SPARTAN BLOG : FIVE REASONS FLYING IS THE SAFEST WAY TO TRAVEL

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FIVE REASONS FLYING IS THE SAFEST WAYTO TRAVELby Spartan in Industry News

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Flying comes naturally to birds, bats, and insects, but for humans, it

requires ingenuity—and several tons of machinery. Many people have a

fear of flying, which is understandable: traveling 35,000 feet above the

ground at speeds in excess of 500 miles per hour doesn’t seem like it

could possibly be safe. This article, presented by Spartan College of

Aeronautics and Technology, reviews the evidence for the safety of

commercial air travel.

25Oct

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Reason #1: Scrutiny

There is no other form of transportation that is as regulated, observed,

inspected, and controlled as commercial aviation. Government agencies,

private corporations, and public-private partnership agencies set

performance standards, track accidents, and constantly refine procedures

and requirements with a view towards improving safety even further. In the

United States alone, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), National

Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and Commercial Aviation Safety

Team (CAST) all have input in to the safety of air travel. Companies that

don’t meet even seemingly minor safety standards stand to lose lots of

money in fines and penalties—even before accidents happen.

Reason #2: Operator Expertise

Earning an Airline Transport Pilot License, the qualification necessary to

become a commercial pilot, is several orders of magnitude more difficult

than earning a driver’s license, or even a private pilot license. To earn an

ATP license, pilots must:

Have at least 1,500 hours of flight experience as a commercial pilot (cargo

flight, crop dusting, etc.)

Pass a practical examination in the type of aircraft they will fly

Meet certain physical health and fitness standards, and undergo regular

cardiac and medical tests

Pass a written examination covering meteorology, flight duties, navigational

techniques, and more

Most airlines also require pilots to have at least two years of college

experience before hiring them. Even then, pilots have to gain

considerable experience as co-pilots before applying for captain

positions. Drivers—even commercial drivers—don’t have to jump through

nearly as many hoops.

Reason #3: Aircraft Technology

You may think your car’s parking sensor is pretty cool, but that’s nothing

compared to what an aircraft has on board. Today’s airliners contain