Safety of GA flying

Many times I am reading a magazine related to flying and some aviation
related newsgroups and there are a fairly large number of people that
are dying, crashing, etc.
Even the post a bit below about OSH show, etc.

Since I would like to learn to fly I have one question:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the root cause and
problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing, etc? Shouldn't
the standards be the same and are they the same in terms of flying,
rules and equipment. Basically, I wonder, what is going on and most
importantly what to do to correct it? And why it hasn't been done yet?

Thanks

wrote in message
ups.com...
Many times I am reading a magazine related to flying and some aviation
related newsgroups and there are a fairly large number of people that
are dying, crashing, etc.
Even the post a bit below about OSH show, etc.

Since I would like to learn to fly I have one question:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the root cause and
problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing, etc? Shouldn't
the standards be the same and are they the same in terms of flying,
rules and equipment. Basically, I wonder, what is going on and most
importantly what to do to correct it? And why it hasn't been done yet?

There are lots of factors, not all of which even *could* be changed even if
someone wanted to.

They include (but are not limited to)

* pilot training (airline pilots have been through much more training
and have much more experience than most of the rest of the pilot
population),

* regulations governing what is allowed (airline pilots fly under very
strict guidelines, and have limited authority with respect to deviating from
these guidelines, whereas Part 91 pilots can *legally* do all sorts of
things that might be ill-advised 9 times out of 10)

* equipment capability (airline pilots fly powerful, fast airplanes that
spend very little time near the ground, in the weather, and which have
systems that make most icing a non-issue, and make it easy to avoid
dangerous weather)

Part 91 general aviation flying will always be statistically more dangerous
than airline flying. Frankly, I think a more interesting question is why
aren't other forms of public transportation subject to the same degree of
regulation and control that the airlines are? Airlines *are* the safest
mode of transportation, so why aren't the other modes being regulated enough
to meet airline standards?

Of course, the answer to both questions really just comes down to
practicality and public perception. Public perception means that people are
less forgiving of accidents in aviation, so aviation *has* to be better (at
least for airlines). Practicality means that there are things that aviation
is used for that simply could not be done when flying to airline standards.
Airlines are strictly in the business of Point A to Point B and strict
regulations still allow that to happen. But lots of other kinds of flying
would just disappear under those kinds of regulations. Better to allow each
individual to decide to participate or not according to their comfort with
the risk, than to play Nanny State and just kick everyone out of the pool,
isn't it?

Now, note that when you talk about "the root cause", what you're really
talking about is the pilot himself. Most accidents come down to a poor
decision (or more commonly, a series of poor decisions) on the part of the
pilot. For most of us, flying is optional. There's really no excuse for
getting involved in one of these dangerous situations in which an airliner
would have no trouble, or is prohibited from engaging in. Just because, for
example, you are *allowed* to depart (with an instrument rating) in zero
visibility with the ceiling down the ground, that doesn't mean it's wise or
safe.

As with any activity (including walking or driving a car), acknowledge the
risks and take reasonable steps to avoid those risks. But first and
foremost, do what you want to do. If you want to fly, then the risks are
just a fact of life, just as with anything else you do every day. Manage
them, and then don't let them detract from the enjoyment of flying.

Pete

If you want to see facts, go to the sources, NTSB, FAA,
AOPA-ASF, NASA and study the accident reports and safety
reviews.

Airlines are the safest mode of mass transport, but
corporate flying is even safer [last time I checked]. There
are strict rules for both FAR 121 [airlines] and FAR 91
corporations have even stricter in house rules. The
equipment used by corporations is equal to the airlines,
sometimes superior. The pilots know the boss is in the back
and they also have a operations that manual that can be
summed up as "Don't kill the boss."

General aviation includes every airplane that isn't an
airliner or military. Military is dangerous, not just
because they shoot at you, but the places they go and the
conditions they fly and train in are dangerous. General
aviation instructing and supervised students are very safe.
Patrol, agriculture, fire-fighting, these are inherently
dangerous yet have pretty good safety records. But just
like your car, some pilots will fly drunk, tired, stupid,
distracted and without planning. Not all have an accident
every time.

Bottom line, flying is as safe as you want it to be.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

wrote in message
ups.com...
| Many times I am reading a magazine related to flying and
some aviation
| related newsgroups and there are a fairly large number of
people that
| are dying, crashing, etc.
| Even the post a bit below about OSH show, etc.
|
| Since I would like to learn to fly I have one question:
|
| Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of
transportation.
| Looking at the airliners and their operation where they
fly 24/7 all
| over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the
root cause and
| problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing,
etc? Shouldn't
| the standards be the same and are they the same in terms
of flying,
| rules and equipment. Basically, I wonder, what is going on
and most
| importantly what to do to correct it? And why it hasn't
been done yet?
|
| Thanks
|

wrote:
Many times I am reading a magazine related to flying and some aviation
related newsgroups and there are a fairly large number of people that
are dying, crashing, etc.
Even the post a bit below about OSH show, etc.

Since I would like to learn to fly I have one question:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the root cause and
problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing, etc? Shouldn't
the standards be the same and are they the same in terms of flying,
rules and equipment. Basically, I wonder, what is going on and most
importantly what to do to correct it? And why it hasn't been done yet?

The standards are not the same, nor should they be. If they were, a
general aviation airplane would cost tens of millions of dollars and it
would take you six years to get a pilot license. You would only be
allowed to fly directly from one airport to another -- no deviations
for sightseeing or just going up for a joy ride, and you would have to
have another fully qualified pilot with you at all times. You would
have to fly at very high altitudes, out of the weather. You would have
strict operating rules and you would be regularly audited to make sure
you obey them. You could not fly in or out of most airports. You would
not be allowed to do any aerobatics. You would have to have a physical
checkup every six months instead of every two or three years and, if
you ever have any sort of problem with the checkup, you would be
grounded forever.

