NATA (the National Air Transportation Association), in partnership with more than a dozen pilot and other business aviation organizations and with the support of the FAA Safety Team, launched the 2025 National Pause for General Aviation Safety today at the SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo.
The initiative aims to further improve general aviation safety and encourages every general aviation pilot to take 15-60 minutes in the next six months to sharpen their focus on safe flight operations by reviewing at least one of more than three dozen carefully curated safety videos, articles, and more at GAsafe.org.
Despite several high-profile accidents this year, general aviation has never been safer thanks to improved cockpit technologies, training methods, programs and tools, regulatory frameworks, and industry collaboration.
In the past 30 years, the general aviation fatal accident rate fell by 60 percent from a high in 1994 of 1.73 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours to only 0.68 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours in 2023. And early data suggests that 2024 was even safer.
“The NATA team encourages pilots and other aviation stakeholders to take this opportunity to pause and enhance GA safety training, cultivating a safety 1st mindset in every mission,” stated NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna. “Safety starts on the ground and continues throughout each successful journey. That’s why NATA is pleased to support free online training and other initiatives to prevent aviation misfueling incidents found at www.nata.aero and also at www.GAsafe.org.”
The coalition of more than a dozen general aviation organizations, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Vertical Aviation International (VAI), the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and NATA, are urging their members to go to GAsafe.org and choose from dozens of aviation-safety-related options. Pilots can participate in the National Pause for GA Safety individually or in groups. They can earn FAA WINGS credit and receive a digital badge to post to their social media accounts.
“As always, NATA is here for you—on the ground, in the air, and at the Hill—working towards the continuous improvement of aviation safety for all users of the national airspace and in support of environments in which you can have confidence in the services you receive,” added Castagna. “NATA is proud to be a part of this vital Pause for GA Safety alongside our industry partners—as pilot and aviation stakeholder safety is something we all stand for and support.”
Below is the full list of organizations that are part of the initiative:
- NATA (National Air Transportation Association)
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
- American Bonanza Society (ABS)
- Civil Air Patrol (CAP)
- Coalition of Airline Pilots Association (CAPA)
- Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
- FAA Safety Briefing
- FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam)
- Flight School Associations of North America (FSANA)
- National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA)
- North American Trainer Association
- National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI)
- National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
- National Flight Training Alliance (NFTA)
- Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF)
- Seaplane Pilots Association (SPA)
- Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE)
- The Ninety-Nines, Inc., International Organization of Women Pilots (99’s)
- United States Parachute Assoc. (USPA)\
- Vertical Aviation International (VAI)