Is it safe to fly?

Question

My girlfriend's about to fly from london to the isle of man on a smallish (60 seater?) plane. It's the first flight to be allowed up today because of the strong winds. She doesn't want to fly but has to be at a work event and was supposed to have gone this morning. Is it safe to fly? What should she do?

As most you said, the plane landed safely and she was right to fly. Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

listen my Friend take no notice of my silly name that's just me having fun but my wife calls me plane crazy because of the fact that i love aviation. now you say that your gf is flying today,, i wouldn't worry too much. the aviation industry have stringent regulations that will ground any plane weather it be prop pulled or jet for conditions due to weather.
these people who'll be flying her there will be trained to the highest standard and even if, god forbid, the worst scenario happens you'll be safe in the knowledge that they'll endever to land some place.
don't worry, she'll be OK

Answer 2

It's actually safer to fly than to travel by any other means.

Pilots are trained extensively in flying in heavy winds, and as an amateur pilot myself I can tell you that the instruments available today in most cockpits allow for seamless take offs and landings at wind speeds up to 50 mph.

Of course, smaller planes will get whipped around a lot more, but generally when it is not safe to fly, a pilot will not sit in the seat to begin with.

Answer 3

Flying is always safe. It's the uncontrolled landing that's the problem.

Seriously, it's statistically the safest form of travel. Remember, the pilot will NOT take off if he has any doubt about the safety of a flight. Apart from the risk of losing his job if he gets it wrong, he will not want to endanger himself or his passengers.

Also, Air Traffic Control always keep a protective motherly eye on the aircraft for the whole journey.

Most Hollywood aeroplane films grossly exaggerate the risks so ignore them.

Answer 4

Small planes are sure a worry, especially when strong winds are involved.

They say that taking a plane is safer than riding a bus, but I don't know if that applies to a small plane in strong winds.

That's a worry no doubt, but if the pilot feels it is safe (I don't think he or she wants to take a chance with there life) Then it will probably be OK.

Just be sure to say a prayer, believe me they "DO" work, and she should be just fine.

But if you have a strong gut feeling that something is wrong, then don't go against that.
You gut feeling will always be right.

God Bless & I will say a prayer for her.
Let us know how it went please.

Answer 5

Statistically it is safer to fly than to drive no matter what. Add in the fact that you have never driven in the snow and ice, and are moving in January, flying is the way to go. Driving in the snow can be done, but it takes practice. You need to start turning, stopping, and everything else sooner and slower. The last place you want to encounter snow for the first time, is on a freeway cross country trip.

Answer 6

I would not advise flying on a small plane in high winds. I would wait a day or two.Be sure to stay in touch with the fly controller.

Answer 7

If it were to windy then they wouldnt let the plane take off. Just remember the pilot wont fly in bad weather if he doesnt think its safe because they dont really like bad flying weather and they dont want to die either.

Answer 8

Flying is actually an extremely safe way to travel. The pilots, ATC, etc... are extremely trained and would not purposely jeopardize the safety of the passengers as well as themselves.

Answer 9

I don't think any flying is safe anymore under any circumstances, but if you are talking about the winds, then probably yes. If the plane was cleared to take off, the winds are probably diminished enough to do it safely.

For those saying it's safer to fly than drive, that is no longer true. "Apparently the researchers found fault with the cliche that
the most dangerous part of an airline journey is the drive to the
airport. Over 98% of the intercity travel in the U.S. is via
airline and automobile. On a daily basis, 18,000 airliner take-
offs and landings and 370 million mile car trips are completed in
a safe manner.

[claim commonly quoted fatality rates of] 0.6 deaths per
billion miles of flying and 24 deaths per billion miles of driving.
Specifically, they claim these rates are incorrect for three reasons:
-- The airline rate is passenger fatalities per passenger mile,
whereas the road rate is all fatalities (all occupants,
pedestrians, etc.).
-- Road travel that competes with air travel is on the rural
interstate system, not average roads.
-- Driver and vehicle characteristics, and driver behavior,
lead to car-driver risks that vary over a wide range.

[... 40 year-old, seat-belted, alcohol-free drivers (do they
assume alcohol-free *other* drivers?)] are slightly less likely
to be killed in 600 miles of rural interstate driving than in
regularly scheduled airline trips of the same length.
For 300-mile trips, the driving risk is half that of airline
trips of the same length. Thus the researchers concluded that
for this set of drivers, car travel provides a lower fatality
risk than air travel for trips in the distance range for which
car and air travel are likely to compete.

As for the cliche that the drive to the airport is riskier than
the flight, the researchers concluded that average drivers with
the age distribution of airline passengers are less likely to be
killed on a 50-mile, one-way trip to the airport than on the flight."

University of California, Irvine Irvine,
CA 92717

Answer 10

If the airline company is going to fly that plane then its must be safe, they wouldn't allow it otherwise, passenger safety is their priority first and foremost.