Is Flying Private More Dangerous Than Driving a Car?
One of the most asked questions from a pilot is “Is flying private more dangerous than flying public?” There is much debate on this topic, but the answer is complicated. In general, there are more accidents with private planes, and yet, there is less published record of airplane crashes. The reason for this is that most pilots do not want to be labeled as a bad flyer. Also, in a commercial airline crash, the entire aircraft is typically downed, whereas, if a private pilot crashes, the aircraft is usually just one plane.
Private planes can be more difficult to control and fly safely. For example, in an accident, a small jet may not have enough fuel to reach the intended destination, but a large turbine-driven jet could easily carry twice as many passengers. Therefore, in a large commercial airline crash, it is much easier to determine who is at fault for the accident, whereas in a private jet, the weather is more responsible. Additionally, the laws of aeromarkets are different in different countries and can affect the ownership and operation of a private jet.
It is important to note that personal airplanes are considered an aircraft for which there is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) insurance policies. Private jets are not covered because they are not considered to be in the air. This is different than a commercial airline. Commercial airlines must carry special liability insurance in order to fly. As a result, most private jets are not insured and cannot fly.
The issue of increased turbulence is something that is also addressed in the news quite often. There have been reports that the incidence of turbulence is higher in flying private jets than in commercial airlines. However, the quality of the pilot is not necessarily the issue. In fact, many pilots who have flown commercial airlines for years have reported that flying private jets is much less dangerous, especially in regards to turbulence.
There is also the issue of weather. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the best times to fly in the air are sunrise and sunset. Other factors that may affect air travel include local weather conditions, wind speed and visibility. Although the FAA does not specifically mention it, many people believe that flying during a light or cloudy day is much more dangerous than flying during a day full of sunshine. Again, local conditions and weather are taken into consideration by the FAA.
Another reason that flying is more dangerous than driving is the issue of fatigue and jet lag. Because private planes are so much slower than commercial airline flights, they must frequently fly at lower rates of speed in order to conserve fuel. For this reason, there is a greater risk of frequent and long-term fatigue when flying. Some researchers believe that fatigue causes many fatal crashes in the aviation industry. Many pilots report that flying for five days in a row can lead to severe dehydration, high blood pressure, and even insomnia. If you take into account all of these issues, the question should be, “Is flying private more dangerous than driving a car? Surprisingly, the answer is yes.”
Even though it is undeniable that commercial flights and airplanes carry more risk, the question remains as to why flying a private plane is necessarily more dangerous than flying a non-emergency commercial flight. Of course, the pilots and passengers on board of these planes take note of all of the safety precautions that they are required to follow. They are trained to eject themselves from the aircraft in the case of an emergency. This is compared to the majority of pilots who do not take these safety precautions.
As a private pilot, you will probably encounter other hazards along your journey. One of the most popular is related to flying close to airport traffic. Pilots often fly as close as one hundred miles from the airport in order to meet their clients. Studies have shown that, over a fifteen-year period, a single-engine private jet can cause the average non-flying passenger to make an insurance claim five hundred times. If you are flying a single-engine private jet, it is imperative that you take all necessary safety precautions, including the necessary evacuation drills.