Last year was one of the safest in six decades for airline passengers, a new study indicates. In 2009, 30 fatal airline accidents resulted in 757 deaths and one ground fatality, according to the Aviation Safety Network, a Dutch organization that tracks air transport mishaps. That's lower than the 10-year average of 802 fatalities. Of those 30 fatal accidents, 11 involved passenger flights. This is the lowest number in over sixty years

Founder and president of the Aviation Safety Network, Harro Ranter, said "aviation has become safer every year during the last decade. A record low number of 11 fatal accidents on passenger flights in 2009 signifies this."

Five out of 30 accident aircraft were operated by airlines on the EU "black list" as opposed to nine out of 26 in 2007 and three out of 32 in 2008.

In 2009 Africa was again the most unsafe region: 30 percent of all fatal airliner accidents happened in the so-called Dark Continent, while Africa only accounts for approximately three percent of all world aircraft departures.

The Aviation Safety Network is an independent organization located in the Netherlands. Founded in 1996, it aim to provide everyone with up-to-date, complete and reliable authoritative information on airliner accidents and safety issues.

ASN is an exclusive service of the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF). The figures have been compiled using the airliner accident database of the Aviation Safety Network, the Internet leader in aviation safety information. The Aviation Safety Network uses information from authoritative and official sources like NTSB, ICAO etc.

Ramon Lopez also serves as editor-in-chief of Air Safety Week; he has been covering air safety for more than three decades (rlopez@accessintel.com).

www.aviationtoday.com/ramon_lopez_bio.html