After yesterday's dreadful and devastating news, I keep hearing the same thing from the media...
"
The Lynx helicopter is considered to have an extremely good safety record"
...does it really? I would say it is like any other. Have a look at
Aviation Safety Network > ASN Aviation Safety WikiBase > ASN Aviation Safety Database results
I count a 101 fatalities in Lynx over its 42 years. On average, considering they normally carry 5 persons, then that is 1 fatal accident every 2 years for the type.
There are 78 accidents where the Lynx was written off in the above link (I'm guessing that is Cat4/5 equivalent?). I also remember seeing a Lynx laying its side between KAF and LKG in 2008 in the desert - that's not in this database. However, 78 accidents in 42 years is nearly 2 per year - to me that's not "an extremely good safety record" and I woukd say it was decidely "average"!
Come on media 'experts' - get it right!
iRaven