The NBAA Safety Committee has identified the association’s Top Safety Focus Areas for 2025, highlighting multiple priorities in support of a greater commitment to business aviation safety standards. These safety priorities are intended to help promote safety-enhancing discussions and initiatives within flight departments and among owner-flown operations. These safety priorities are grouped into three areas:
- Address Preventable Accidents
- Engage Unique Operational Concerns
- Identify and Implement Mitigation Strategies
Address Preventable Accidents
Loss of Control Inflight
Loss of control inflight (LOC-I) accidents result in more fatalities throughout general aviation than any other accident category. The alarming consistency of catastrophic outcomes in this type of accident continues to make the contributing factors a targeted issue for safety improvement by NBAA and aviation professional organizations across the globe. Learn more about this severe threat on NBAA’s LOC-I information page, where you will find a wide variety of resources, expert safety presentations, and information on upset prevention and recovery training providers across the country.
- Review NBAA’s Loss of Control Inflight Resources
- Alone in the Cockpit – A Video About Loss of Control
- Loss of Control Inflight Education Video Series
Runway Safety
Runway excursions and incursions continue to afflict the business aviation industry. Operators can prevent most excursions by mitigating well-identified hazards, including adhering to stabilized approach and landing criteria and using accurate and timely runway condition data. Runway incursions and wrong surface events can similarly be prevented by reviewing airport diagrams and NOTAMs to have situational awareness of the airport environment as well as fully understanding and complying with air traffic control clearances. The Safety Committee continues to raise awareness of these highly preventable incidents by utilizing a data-driven approach to enable all operators to learn from the experiences of their peers.
- Review NBAA’s Runway Safety Resources
- Read NBAA’s Updated Reducing Runway Excursions in Business Aviation Guide
- Business Aviation Insider Article: Bizav Safety Experts Share Tips on Preventing Runway Incursions
- Learn more about TALPA, a useful tool for determining runway conditions
- Learn about NBAA’s New Runway and Surface Safety Working Group
- View NBAA’s Airport Audit Tool
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)
Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) continues to be an issue across the industry accounting for more than 10 percent of general aviation accidents with fatalities. CFIT continues to be a top 4 defining event among business and general aviation accidents. Enhanced ground proximity warning systems (EGPWS) and other ground collision avoidance systems are exceptionally capable technological solutions. Some smaller operators are not equipped with EGPWS, but an even more disturbing trend is Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) data collected during 2024 and early 2025 indicating an alarming low response rate to EPWS warnings when the aircraft are so equipped. Data clearly indicates that only 27% of pilots responded correctly to a TAWS warning. NBAA continues to raise awareness, push for scenario-based training, and initiate discussions on technology and best practices to reduce the risk of CFIT.
- Learn more about preventing CFIT from the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GA-JSC) Controlled Flight Into Terrain Working Group:
Ground Operations and Maintenance Accidents
Within business aviation, far more aircraft suffer damage on the ground than in the air. Although these events rarely result in serious injuries or loss of life, they can be very expensive and hinder, if not cancel altogether, any ensuing flight operations.
NBAA encourages the adoption of robust Safety Management Systems (SMS) among all operators and FBOs which would include enhanced standards, training, and procedures to prevent avoidable mishaps on ramps and in hangars.
- Learn more about hangar and ground safety
- Learn about aircraft misfueling with Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) events
- Read the September/October 2020 Business Aviation Insider article “Handle With Care”
- View Business Aviation Insider infographic about ground handling incident statistics (PDF)
Engage Unique Operational Concerns
Single-Pilot Accident Rate
Single-pilot operations provide flexibility and efficiency, however, they also present unique challenges that require a high level of situational awareness, sound decision-making and workload management. These challenges highlight the importance of equipping pilots with the right tools, training and support. The Safety Committee is committed to empowering single-pilot operators with practical strategies and resources to enhance safety, reduce workload and maintain peak performance in every phase of flight.
Examples of these efforts include the annual Single-Pilot Safety Standdown event, contributions to news and resources, and further outreach to the single-pilot community.
- Review NBAA’s Single-Pilot Operations resources
- Risk Management Guide for Single-Pilot Light Business Aircraft, which includes a flight risk assessment tool specifically developed with single-pilot operations in mind
Human Factors
Operating fleets of diverse aircraft types requires technical expertise and strict adherence to safety protocols owing to the subtle, but significant, differences in aircraft designs. On the same note, non-compliance with regulations and procedures remains a major contributor to accidents and incidents in the industry. Despite a responsibility to follow both regulations and internal procedures, lapses still occur. Managing the technical challenges of a varied fleet is crucial for business aviation professionals. However, to ensure safety and mission success, they must also foster a strong culture of accountability, identify the root causes of non-compliance, and implement practical solutions to eliminate it throughout the organization. See more about procedural non-compliance.
- NBAA Safety Resource: Procedural Non-Compliance: Learning the Markers and Mitigating the Risks (PDF)
Fitness for Duty
Technological advancements continue to accelerate, yet the human element – the cognitive and physical systems we depend on – remains relatively unchanged over the course of human evolution. Mental health, fatigue and physical health issues, collectively form the basis of fitness for duty. Underpinning the health and wellness of individuals performing safety-sensitive functions in business aviation is at the heart of the fitness for duty mission.
- Read the 2023 Jan/Feb NBAA Business Aviation Insider article “Mental Wellness in Aviation Starts With I’M SAFE”
- Listen to NBAA News Hour Webinar: Taking a Closer Look at Mental Wellness in Aviation
- Review NBAA’s Medical Issues page
Workforce Challenges
Current projections from one industry training provider note the aviation industry has a significant demand for 1.3 million new professionals in the next decade, including 41,000 business aviation pilots to address attrition and retirements. The evolving industry requires us to strategically attract and retain talent while upholding stringent safety standards.
