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More than 4.5 billion people flew safely on 46.8 million flights in 2019, according to the International Air Transport Association. The global all-accident rate (including substantial damage and hull loss accidents for IATA and non-IATA jets and turboprops) fell to 1.13 in 2019, an improvement from the rate of 1.36 in 2018 and the rate for the previous 5-year period (2014-2018) of 1.56. A hull loss is an accident in which the aircraft is destroyed or substantially damaged and is not subsequently repaired. Western-built aircraft are commercial jet transport aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of more than 15,000 kg, designed and manufactured in the Western world countries. There were 53 accidents in 2019 (on Eastern- and Western-built aircraft), down from 62 in 2018.
The deadliest world aviation accident was the collision of two Boeing 747 passenger planes on the runway of an airport in the Spanish island of Tenerife in 1977. The crash resulted in the deaths of 583 out of 644 passengers according to the Geneva-based Aircraft Crashes Record Office’s list of Worst Aviation Accidents.
In the United States the National Transportation Safety Board compiles data on aviation flight hours, accidents and fatalities for commercial and general aviation, which is private transport and recreational flying.
Commercial airlines are divided into two categories according to the type of aircraft used: aircraft with 10 or more seats; and aircraft with fewer than 10 seats. Nonscheduled commercial aircraft with more than 10 seats are also called charter airlines. Commercial airlines flying aircraft with fewer than 10 seats include commuter (scheduled) airlines and on-demand air taxis. General aviation includes all U.S. noncommercial or privately owned aircraft.
In fiscal year 2019 about 813 million passengers flew on commercial airlines in the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration projects that about 1.3 billion people will fly on commercial airlines in the United States annually by 2040.
Aircraft Accidents In The United States
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(1) Preliminary data. Totals do not add because of collisions involving aircraft in different categories.
(2) Includes nonpassenger deaths.
(3) Private transport and recreational flying.
NA=Data not available.
Source: National Transportation Safety Board.
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(1) Scheduled and unscheduled planes with more than 10 seats.
(2) Includes nonpassenger deaths.
(3) Preliminary.
Source: National Transportation Safety Board.
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(1) On Eastern and Western built jet aircraft.
(2) Measured in hull losses per million flights of Western built jet aircraft. A hull loss is an accident in which the aircraft is destroyed or substantially damaged and is not subsequently repaired.
Source: International Air Transport Association (IATA).
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Source: Copyright B3A – Ronan HUBERT – Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives.
Drones are unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that are remotely controlled and include small hobbyist models and commercial and military aircraft. The number of small hobbyist drones registered in the United States totaled 492,500 units in March 2021, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Commercial drone registrations totaled about 376,000 at the same time. Since December 2015 the FAA requires owners of hobbyist and commercial drones weighing more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds to register them and mark them with a registration number. Larger drones—weighing more than 55 pounds—must register using the FAA's aircraft registry.
In December 2020, the FAA issued final rules requiring remote identification (ID) for drones and other guidance. Remote identification will provide a “digital license plate” for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, that will broadcast (send information from an unmanned aircraft using radio frequency spectrum) the identity of the drone and its control station. This will not require an internet connection. All drones must either be manufactured with broadcast remote ID or be retrofitted with the technology, with some restrictions. Drones without the technology can only operate at an FAA-recognized identification area. Other rules apply to operating drones over people at open-air assemblies, over moving vehicles and at night. New rules requiring remote ID will go into effect in April 2021; other rules will be rolled out in the next three years. The rules will allow for increased home deliveries of cargo.
Homeowners: If a drone is damaged in an accident it is most likely covered under a homeowners or renters insurance policy (subject to a deductible). The liability portion of a homeowners or renters policy may provide coverage against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that a policyholder causes to other people with a drone. It may also cover privacy issues–for example if a drone inadvertently takes pictures or videotapes a neighbor who then sues the policyholder. It will not cover any intentional invasion of privacy. The policy will cover theft of a drone. Damage or injuries caused by a drone used for commercial (i.e. business) purposes will not be covered by a homeowners policy.
A no-fault medical coverage policy may provide no-fault medical coverage if someone is accidentally injured by your drone. However, this coverage will not pay medical bills for a policyholder’s family members or pets if they are injured by the policyholder’s drone.
If a policyholder’s drone crash-lands into his or her car, damage may be covered under auto insurance’s optional comprehensive insurance.
Commercial: Drones are now employed in many industries that depend on aerial imagery, such as agriculture, insurance, construction, energy and others. There are about 215,000 certified remote pilots in the United States. Drone insurance can be purchased through intermediaries such as drone manufacturers and agents. A handful of insurers have entered the market for drone insurance and have created coverage tailored to drones and their equipment. General liability insurance policies commonly contain exclusions for aviation activities. Commercial drone owners and operators can purchase insurance to cover liability for bodily injury and property damage caused by a drone. Personal injury liability coverage is available to protect against invasion of privacy claims, as well as miscellaneous coverages. Physical damage to the drone, also known as hull coverage, is available. Other coverages insure equipment, remote control systems and payloads.