As the former Inspector General for the Department of Transportation, a pilot, aviation professor and being an aviation lawyer for decades, I get a lot of questions. Here are some of the most common, and possibly the best bits of information for air travelers to know:
- Where are the safest seats on a plane? Near the greatest concentration of exits. If there is an emergency, your best bet is being able to get out of the airplane quickly. Read the emergency instruction card when you sit down. It could be the best use of one minute of your life if it results in you saving yourself (and possibly others) after a crash.
- When is the safest time to fly?Summertime is the safest season to fly. Earlier in the day is the safest time of day to fly. More accidents occur later in the day when the pilots are tired, especially when the weather is bad and there have been delays.
- How does weather influence air safety?Weather is a factor in a majority of accidents. Fair weather flying is safest. The most dangerous weather conditions are icing and Level 5 or 6 thunderstorms.
- What is more dangerous, flying over land or water?Water is more dangerous because there are fewer alternative landing strips. Also, there are areas of dangerous turbulence over parts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
- Where are the most dangerous airports?Airports with short intersecting runways are the most dangerous. The general rule is that older airports have the more dangerous taxiway and runway configurations. Midway in Chicago is more dangerous than O’Hare, for example. Long runways with clearly marked taxiways that do not cross active runways and have no hazards at the ends, such as water, buildings or mountains are the safest.
- What is the most dangerous portion of a flight?Takeoff and landing - the first 3 minutes and the last 3 minutes of your flight.
- Which planes are the safest?The newer, bigger jets are the safest, by an overwhelming majority. If you get on a new, big airliner, after the first 3 minutes, you can take off your shoes, put on your sleep mask and relax—until time to land, then put on your shoes. Newer planes not only have the best technology, but they also have new parts that break less often.
- What can a passenger can do to protect him/herself during a crash?Know where the exits are and be prepared to get out. Fast.I have represented many air crash survivors and they have one thing in common, they got themselves off of the plane, through smoke, fire, rain or hydraulic fluid, whatever it took. Several saved other lives too.
- How should a traveler at the gate react if they are told that their plane is delayed due to mechanical difficulties?With patience and understanding, but switch to another flight if you can. Practically speaking, you can usually get booked onto another flight if the reason for the delay is mechanical. Mechanical delays often lead to cancellations. Also, the best mechanics are not always located at the airport, nor do they have the equipment needed to make the appropriate repairs.
- What are the odds of being a victim of a fatal airline accident?On a regularly scheduled commercial airline, your risk of being in an accident is about 3 in 100,000 takeoffs. The numbers vary from source to source, but generally speaking, your risk of dying is about one in 90 million. This article on the risks of air travel from PBS breaks it down even more.
So what does that mean? It means people DO survive airplane accidents-- 95 percent of air travelers survive a crash. So, help yourself and the brave flight attendants who are charged with helping you to survive (not just bring you beverages), by dressing and acting appropriately.
By the way, I don’t drink alcohol on planes for that reason. I wear slacks and sensible shoes. I carry a flashlight and a smoke hood. I am going to get that emergency exit open and if you are seated next to me, I will drag you out with me because I want to live and I want you to live also.
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FAQs
Another reason why air travel is safer than car travel is that aircrafts are equipped with multiple backup systems and state-of-the-art technology to mitigate the impact of any failures. Flight dispatchers play a crucial role in ensuring flights are routed around adverse weather and potential hazards.
What are the best things about air travel? ›
4 benefits of air transport
- Speed and Efficiency. Air travel is the fastest mode of transportation, enabling passengers to reach their destinations quickly and efficiently. ...
- Global Reach. Air transport has made the world a smaller place by providing access to even the most remote locations. ...
- Cost-Effective. ...
- Safety.
Flying can cause temporary effects, such as ear discomfort, jet lag, and dehydration. It can also increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). However, many people take flights without any health complications.
How safe is air travel facts? ›
The main takeaway is that in the period between 2018 and 2022, the worldwide death risk per boarding was one in 13.4 million - that means that if you picked a flight completely at random and just took it, your chance of dying in a plane crash or a terrorist act was about one in 13 million.
