Pilots - Has flying become more safe?

Question

Vincennes University is doing a study of safety in aviation and we need pilot input. It doesn't matter if you have 2 hours of flight time or 20,000. All we need is for you to complete a short questionnaire about your thoughts on safety. Results of this study will be available May 2007. Thank you for your time and safe flying!

http://www.lcrcc.org/survey.asp

J. Ritchie, CFI CFII
Vincennes University Flight Dept.

Answer 1

Technology has surely provided more safety nets. However the bi-product is complacency. Either over reliance or loss of basic skills. (i.e. before phones had memory weren't you better able to remember numbers?)

When a safety system malfunctions the pilot may be like you trying to remember that number.

From the stand point of commercial air, I feel taking the Flight Engineer out of the cockpit was a definite backward step, whether it be from problem analysis or terrorist intrusion in the cockpit. It was a commercially based decision, albeit introduced by Gen Curtis Le May, USAF.

There are many incidents and accidents that would have a different outcome had there been a systems technician in the decision loop.

The recent A380 introduction flights to the U.S. included a Flight Engineer in the cockpit. Whether it's a reinstatement of the position or necessity of the global flight, I was glad to see him back and believe it proves the point.

Answer 2

scoped out ur survey. TCAS, GPWS, I think are best installed in the factory. Retrofitting is usually more expensive and changes things. Now GPS can be handheld and a Little Laptop can have all those things.

GA includes light sport, ultralights, sailplanes, ballons, experimental. So there are limitations. That survey seems best aimed at commercial flying, charters and such.

Yes, flying has become more safe because the computer and its digital revolution has rendered it so for the AIRSPACE
and those that control it, know it. GA still has those older planes, that's where safety programs come in for the pilots of those craft.

The FAA controlling the space set the pace.

Answer 3

Hi, I am an airline pilot from Mexico, flying for Mexicana Airlines for more than 27 years. Your question is interesting, very interesting.... how about this....... more people die riding bycicles than flying airplanes each year. Is aviation safe??? The latter should answer your question. You want more?.. ICAO statistics let us know bird impacts on aircraft are one of the MAJOR safety concerns nowdays.... what are the probabilities of having an accident in your car because of a bird impact? ... the SAFEST PLACE I can be right now is in an aircraft cockpit. Please feel free to contact me if you need more information for your study. Sincerely, Cap. Daniel Levy [e-mail]

Answer 4

I took the survey. Thanks for asking. You might wish to rephrase some of the questions, though. When you say "the number of safety programs" and similar statements, you are not asking about quality or focus. There are certainly plenty of safety programs -- a better question may be, "Could we achieve better results if we had the same number (or fewer), but programs that focused on different things?"

Answer 5

For several decades, flying has been safer than driving a car, or a motorcycle, or riding a bike, or walking ... or having an affair with a married person, or eating a ham-and-cheese sandwich, or ingesting MSG or any one of many food additives. Whatever is fun has its risks.

Answer 6

Very interesting questions

Answer 7

I'm an pilot for International Airways.

I would definitely help you out. I'm working on it..

Answer 8

YES,BUT YOU NEED TO LOOK AT MORE THE PERSON THEN THE PLANE.IF YOU DON'T TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR THE PLANE YOU ARE FLING YOU ARE NOT SAFE.

Answer 9

Done, interesting questions...