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Safety Newsletter

Spring 2026

A Troubling Reversal: Business Aviation's Deadliest Year Since 2011 and What It Means for the Midwest

While the nation's skies saw record airline safety in 2024, 2025 delivered a brutal wake-up call: business aviation just recorded its deadliest year in over a decade—and the Chicago area's own backyard tells a story the industry can no longer ignore.

The industry has demonstrated before—after 1979, after 1994, after 2005—that it can learn from tragedy and reform. The question now is whether 2025's numbers will be treated as an anomaly or as a call to action. For operators flying in and out of Chicago's busy GA and business aviation airports, the answer should be clear.

Read more about this troubling safety reversal, based on AIN Online, Aviation Safety Network, FAA, NTSB.

Inside the Cabin: What Corporate Flight Attendants Really Want You to Know

In this exclusive interview, experienced corporate flight attendants Kristin Spear and Zach Gable, pull back the curtain on a world where luxury meets responsibility—and where safety is never optional.

From navigating inconsistent safety cultures in smaller flight departments to managing the constant pressure of delivering flawless, high-touch service, they reveal the unique challenges that set corporate flying apart from commercial aviation. You’ll discover why complacency and poor leadership can pose real risks, how flight attendants balance discretion with vigilance, and why strong communication with pilots is critical to every successful trip.

They also share candid insights on maintaining personal safety standards—even when others cut corners—plus the unspoken rules of client confidentiality in an industry built on trust.

Read through your inside look at what it truly takes to succeed: adaptability, professionalism, sharp instincts, and an unwavering commitment to both service and safety.

Ready for takeoff? Dive into the full interview and see if your department has what it takes to thrive at 40,000 feet.

Recurrent Readiness: A Pilot's Roadmap to Currency After Time Off

Whether a pilot takes off from flying for a few weeks, months, or even longer, returning to the flight deck demands more than just simply getting back behind the controls. Aviation regulations require pilots to maintain currency and proficiency to safely operate aircraft and potentially carry passengers. FAA regulations such as 14 CFR §61.56 and §61.57 are referenced for flying within the United States to establish minimum recent flight experience requirements. This includes things such as flight reviews, instrument procedure check, and takeoff and landing recency. 

That being said, regulatory currency does not always compare to true proficiency. Returning pilots, whether that be general aviation or business aviation can experience degraded instrument skills, lapses in situational awareness, over reliance on automation, and poor aeronautical decision making. It is easy to fall into the trap of assuming flying is just muscle memory and will come back to you, so it is imperative that pilots are aware of the common pitfalls and how to mitigate them. By identifying common mistakes and adopting personal structured currency strategies, pilots can alleviate risks and safely return to flying.

As written by CABAA member Gabrielle Green, read more about returning to the skies after time away.