JammedStab:
You cited 4 terrible accidents dating back to 1974. Statistics (if you believe in such mundane things) say that there are approximately 100,000 airline flights per day – and if you throw in charter and cargo flights the number doubles. And I am fully aware that there were many more accidents than those you cited – although, as I think you would agree, not ALL of those additional accidents could be attributable to design/manufacturing/structural defects. So, given these numbers during the 40 years of time since the Turkish DC-10 accident, there were more than 14.6 billion flights, and during this time there were 497 airline accidents - not an estimate. With these numbers, it is easy to see that the ratio of accidents to flights is astonishing low … about 1 accident for each 29.4 million flights – a rather low average by anyone’s estimation. Of course ONE accident is one too many. But, again, we’re dealing with humans. Humans are fallible. Accidents DO happen. I’m not happy about it – nor is anyone I know happy about it. But to offer some kind of comparison outside of the aviation community, you might be interested to know that in the US – a reasonably modern country with reasonably modern safety standards – there is 1 automobile accident for every 30 automobile trips every year. I would have provided a similar data comparison for Europe or the world had I been able to find the relevant data. But, basically, the US data for automobile accidents should show the relative safety ratio to that ratio in aviation, even after using the actual number (497) of airplane accidents over that 40 year history, is a robust 29.4 million to 1 … and that is with a ratio of 40 years to 1 year.
As I said, accidents do happen – sadly – but they happen, regardless of the reason. However, to say that aviation accidents (particularly with the substantially reduced number that could be even remotely attributed to a structural or mechanical problem) are a result of “cavalier” decisions made by the certification portion of the industry is so far out of bounds as to logically be classified as “non-playable,” and certainly should not be cited as any logical justification for making individually preferred decisions by flight crew members.
Last edited by AirRabbit; 8th June 2014 at 18:32.