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Aviation Statistics

2008 Highlights

Aviation occurrences

Canadian-registered aircraft, other than ultralights, were involved in 251 reported accidents in 2008, a 12% decrease from the 2007 total of 284, and a 7% decrease from the 2003-2007 average of 270. The 2008 estimate of flying activity is 4,432,000 hours, yielding an accident rate of 5.7 accidents per 100,000 flying hours, down from both the 2007 rate and the five-year rate of 6.7. Canadian-registered aircraft, other than ultralights, were involved in 24 fatal occurrences with 49 fatalities in 2008, compared to the 33 fatal occurrences with 49 fatalities in 2007 and to the five year average of 31 fatal occurrences with 49 fatalities. A total of 8 fatal occurrences involved commercial aircraft (3 aeroplanes and 5 helicopters), and 13 fatal occurrences involved privately operated aircraft (10 aeroplanes and 3 helicopters). The number of accidents involving ultralights decreased to 29 in 2008 from 30 in 2007, and the number of fatal accidents increased to 12 in 2008 from 5 in 2007.

In 2008, a total of 911 incidents were reported in accordance with the TSB mandatory reporting requirements. This is a 1% increase from the 2007 total of 895 and a 6% increase from the five year average of 857.

Aviation Occurrence Statistics
Preliminary data for 2008
2008 2007 2003-2007 Average
Canadian-Registered Aircrafts
  Aircraft Accidents  a.  251   284   270 
  Aeroplanes Involved  b.  200   237   220 
  Airliners    8   5   5 
Commuter Aircraft    6   4   5 
Air Taxi    41   39   36 
Aerial Work    12   11   13 
Corporate    4   7   4 
State    3   1   2 
Private/Other  c.  126   170   154 
Helicopters Involved    42   46   47 
Other Aircraft Involved  d.  13   4   7 
Hours Flown (thousands)  e.  4 432   4 266   4 011 
Accident Rate (per 100 000 hours)  f.  5.7   6.7   6.7 
Fatal Accidents    24   33   31 
  Aeroplanes Involved  b.  15   25   23 
  Airliners    0   0   0 
Commuter Aircraft    0   1   0 
Air Taxi    3   5   5 
Aerial Work    0   1   1 
Corporate    2   1   0 
State    0   0   0 
Private/Other  c.  10   17   16 
Helicopters Involved    8   7   7 
Other Aircraft Involved  d.  1   2   2 
Fatalities    49   49   50 
Serious Injuries    37   55   40 
Canadian-Registered Ultralight Aircraft Accidents   29 30 34
  Fatal Accidents    12   5   5 
Fatalities    13   6   6 
Serious Injuries    4   7   10 
Foreign-Registered Aircraft Accidents in Canada   15 10 18
   Fatal Accidents    0   0   3 
Fatalities    0   0   6 
Serious Injuries    5   2   5 
All Aircraft: Reportable Incidents   911 895 857
  Risk of Collision / Loss of Separation    175   171   180 
Declared Emergency    327   302   271 
Engine Failure    128   137   139 
Smoke/Fire    108   125   106 
Collision    8   14   17 
Other    165   146   144 

  1. Ultralight Aircraft excluded.

  2. As some accidents may involve multiple aircraft, the number of aircraft involved may differ from the total number of accidents.

  3.  Other: Contains, but is not limited to, organizations that rent aircraft (i.e. flying schools, flying clubs, etc.)

  4. Includes Gliders, Balloons and Gyrocopters.

  5. Source: Transport Canada (2003 to 2008 hours flown are estimated).

  6. Accident rate does not include "Other Aircraft Involved".

All five-year averages have been rounded. Totals sometimes do not coincide to the sum of averages.

Figures are preliminary as of January 15, 2009.
Transportation Safety Board of Canada

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Date Modified:2009-03-02

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