Air Force Class A flight mishaps for all aircraft occurred at a rate of 0.90 in Fiscal 2006, compared to 1.50 for Fiscal 2005, according to end of year statistics provided by the Air Force. That rate, which represents the number of Class A mishaps per 100,000 flying hours, is the best USAF has seen over the past 10 years. (See Data Point: Flying Safer.) And for 2006, the Air Force’s mishap rate was lower than all the other services. The Navy posted a year-end rate of 1.51, while the Army had 1.72 and the Marine Corps 1.86.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.