As it's now 2018, I think it's time to reflect on one of the most remarkable things to happen in the airline industry in 2017. No, I'm not talking about the creative methods that airlines have used to add fees and remove passengers from overbooked flights, but rather I'm talking about safety. 2017 was the…
Continue reading: 2017 Was The Safest Year On Record For Commercial Aviation
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I’m currently in Costa Rica, only about 50 miles north of the crash site, and I know someone who was supposed to be on the flight that crashed yesterday. Luckily he missed his flight, which meant that he is safe. Thank god.
Sorry Lucky, the story is wrong.
The December 31st Nature Air crash killing 12 in Costa Rica jinxed the 2017 streak.
Traveling by air is the safest way to travel bar none. Considering how many planes are in the air each year how many passengers fly and under what circumstances they fly in, it is truly remarkable that the actual chance of getting injured or killed in the air is virtually zero. Traveling is generally safe these days in all modes. Most of us will go our entire lives without ever experiencing serious injury in a car, plane, boat, or train. I travel 2-3 times a month. I fly 4-5 times a year. In 2017 took all forms of transportation save a boat (no cruises this past year...). With that said, flying is not my personal preference for traveling. One has to for practical purposes but the in air experience in coach leaves much to be desired. I can accept the maze of ticket prices, fees, and extensive airport procedures but sitting in a plane for more than an hour or so is downright uncomfortable. On longer hauls (international/transcon) I will upgrade to first or business when I can do so but I don't fly enough to get award space. I am getting ready to retire so my flying days will decrease as times goes on. In the 1970s, I began flying in earnest out of the Dallas, TX area and quite often on Braniff which dominated DFW in those days. The flight from DFW to LHR non-stop the the prestige flight. For $795 you had your choice of a non-stop 747 jet or the Concorde with a stop in Washington DC for crew change. First class. They called it the flying pumpkin. Those were the days. But I love this website!
@Lucky - I drew this up for fun and taught why not show it to you. It's a map of all your (published) travels of 2017 (It does not include posts of the other contributors to this site)
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=TPA-YYZ-CAI-AMM-KUL-BEN-DXB-LAX%2CLAX-TPE-SIN-DPS-HKG-MLE-CDG-JFK-YVR%2CSFO-ICN-KTM-PBH-DAC-KWI-JFK%2CSFO-HKG-SFO%2CEWR-LAX%2CIAD-AUH-SYD-MEL-LAX%2CJFK-BEG-CDG-FRA-LAX%2CJFK-RUH-DXB-BOM-LHR-TUN-YUL%2CYUL-MUC-NAP-JFK%2CBOS-PDL-LIS-MXP-CDG-IAH%2CSFO-PEK-ULN-FRA-IAH-LAX%2CLAX-SEA%2CJFK-TAS-DYU-DXB-RUH-LAX%2CLAX-ORD-JFK-LAX%2CLAX-XMN-CTU-XMN-LAX%2CLAX-HNL-LNY-OGG-HNL-LAX%2CLAX-ICN-CTU-TNA-LAX%2CYTZ-EWR-TLV-LHR-DUB-JFK-LAX%2CMEX-SCL-IPC-SCL-MEX&MS=wls&DU=mi
Thanks Air Canada! We were *this* close to having it be the deadliest in history with that single flight that almost landed on the taxiway.
I partially jest, aviation is by far the safest means of travel.
Why exclude props from the statistics when they are also flights? Just seems like massaging the figures to get the desired result rather than the correct result.
Ben,
As a Commercial pilot I can tell you it takes a lot more than one little thing to go wrong. Little things go wrong all day , everyday. Professional pilots fix and adjust. It takes a long stretch of small things going wrong. Usually 10-15 events that lead to a disaster. It’s never ever one little thing