What is the safest airline in the world? ›
Air New Zealand has once again captured the title of safest airline in the world. New Zealand's national carrier retook the top spot for 2024, dethroning its neighbor Qantas, according to AirlineRatings.com, which compiles the rankings each year. Air New Zealand previously held the top spot in 2022.
What is the safest time of day to fly? ›
The Safest Time Of Day To Fly
Flying in the early morning or overnight often helps you avoid turbulence or the risk of storms, which means they're often viewed as the safest times of day to fly for many.
What are the pros and cons of air travel? ›
Advantages and disadvantages of air transport everything you need...
- Advantages of Air Transport: Global Reach. Reliable Timelines. Reduced Inventory Holding Costs. Enhanced Security.
- Disadvantages of Air Transport. Higher Cost. Limited Capacity. Restrictions on Hazardous Goods.
Air travel is the safest form of transit in the US. Injury and death rates in air travel in the US have been near zero each year since 2002, and the number of aviation accidents declined from 2000 to 2021.
Has air travel become safer? ›
Still the safest means of travel
He said flight safety has improved, according to federal data, and added that "American aviation is the safest means of travel in the world." And it's getting safer, according to International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 2023 safety report.
What is jet belly? ›
“Jet belly is often used to describe the uncomfortable bloating symptoms and increased intestinal gas that may be experienced during airplane travel,” Kate Scarlata, MPH, RDN, LDN, New York Times bestselling author and Boston-based GI expert dietitian who writes “For A Digestive Peace of Mind” blog, told Healio.
Who should not travel by air? Diseases that prevent you from boarding a plane
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- A recent stroke.
- Infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, influenza or even COVID-19.
- A recent surgery.
- A pregnancy of over 28 weeks.
- Angina (chest pain at rest)
Qantas customer service manager Travys Carinci advises travellers to hold off on the hot soapy suds until at least the day after a long flight. “I skip overly hot showers which, even though it is tempting after a long flight, is a surefire way to dry out your skin,” the Aussie travel expert told Condé Nast Traveller.
What are some fun facts about airplane? ›
Next time you board a plane, think about these six interesting aircraft facts you may not have known.
- Lightning Won't Affect the Plane. ...
- Most Crashes Occur At Takeoff or Landing. ...
- The Wings Don't Make the Plane Fly. ...
- They Aren't Only Made of Aluminum. ...
- Planes Can Last Around 30-35 Years. ...
- You're Safest in the Back.
When it comes to the safety of flights, the length of the flight ultimately has little to do with safety. The safety of each flight is based on a variety of different factors, such as the aircraft type, the proficiency of the crew, and weather conditions.
How much safer is flying than driving? ›
The conventional wisdom among risk communicators that air travel is so much safer than car travel arises from the most widely quoted death rates per billion miles for each - 0.6 for air compared to 24 for road.
Why is air travel so much safer than driving? ›
Most importantly, commercial airlines have strict standards for maintenance of aircraft, inspection, and pilot training. Given these strict standards, you seldom hear of major airlines crashing. Therefore, the majority of flights making up these flight safety statistics involve heavily regulated aircraft and flights.
Is air travel still the safest? ›
Brickhouse, who has studied aviation safety for over 25 years, often tells people that the biggest risk of any air journey tends to be driving to the airport. More than 40,000 people are killed on U.S. roads each year. "Aviation remains the safest mode of transportation," he says.
Are planes still the safest way to travel? ›
From wikipedia: Measured on a passenger-distance calculation, air travel is the safest form of transportation available: Figures mentioned are the ones shared by the air industry when quoting air safety statistics. A typical statement, e.g., by the BBC: "UK airline operations are among the safest anywhere.
Is a plane safer in the air than on the ground? ›
those of higher-risk countries—is a testament to the regulations, redundancies, and quality controls in the American aviation industry, according to experts. “Flying is literally safer than sitting on the ground,” says Bangs.
