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FAAST Blast
Notice Number: NOTC4617

FAA Releases Annual Forecast Numbers
The FAA released its Annual Aerospace Forecast report today, which provides a comprehensive examination of current and future trends in air transportation for the next 20 years. The comprehensive report looks at all aspects of aviation including the numbers of flights, commercial airline passenger totals, aircraft fleet size, private flying, and international travel. The FAA uses the forecast to determine how best to devote its workforce and resources, and the aviation community also uses the forecast for planning and investments.

According to the report, the general aviation fleet is forecast to increase from 220,670 aircraft in 2012 to 246,375 in 2033, growing an average of 0.5% a year. GA hours flown are forecast to increase from 24.6M in 2012 to 33.6M in 2033, an growth of 1.5% a year. And while fixed-wing turbine aircraft and rotorcraft both are expected to grow 2.8% and 2.7% per year respectively, fixed-wing piston aircraft decline at a rate of 0.3% per year.

A fact sheet is available to provide a snapshot of the report’s projections at www.faa.gov/news/updates.

Bulletin Highlights Elevator Control Concern for Yak-52
The FAA issued a recent Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advising owners and operators of Aerostar (Yakovlev) Yak-52 aircraft of an airworthiness concern regarding elevator control restriction during flight. The SAIB was issued in response to a fatal accident caused by a jammed elevator on Yak-52 as well as similar accidents and incidents caused by foreign objects jamming the controls. The FAA recommends complying with the actions outlined in the New Zealand Airworthiness Directive DCA/YAK/9.

New Issue of FAA Safety Briefing Now Available
The March/April 2013 issue of FAA Safety Briefing focuses on the themes of the 4th Annual FAA Safety Standdown: building a safety community, human error, and loss of control - the leading causal factor in GA accidents. Articles explore each of these critical areas and provide important insight, tips and resources for improving GA safety.

Among the feature articles in this issue include: how to avoid get-home-itis, (pg 9); a review of FAA's WINGS pilot proficiency program, (pg 14); and a look at the importance of setting priorities and avoiding risk (pg 18). The issue’s Nuts, Bolts, and Electrons department (pg 25) looks at complacency in the workplace, while Angle of Attack (pg 28) features a Q&A with NTSB Board Member Dr. Earl Weener.

The link to the online edition is: www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/.

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