CONTENTS
What I'm Reading:
Ask The Pilot
Just how safe is air travel, really?
Let's put it this way, if you survive the drive to the airport the dangerous part is behind you! According to a National Transportation Safety Board study the chances of being killed in your car on the freeway are approx. 1 in 6800 while the odds of dying in an airline crash are roughly 1 in 1.6 million. Today's aircraft and engines are EXTREMELY reliable, and crewmember training remains rigorous and thorough. Just remember, more people are killed in donkey-related accidents worldwide than in airplane crashes. 'nuf said
It seems airlines pilots are over-paid and under-worked, is this true?
Absolutely not! While salaries can top out in excess of $200,000 a year, these positions are very rare and can take an entire career to achieve. Most professional pilots have modest incomes and lead modest lives. On the outside it may seem exciting to visit exotic locales, but in reality most of our down-time is spent asleep or preparing for the next leg. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of time to see the sights.
How educated/experienced are the pilots?
Extremely. Most airline pilots have at least a four-year degree and thousands of hours of flying experience either from military service or smaller regional operators. Once hired at an airline every pilot will spend several years serving a sort of apprenticeship as first officer before upgrading to captain. Twice every year all captains at every airline undergo a thorough flight check to ensure a high level of safety and proficiency. First officers undergo the same flight check annually.
Are turbo-prop airplanes less safe than jets?
Not in the slightest. Airlines will typically operate turbo-props on shorter routes where jets are less efficient. Jet engines burn less fuel the higher they are operated. On short routes there may not be enough time for the aircraft to climb to the optimal altitude. A turbo-prop engine will use less fuel at the lower altitudes.
Do pilots end up flying for regional airlines because they aren't skilled enough to work at a major carrier?
Definitely not! Regional airline pilots are some of the most talented and proficient aviators around. These pilots often fly 8 to 10 short legs a day into and out of big airports in all kinds of weather. They work harder than their major airline counterparts, and are paid less. Typically career minded pilots will use a regional airline as a stepping stone, gaining command experience and flight time necessary to move up to a major carrier. Some pilots, out of convenience opt to spend their entire careers at regional airlines.
In the event of an accident, where is the safest place to sitting, toward the front or toward the back?
The entire cabin is equally safe. A good tip , however is to count the rows between your seat and the nearest exit row. This will make it easier to locate the exit in a dark cabin. If you are susceptible to motion sickness try to sit as close to the front as possible. This will have little effect in flight, but will lessen the "swaying" sensation as the aircraft moves on the ground.
Do you guy sometimes sit in the cockpit and quote lines from "Airplane"?
...sometimes...