Why you shouldn¡¯t be afraid of flying!

Are you afraid of flying?

Many people are afraid of flying in airplanes, but they shouldn¡¯t be. Flying is actually one of the safest ways to travel. In fact, when measured per mile, flying is actually far safer than driving, or travelling by train.

Not only is flying the safest mode of transport, but it is also the fastest. Just a hundred years ago if you wanted to travel from China to the United States, you would have to travel by boat for many weeks. Now, you can get there in less than 24 hours. Airplanes are also quite comfortable, and often offer in-flight entertainment, such as movies. This helps explain why travelling by plane is now the preferred choice for long distance journeys.

Of course, that doesn¡¯t stop some people from being afraid of flying. The idea of hurtlingthrough the atmosphere at hundreds of miles per hour can be intimidating for many. One of the main reasons that people are afraid to fly is that passengers lack any control over the airplane, and have to place their trust in the hands of the pilots. Many people would prefer to remain in control!

¡°Really?¡±, you ask.

Comparing the number of deaths caused by cars, trains, and airplanes is very difficult. Many more people drive than fly. The easiest way to compare deaths is per billion kilometers. This means, how many people will die per billion kilometers travelled? Motorcycles, for example, are very dangerous and 108.9 people will die per every billion kilometers traveled. Cars are less dangerous, with 3.1 people dying per billion kilometers.

Trains are quite safe, with only 0.6 people dying per billion kilometers traveled. Subway and metro rails are even safer, with only 0.24 people dying per billion kilometers traveled. Do you know what¡¯s even safer? Air travel! Only 0.05 people were killed per billion kilometers. This is far lower than most other forms of transportation.

Commercial flying is especially safe. When a commercial aircraft crashes, it gets a lot of attention. Sometimes, hundreds of people can die in a single crash. Yet part of the reason these crashes get so much attention is because they are so rare. In fact, aviation accidents involving civilian aircraft carrying 19 or more people have actually declined over the years. In 1972, there were more than 40 accidents. In 2014, there were fewer than ten. This is especially reassuring given that there are far more people flying now than there were in 1972. Most crashes that do occur actually involve smaller personal planes, which lack the advanced features found in modern commercial aircraft. 

Another reason people fear flying is ¡°terrorist attacks¡±. Terrorist attacks are extremely rare, however. You are far more likely to die of the common flu, than you are to die from a terrorist attack. Furthermore, increased security at airports and on airplanes makes it even less likely that a terrorist attack will bring down an airplane.

The safest place to be.

When it comes to traveling, flying is arguably the safest, fastest, and most comfortable way to travel. While the concept may seem scary, the modern aviation industry takes safety very seriously and modern aircraft are now extremely safe. You would be more likely to die travelling by bicycle or even on foot.

So don¡¯t worry!