Fuselage fuel tank on Diamond DA20 is protected by structure to minimize the risk of leaks and fire during a crash.

by Ken Ibold

With general aviation dominated as it is with decades-old designs, the generally declining rate of accidents and fatalities bears witness to the value of training and technology in keeping pilots and their charges safe.

However, the recent influx of clean-sheet aircraft designs helps illustrate how much designers have learned about safety since the birth of Cherokees, Skyhawks and Bonanzas. While performance continues to drive the sales of new airplanes, safety is a key component of a manufacturer’s long-term viability, thanks in part to product liability concerns. That reality has forced designers to pay close attention to both active and passive safety features in new models. …