Ok, if air travel is so safe, how come National Geographic........?

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DiggerG

Yeah but i think statistically your still more likely to be killed by your trousers than you are by flying, which is quite impressive

Marky

In the UK, on average, 10 people a day are killed on the roads. A large airplane carrying 500 people is just 2 months worth of road deaths. Do you hear of 747's crashing in the UK every 2 months?

I do not kow the number of road deaths worldwide, but I bet it would equate to several planes per day.

tiger lou

I haven't seen that series, but if you ask me, National Geographic specials these days are so dumbed-down! Who is their target audience? Twelve-year olds?
I think they use a lot of old footage for their specials these days. It saves money. Throw in some lame computer graphics, a few clips played again and again, and bang--you got yourself an episode.

Bob the Boat

Hi Anchor,
Interesting question.
I fly a heck of a lot, and have the pholosiphy that if the thing is doomed, there is jigger all that I can do about it.
Anyway after about a million airmiles, we only nearly crashed once. Clipped the perimiter fence on take-off in a small military job, skimmed the waves out to sea a bit, and landed at the other end with a burst tyre.
Obviously all was well/
Oh, statics, staistics and damn lies.
It is just that an aircraft disaster attracts so much public attention. If I were a worrier, I would be more concerned about getting on a bus.
I think an amount of paranoia creeps into these figures.
It is a bit like going to a stock-car race. We all attend in the hope of seeing a spectacular crash.
Me ? keep on flying - no worries.

Bob

et_tu_ike

I'm not sure that people actually say that you can't die in a plane, simply that you are more likely to die in a car, or other means of transportation. Airplane accidents are simply more spectacular and rare and thus more "newsworthy." Plus the press likes the terror factor, just like sharks -- if you watch the media you would be under the impression that there is a very real danger of being eaten by a shark every time you go swimming, when in fact you are probably more likely to be killed by a goat (on land of course).

More people die *every year* in automobile accidents in the U.S. than have ever died as a result of commercial aviation accidents.

Dave s

Ive seen the same episode shown over and over (BA flight caught in volcanic ash).

Im not convinced they only have about 5 or 6 crashes that they just keep recirculating

Mike R

I also fly constantly, and I feel far more safe in a plane than I do driving (whether I'm driving or in a car with someone else driving). Statistically, it's far safer. Granted, if you're in a plane crash, you're more likely to die than if you're in a car crash. But car crashes happen constantly - they just usually don't make international news unless a celebrity is involved or the governor of New Jersey.

Paul McDonald

Airplane crashes are not always fatal. There have been many survivors of plane crashes.

But if you're afraid, then just don't fly. Take trains and boats.

blonde dyslexic but good looking

it is still a mum safer way to travel. only about 3 to 5 planes crash per year that is about 2000 people in the uk 3000 people die by car per year about about 30,000 in the usa. so that makes it a much safer way to travel t

dalenevh

It is the safest way to travel, but just for interest sake have a look at this site. All the latest crashes and stats etc etc is listed on this site. Very interesting.

"In 2004, airplanes flied 34,1 million of flight hours. This number must be kept in mind for statistical analysis and failure rates interpretation: if an event has a probability to occur of 1 out of 1 million (which is rather low), it will occur several times a year."

papars

http://www.planecrashinfo.com

This website will give you details of all aircraft accidents that were reported around the world, with brief explanation of causes and casualties.

National Geographic focuses on one or two major crashes in history and rest of their material consists of interviews with survivors, airline officials, government agencies etc etc etc. Plus of course, computer graphics and animation.

If you check the above website, you'll note that most air crashes have occured with military and charter operators while those of commercial airliners is much less. A few Asian and African budget carriers might however feature on the list.

goldfreeblue

still has less crashes then anything else

srracvuee

statistics are all bloody rubbish you can fly every week short flight and long haul and i find some flights are good some bad its all down to fate so many things can bring a plane down but you pays your money and take your chance

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