flight safety

It would not be responsible to introduce the reader to the wonderful world of flying without discussing flight safety. Plane crashes do happen and when they do, the national press will cover it extensively. It is rarely mentioned that on that very same day, dozens of folks will have died in road accidents! Flying accident which result in fatalities or injuries are fortunately very rare these days. In the UK, for instance, there is one fatality in general aviation for every 100,000 hours flown. Most aircraft incidents are the aviation equivalent of 'fender benders' and no injuries are sustained. The picture shown above is the result of a careless Dutch pilot who forgot to put on the brake while his engine was running!

It wasn't always this way. Blériot, the first person to fly across the English Channel, crashed more times than I have had hot dinners! The light aircraft, in all its guises, has come a very long way since those pioneering days. Flight training has also developed into a fine art and the pilot is supported to minimise the risk by civil aviation authorities and further training. Every accident is investigated and lessons are learned to make flying safer for the future.

Learning to fly is a constant commitment and very pilot should aim to fly in as professional way as possible.