The number of aviation fatalities recorded in Australia nearly doubled in 2017 to 40, with half of those deaths occurring in general aviation operations and none in either high-capacity or low-capacity regular public transport (RPT), the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) says (Figure 1).1
High-capacity RPT operations are those conducted in an aircraft certified as having more than 38 seats or a maximum payload capability of more than 4,200 kg (9,259 lb). Low-capacity RPT operations are those conducted in an aircraft with 38 seats or fewer or a maximum payload capability of 4,200 kg or less.
In its annual Aviation Occurrence Statistics, the ATSB reviewed data from 2008 through 2017, aiming “to provide an insight into the current and possible future trends in aviation safety.”
Looking only at 2017, the ATSB found that 196 aircraft were involved in accidents in Australia, 203 were involved in serious incidents — defined by the ATSB as incidents wit…