The NBAA Safety Committee’s Workforce Challenges Working Group works to identify the safety related impacts of these challenges and facilitate the transfer of critical knowledge, particularly emphasizing the cultivation of a robust safety mindset among less experienced peers.
Identify and Implement Mitigation Strategies
Safety Management Systems Implementation
Business aviation organizations should incorporate a systemic approach to proactively managing safety in their operations, thereby identifying hazards and mitigating risk before it leads to an accident. The FAA issued a final rule in 2024 to mandate safety management systems (SMS) for Part 135 operators and some air tour operators. The time to begin efforts to implement an SMS is now. An SMS needs to grow from its implementation point and over time become an integral part of how an organization improves the conduct of its business and its safety posture.
- View NBAA Safety Management Systems Information
- FAA Part 5 SMS for Small Operators: A Practical Guide
- SMS Implementation Video: Safety Policy & Safety Promotion
- SMS Implementation Videos: Safety Assurance
- Read the 2023 May/June NBAA Business Aviation Insider article “Scaling SMS to Meet Your Operation’s Needs”
Support of Safety Expenditures
With SMS mandatory for a broad range of operators by May 28, 2027, more safety managers will have to make the “asks” for personnel and financial resources necessary to mitigate the risk of identified hazards. Leadership understanding of the risks that have to be managed, and committing the necessary resources, is critical to successful operating risk management. Supporting safety managers and leaders with tools that support an efficient and effective SMS and operating outputs, requires cognizance and acumen by both the safety managers and the leadership team. Making decisions about what is needed requires internal and external resources.
This group is focused on building a resource library to best equip safety managers and organizational leaders with the tools, information and methodologies needed to make informed resource decisions and effectively manage operational risk within a mature SMS framework.
- Review NBAA’s Safety Leadership and Culture Resources
- Learn more about NBAA’s Safety Manager Certificate Program
- Review NBAA’s “Safety Risk Profiles: Required Equipment for Your Operation” Resource
- Accountable Executive/CEO Safety Survey (coming soon)
- SMS Calibration/Executive Guide (coming soon)
Increase the Use and Sharing of Human-Reported and Automated Safety Data
Human-reported and automated safety data can provide a wealth of information to business aircraft operators. However, NBAA believes only a small fraction of the business community is participating in safety data collection and sharing efforts.
In the aftermath of recent incidents, NBAA members have seen data pointing to the prevalence of common causes throughout the industry. How many incidents might business aviation prevent by taking advantage of this information before a tragedy, rather than after? Without operators collecting, using and sharing data, these critical failures can go unnoticed, even in the most robust SMS, resulting in incidents and potential loss of life. Automated and human-reported safety data collection, analysis and sharing will enable your operation to proactively measure safety, allow for continuous safety improvements, and reduce costs and liability as part of your internal safety or SMS programs. The Safety Committee is developing tools to promote the use and sharing of data among business aircraft operators not already doing so.
- Review NBAA’s Safety Data Collection, Analysis and Sharing resource
- Listen to the February 2024 Podcast: How Data Collection, Monitoring and Sharing Improves Safety
- Read the October 2023 Article “New NBAA Safety Resource Empowers Operators of All Sizes to Improve Performance Using Data”
- Read the July/August 2023 NBAA Business Aviation Insider Article “Making the Move to Flight Data Monitoring”
- Read the May/June 2023 NBAA Business Aviation Insider Article “Realizing Safety Benefits from Data Sharing”
- View Business Aviation Insider infographic about the ASIAS Data Sharing Program (PDF)
Foundations for Safety
Professionalism
Professionalism is the pursuit of excellence through discipline, ethical behavior and continuous improvement. It is a cornerstone focus of active safety management where professional behaviors rule and safe actions become a byproduct. Professionalism is about who we are and how we approach everything that we do. Learn more about professionalism in business aviation.
Safety Leadership
The entire organization must work together to fully embrace a proactive safety mindset supported by a “just culture” and evidenced by not only participation and belief in the culture, but the willingness to share safety data with fellow aviation professionals. This second foundation for safety highlights the need for an effective set of beliefs, values, attitudes and practices from executive management to the flight line. Review NBAA’s safety leadership resources.
Technical Excellence
The common denominator for excellence in aviation decision making, risk management and flight path management is training. Improved business aviation training will lead to a reduction in loss of control, runway excursions and other business aviation accidents. Training programs need to address the skill sets required of business aviation professionals today in a way that teaches them new skills and sharpens old ones. Find an NBAA Professional Development course to help enhance your skills, review scholarship opportunities for training courses around the country and consult NBAA’s Training Management System Guide (PDF).
Risk Management
Daily, business aviation operators must effectively identify, analyze, and eliminate or mitigate the hazards and associated risks that threaten the viability of the organizations for which they operate. Learn more about safety management systems.
Fitness for Duty
In a physically and mentally demanding environment, a clear mind and healthy body are essential to safe business aircraft operation, maintenance, and management. Operators must address fatigue, sleep apnea, improper use of medications, and many other physical and psychological aeromedical issues. Find more information and resources related to fitness for duty on NBAA’s Medical Issues page. Download the collaborative NBAA and Flight Safety Foundation publication Duty/Rest Guidelines for Business Aviation (PDF) and review science-based guidelines for duty and rest scheduling on NBAA’s Fatigue page.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.