You choose your own level of risk when you fly an airplane. If you want
to fly at night, in bad weather, in mountainous terrain, in an airplane
that has known problems, etc., you increase your risk. If you want to
be stupid and fly into box canyons, buzz your girlfriend's house, do
low leverl aerobatics, or fly when when intoxicated, you can do that,
too. Lots of pilots do, and they are the pilots who are largely
responsible for general aviation's dismal accident record.

If you want to fly like a professional then you can have something
approaching the safety of a professional. But it is your choice. Just
remember that there are many pilots who choose poorly. And do not kid
yourself. There will be times when you make some very poor choices.
Everyone is human. Apparently, some pilots are more human than others.

wrote:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens.

Airplane crashes, professionally piloted or otherwise, make the news
because they are rare. Dog bites man - no news. Man Bites Dog - Big
News. Hazard a guess as to how many car accidents occurred in your
county yesterday? Or how many car fatalities in your county last month?
How many people died in plane crashes in your county in the past 10 years?


What is the root cause and problem in general aviation regarding safety,
crashing, etc?

By and large, pilot/human error, the same main factor in automobile crashes.


Shouldn't the standards be the same and are they the same in terms of
flying, rules and equipment.

Comparing airliners to private planes, and the rules involved is
actually like comparing commercial transportation to personal cars (and
their rules..).

Commercial aviation is more regulated, requires professional crews
(usually 2 very experienced pilots). Commercial trucks/busses are
likewise more regulated (Commercial drivers license, DOT inspections,
etc). Even with ground transportation, not everyone has the same
rulebook. But aviation still has the equivalent of a 16 year old novice
driver fresh out of driver's ed. We all have to start somewhere.

Basically, I wonder, what is going on and most importantly what to do to
correct it?
Go look in the mirror. You are then looking at the person who is
ultimately responsible for your safety and well being. The person most
likely to be injured or killed in a vehicle accident (air or ground)
operated by you, IS yourself.

Actually, general aviation is not the safest form of transportation.

Commercial aviation (airlines) are the safest, about 50 times safer
than the same amount of time in a car. In other words, you'd have to
fly 50 hours to have the same risk as riding in an automobile for one
hour.

Commuter aviation is the next safest, about 10 times safer than the
same amount of time in a car. Fly 10 hours for the same risk as one
hour in a car.

General aviation is not as safe as riding in a car. It is about 1/10 as
safe as a car. You could ride in an automobile for about 10 hours
before developing the same risk as flying for one hour in the typical
small airplane.

Flying in a small airplane has about the same risk is riding a
motorcycle.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Actually, general aviation is not the safest form of transportation.

Actually, no one wrote that general aviation is the safest form of
transportation. Not even the person to whom you replied.

Another part of the equation is the reliability of piston engines vs
turbines....

wrote in message
ups.com...
Many times I am reading a magazine related to flying and some aviation
related newsgroups and there are a fairly large number of people that
are dying, crashing, etc.
Even the post a bit below about OSH show, etc.

Since I would like to learn to fly I have one question:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the root cause and
problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing, etc? Shouldn't
the standards be the same and are they the same in terms of flying,
rules and equipment. Basically, I wonder, what is going on and most
importantly what to do to correct it? And why it hasn't been done yet?

Thanks

wrote:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the root cause and
problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing, etc?

I'm not sure you can point to one root cause.

A small airplane comes apart when you fly it into a thunderstorm.

This one should not be there. I mean, larger airplane larger parts
because of a larger force being extered on them. Smaller plane smaller
parts, but looking as a whole using some other method like percentages
that doesn't account to the actual sizing of some part but its relation
to others they should follow rules.
Someone made a relation between cars and trucks which are commercial.
Well, on the same road, car's wheel should not fall off (say, pot-hole)
and truck's would stay bolted on. Also comparison is not quite the same
- cars and trucks are using the same road mostly in traffic jams in
larger metro areas. And they have no other way to go but in the same
direction. If planes fly like that in one very small route where
distance between each piston aircraft is say 200 meters which would be
similar to a 10-20 meter distance on the highways between cars - then
comparison would probably be better. Further, standards for personal
cars and trucks do not have to be so strict, since if your engine dies
or you get a flat tire, etc, you can always stop at the shoulder and
wait for help or tow truck. If airplane engine dies, you do not have
that option pretty much.

You guys here know more so I am asking, don't consider this as some
"attack". I agree its mostly in pilot, just when we look at the
personal airplane as a mode of transportation from point A to point B
with all conveniences it offers, what can I do to keep safety to max
apart from the pilot human erorr (my error). Someone mentioned piston /
turbbine engines, etc. That would be nice to look into more.



stall and spin when a pilot isn't paying attention during a buzz job.
The only way to fix it is to provide a full time nanny for each private
pilot.
--
Gene Seibel
Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
Because we fly, we envy no one.


wrote:
Many times I am reading a magazine related to flying and some aviation
related newsgroups and there are a fairly large number of people that
are dying, crashing, etc.
Even the post a bit below about OSH show, etc.

Since I would like to learn to fly I have one question:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the root cause and
problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing, etc? Shouldn't
the standards be the same and are they the same in terms of flying,
rules and equipment. Basically, I wonder, what is going on and most
importantly what to do to correct it? And why it hasn't been done yet?

Thanks