48th annual FAA GA Survey now underway The FAA’s 48th annual General Aviation and Part 135 Activity Survey (GA Survey) is now underway, reporting on calendar year 2025. The GA Survey is the only source of information on the general aviation fleet, the number of hours flown, and the ways people use general aviation aircraft. Data from this survey are used by governmental agencies and industry to: • Compute safety metrics, such as fatal accident rates • Understand the impact of the GA industry on jobs, economic output, and investments in aviation infrastructure • Track the success of safety initiatives, including avionics recommendations • Determine funding for infrastructure and service needs • Assess the impact of regulatory changes. The FAA and industry need accurate data on a broad range of aircraft. Your participation is voluntary, but we need your help. We encourage everyone who is contacted to respond to the survey so that all aviation activity is represented. The initial survey invitations, which were mailed and emailed Feb. 16, are being sent to owner–operators of a single aircraft; owner–operators of multiple aircraft will receive a survey invitation later this month. GA and Part 135 Activity Survey Basics Tetra Tech, the independent research firm that has been conducting the annual survey for 26 years, compiled the following FAQs list. Q: Are responses confidential? Yes, the information will only be used for statistical purposes and will not be published or released in any form that would reveal an individual participant’s identity. Q: How are participants contacted? Those who do not complete the survey online will receive a mailed survey, which includes a postage-paid return envelope. Q: Is it easy to complete the survey? Yes! It only takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete the survey, which you can do online or on a survey form that will be mailed to you, along with a postage-paid return envelope. Or call Tetra Tech toll free at 1-800-826-1797. Q: I didn’t fly my aircraft in 2025. Do I still need to complete the survey? Yes, please respond even if you did not fly your aircraft during 2025 or sold it, or if the aircraft was damaged. Q: Will I receive a survey form for each aircraft I own? An abbreviated survey form is available for owners–operators of three or more aircraft. To obtain one, contact Tetra Tech toll free at 1-800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com. Q: I did this last year. Why am I receiving the survey again? Several groups of aircraft are surveyed every year to better understand the aviation activity of high-use groups, such as turbine aircraft, rotorcraft, newer aircraft, and Alaska-based aircraft. Q: Whom should I contact if I have more questions? Please contact Tetra Tech toll free at 1-800-826-1797 or email infoaviationsurvey@tetratech.com for more information. Q: How many aircraft are sampled annually? More than 80,000, or about 30% of the population, but the sample includes smaller proportions of some aircraft. Participation across all types of aircraft is critical to success! Q: Where can I find survey results from previous years? Visit http://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/general_aviation.
