Despite many people’s fear of flying, airplanes are generally a very safe and reliable method of transportation. The problem is that incidents in this sector tend to be highly publicized, drawing a lot of attention to an otherwise small proportion of traffic accidents. Reading between the lines is important – and that’s especially true when comparing safety statistics for different vehicles, such as large and small airplanes. Some people see small planes as much more dangerous than large, commercial ones, but is that true?
What Do the Stats Say?
In the eyes of some people, small airplanes are inherently more dangerous to fly in. It’s not hard to see where they’re coming from, looking at the statistics. As a whole, the aviation industry sees around one incident for every 100,000 flight hours recorded. At the same time, commercial airlines only have around 0.16 accidents for that number of flight hours. So, at a glance, it definitely seems like small planes crash much more often. Plane crashes also tend to lead to more serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, which further raises their profile. But a lot is at play here, and it’s important to remember that these stats don’t tell you anything about the frequency of small plane flights compared to large ones.
Factors Contributing to Plane Crash Risk
The size of an airplane plays pretty much no role in determining the likelihood of a crash. Various other factors are at work here – and as it turns out, commercial airlines tend to control those much more diligently than individual operators or smaller companies. Some of the points to consider include:
- Regular use: small aircraft frequently sit parked in a hangar for prolonged periods, whereas commercial planes are always in use, minimizing the risk of something getting stuck over time.
- Maintenance: not only are commercial planes flown more often, but they are also inspected much more diligently, and after/before every flight. That doesn’t always happen with private and small airplanes, and mechanical failure is actually one of the main causes behind major crashes.
- Pilot experience: major airlines are very strict about who they allow to pilot their planes. Meanwhile, nothing is stopping a less experienced pilot from taking off in a small airplane, as long as they are properly licensed.
An Ounce of Prevention
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. As you can see, airplane crash risk mostly boils down to maintenance and experience – two factors that can both be addressed with preventative measures. As long as you make sure that your airplane is in good condition and is frequently maintained, and you trust the pilot, there’s no higher risk of crashing in a small aircraft compared to a larger one.
Being involved in an aircraft incident can be a traumatic experience and often requires professional help on multiple fronts. Acting promptly in the immediate aftermath is of critical importance. You need to make sure that you’re in the right hands, because the implications can be severe. At Scarlett Law Group, we understand that better than most.
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