Midair Collisions Over a Period of Technological Advances Targeting Human Performance Deficits.

Area of Science:

• Aviation Safety
• Accident Analysis
• Human Factors in Aviation

Background:

• Midair collisions (MACs) are a persistent risk in general aviation, often attributed to the limitations of the see-and-avoid method.
• Technological advancements may mitigate some risks, but research on their impact on MAC rates is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if the rate of midair collisions (MACs) has declined over time.
• To identify the underlying causes of midair collisions in general aviation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) data for MACs from 1995-2023.
• Statistical analysis using Poisson distributions and Chi-square tests to assess trends and correlations.

Main Results:

• A 63% reduction in MAC rates was observed from 2020-2023, though the proportion of fatal events remained high (44-58%).
• Personal and training missions accounted for the majority of MACs (61% and 24%, respectively).
• Airports with control towers had significantly lower MAC rates (6.5-fold reduction) compared to those without, yet 78% of MACs involving traffic deconfliction services were due to failure in maintaining visual separation.

Conclusions:

• Updated pilot training curricula should address physiological limitations and the potential impact of electronic displays on visual scanning.
• Further research is needed to understand the influence of modern avionics on pilot awareness and external visual scanning.
• Enhancing see-and-avoid capabilities through improved training and awareness is critical for reducing general aviation accidents.