducted to evaluate the state of General Aviation (GA) safety within Ireland. The study, part of a Master of Science research project at Cranfield University, sought to gather direct feedback from the pilot community regarding their flying experience, training backgrounds, and personal perceptions of what causes accidents and serious incidents in the airspace.
way The survey gathered 151 valid responses from pilots primarily operating in Ireland. The participants represented a wide range of ages and experience levels, with the majority holding a PPL. The data covered various aspects of flight, including aircraft ownership, types of aircraft flown—predominly Single Engine Piston models—and the frequency of recent flight activity.
The investigation
Researchers analyzed the survey data to establish a profile of the Irish GA community. The investigation looked into several key areas:
- Pilot Experience: The study examined total flying hours, recent activity over the previous 12 months, and the number of landings performed.
- Training and Qualifications: The research assessed how long it had been since pilots last received instructional flights and the prevalence of specialized training, such as Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT).
- Aircraft Operations: The survey investigated the types of aircraft used, whether they operated under a Flight Permit or a Certificate of Airworthiness, and the nature of aircraft ownership (e.g., owning, part-owning, or hiring).
- Safety Perceptions: The study explored how pilots access safety information and their views on the effectiveness of current safety communication and training methods.
Findings
Several key findings emerged from the data collected:
- Training Gaps: Approximately 49% of respondents had not received Upset Prevention and Recovery Training. Furthermore, pilots identified a significant need for more advanced training in areas such as instrument/IFR flight, meteorology, and handling aircraft in marginal or bad weather.
- Experience Variance: While some pilots reported very high flight hours, a notable portion of the community flew relatively infrequently, with many performing 10 landings or fewer in the preceding year.
- Safety Communication: There was a strong consensus among participants regarding the need for improved safety communication. Pilots suggested more frequent safety seminars, better dissemination of information through flying clubs, and more proactive safety-related content from the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
- Training Incentives: Respondents expressed a desire for more structured training opportunities, suggesting that moving away from a purely compulsory model toward a "value-added" approach could improve safety outcomes.