Aviation Safety – How Safe Is Flying?

Despite the fact that the aviation industry has been deemed as offering the safest mode transport the world over, there are still millions of people that fear flying and, ultimately, becoming an accident statistic.

The bottom line is this: flying is incredibly safe … despite the fact that flying dictates that there’s an awful lot of space between you and the ground!

In order to help nervous flyers around the world, there are now more than a few industry-related ‘fear of flying‘ courses that are designed to specifically meet the fears of those that suffer from (varying degrees of) Aviophobia. A two minute search online will deliver quite a few resources and varying levels of support.

If you’re one of those that does suffer, be assured that you’re not alone. It’s estimated that as many as 30 to 40% of all regular flyers suffer from the phobia, so the chances of you sharing a flight with someone that’s as worried as you are pretty high! In order to gain some perspective, here are a few aviation industry facts:

• for every one aviation-related fatality, there are 1.4 billion air miles flown
• statistically, your chances of being involved in such an incident is 1 in 3 million
• if that doesn’t make sense then: you will need to fly every day, for over 8000 years, in order to reach your one in three million limit!
• In direct comparison, the chances of your being involved in a fatal car accident increases massively – one in 5000!

The above is neither an exhaustive nor definitive list but it does show, at least in a small way, just how safe flying really is. The aviation industry has a fantastic safety record, despite the reported airline tragedies that we hear about. And therein lies the root of many an individual’s fear.

The media, being what it is, is quick to report the details, the loss of life, the horror that comes with any aviation related catastrophe. In print, on film, the constant close scrutiny, the images of plane wreckage, luggage strewn across landscapes, the debris and collective loss of life plays on our minds.

Another unfortunate (and relatively new form) media example is the internet. There are plenty of ghouls to be found online, the type that throw up a website, employ a bit of web marketing and bingo! – everything that makes anyone run cold about mass loss of life is laid bare. And we, the accidental or even intentional web surfer finds them.

Of course it’s fair to say that you have to be inclined towards a fear of flying in order to expose yourselves to media reports that will further validate your fears. On the flip side, you could try and turn the need for facts on it’s head and look (only) for the positives, some of which have been mentioned here.

Flying is safe. Flying is a fantastic and convenient mode of transport. The aviation industry is stringently regulated – and always will be. The FFA (Federal Aviation Administration) has a lot of factual data and information about aviation, the safety, the regulatory bodies and how they work.

Don’t let your fear keep your feet on the ground. There’s a wide world out there and flying absolutely is the best way to view it!