PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Is it time to be afraid????
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Old 8th Mar 2009, 17:48
  #10 (permalink)  
Rainboe
Warning Toxic!
Disgusted of Tunbridge
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hampshire, UK
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When I started flying training (end 60s, the time of 'Hey Jude'), I did a calculation based on current aircraft flying time per loss. The calculation showed 1 of my course would be involved in a fatal loss over a career. Well we've all made it (so far) with a few years to go before curtains down (pardon the expression). The calculation has now gone through the roof, flying is so exceedingly safe. We can thank:
Aeroplanes
1- Far better design
2- Far better certification and testing
3- Far better monitoring
4- far better technical units (engines, systems, ground equipment etc)
Crews
1- Structured training
2- Simulators to practice those nasty dangerous things
3- Checking and licensing to remove the bad eggs
4- Long careers allowing more experience
Against safety now
1- Longer and harder working hours and days
2- Tendency now for very low experience
3- Crowded skies

Some airlines promote really early, too early in my mind. It takes a long long time to be ready to face totally unusual situations.

The point is flying is so outright safe, even I sit back and relax and doze when someone else is driving, and why I am so brutal with nerve-ridden freaks when they pop up here. There is a time to conquor fear of flying with common sense. The time to be afraid is the drive to and from the airport!

So the answer is 'No'.
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