FAA’s contractor, Tetra Tech, has notified NAAA the 38th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (referred to as the GA Survey) for reporting on 2015 activity will soon be underway. The survey is getting an early start this year to make sure everyone selected to participate in the survey has the opportunity to do so. The postcard invitations are scheduled to be mailed the first week in February. If you receive an invitation selecting you to complete this year’s survey, you can complete the survey on-line or by mail. Those wishing to respond by mail will receive a survey form in the mail along with a postage-paid envelope.

 

The information gathered by this survey is important to general aviation and the agricultural community because it is the only source of information on the size and activity of our aircraft fleet. Data gathered helps to prepare safety statistics and develop an industry accident rate which is extremely important due to the fluctuation in ag aviation activity from year to year.

 

NAAA has learned about the protocol used in the selection of aircraft to be surveyed. Owners of all turbine-powered airplanes are slated to receive a survey request. Recip-powered airplanes will be selected on a random basis. All helicopters, regardless of the power-plant used, are to be surveyed.

 

Previous years’ survey results can be found at http://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/general_aviation/.

 

Tetra Tech reminds you to complete the survey even if you did not fly the aircraft or sold it during 2015. They also want you to know that your responses are completely confidential and that an individual’s information is not shared with the FAA. The survey can be completed on the paper form and returned in the postage-paid envelope or completed on-line as instructed in the mailing. Operators with three or more aircraft to be sampled should receive a short form to make multiple reporting easier. In the event you do receive three or more surveys, abbreviated forms can be obtained or questions answered by contacting Tetra Tech toll-free at 800-826-1797 or emailing infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com.

 

Please respond to the survey invitation if you receive one. NAAA cannot place too much emphasis on the importance of this survey. It is the only official source of activity information for our industry!