Safer than you think! – In fact I would say very safe!
From time to time you will hear of incidents that happen in the world of aviation, which make you wonder how safe is flying? But you hear about them mainly because they’re rare!
Commercial aviation is the safest it has ever been. With the aid of improvements in technology, excellent reporting of incidents and extremely high pilot training standards. It’s never been a safer time to take to the skies!
It has been stated that flying is far safer than driving. In fact you are 19 times safer in a plane than a car! 19 TIMES!!
Highly trained pilots
All pilots must go through a rigorous training process dictated by the Civil Aviation Authority to gain a pilot’s licence.
It is a far more thorough syllabus than learning to drive. As a pilot myself, I know that one!
To learn to fly can take well over a year compared to months for a car.
In addition to this, all pilots (even instructors) must undergo check flights with an instructor every two years to ensure their skill level remains high. If you’re planning on becoming a flight instructor, you must also complete a minimum number of hours before qualifying for the course. Just so you have plenty of experience under your belt.
Minimum weather conditions
All flights are subject to minimum weather conditions, which is why we ask you to contact the airfield on the day of your flight. We want to ensure that the weather conditions are suitable for your flight. If the wind is too strong, its raining, the cloud is too low or in any other way unsuitable for flight, for safety reasons, your flight will be rearranged for another day.
We will NEVER fly in hazardous conditions. It’s just not worth it!
Safety checks
Before each flight, your pilot will do a walk around checking the aircraft for any signs of damage, make sure the controls work, and oil levels are within limits (just like you should do with your car) .
In the cockpit, the pilot will run through a check-list to ensure everything is in good working order prior to the flight. This will cover everything: instruments, engine performance all the way through to adjusting your seatbelt for a safe and comfortable flight.
Aircraft safety
In addition to the daily inspections, every aircraft must undergoe numerous checks each year. A service every 50 hours and a more thorough annual check, similar to an MOT. These are vital to keeping an aircraft running smoothly.
Unlike your car where an MOT can be done whilst you wait, an aircraft MOT takes at least 2 weeks to be completed!
During the annual inspection, the engineers will take the wings off the aircraft and check throughout the wing structure to make sure it is sound. They will also inspect every moving component throughout the aircraft looking for signs of weakness or corrosion. If anything doesn’t meet their expectation, it will either be replaced or repaired.
Flying Safety Evenings
The General Aviation Safety Council (GASCo) is an organisation that holds safety evenings and courses around the UK. This is to ensure the safety of flying in small aeroplanes is kept to a high standard. GASCo keeps pilots informed and up-to-date by going through recent reports, giving tips to keep in mind and reporting any new changes such as new radio frequencies.
So really how safe is flying in a small aeroplane? All the factors listed above are essential to keeping both aircraft and pilot safe, ultimately making aviation safer. Why not check out our aeroplane experiences or contact us on 07976985689 where you can chat to your instructor more in-depth or on how to become a pilot yourself!
Written by Ashleigh Duggan
