Why are aeroplanes safe?

“The safest part of your journey has just been completed”. This could be the phrase that welcomes you as soon as you arrive at your destination airport! This is a truth most travellers know – that an aeroplane is the safest mode of transport. However, many still fear it. But the next time you get into a taxi to go to the airport, think about what you know about the taxi driver taking you? How well do the traffic lights work to be perfectly synchronised? Who guarantees that no one will dart out from the opposite street? Are you sure some people aren't driving drunk?

Your safety at 30,000 feet is certainly paramount for all airlines. Safety technology has advanced tremendously, and you can certainly feel more comfortable in an aeroplane seat than in a taxi seat!

Aircraft design

Over the past 50 years, commercial aircraft have ‘tormented’ manufacturers and designers for hours on end. The continuous development of aircraft helps to steadily increase safety in the air. Improvements are constantly being made concerning safety, fuel economy, and environmental protection. By achieving fuel economy, airlines can lower flight costs and thus reduce airfares.

 

Cockpit technology

Many modern aircraft see all mechanical checks and tasks previously performed by a technician replaced by computers and automatic systems. Now, aeroplanes manage a multitude of information on their own, and the pilot is essentially an information manager, as technology plays the most significant role in the cockpit.

Global tracking systems know exactly where each aeroplane is at any given time, with incredible accuracy. While in 1960, fatal accidents occurred once every 200,000 flights, it is now once every 2,000,000 flights! The devices in the cockpit have improved significantly and provide pilots with all the information they need!

Pilots

However much technology evolves, it doesn't mean that pilots are not essential on an aeroplane. The pilot's skill and judgment are paramount. Airlines recognise the importance of good pilots and proper training. Thus, many large companies, like Lufthansa, have very experienced instructors at their camps to train upcoming pilots as effectively as possible. Student pilots learn how to manage multiple information flows, how to follow routine checks, and how to collaborate with the rest of the team.

“We are looking for personalities who can ensure good communication skills, leadership qualities, and the ability to work as part of a team,” states Lufthansa’s recruitment manager. He notes that the company nurtures its “own” pilots, as candidates often lack experience, and skills are acquired directly in the cockpit – unlike in the USA, where pilots need hundreds of hours in their own aircraft (or with small charter companies) before becoming commercial pilots!

The correct selection of pilots is key for an airline. It may need to keep costs low to maintain low fares and air tickets, but the cost of a pilot (training, salary, etc.) should under no circumstances be restricted by the budget.

 

Cockpit design

The cockpit is designed so that all instruments are visible in all conditions and pilots can reach everything easily and quickly. Pilots spend many hours in simulators, and their instructors check measurements, timings, potential errors, etc.

 

Passenger cabin

Spacious or cramped, luxurious or “basic,” the passenger cabin has undergone many improvements in recent years. Whether you fly with expensive first-class tickets or economy deals, all seats meet strict specifications for durability and passenger protection. A modern seat can withstand 16 times the force of gravity. The insulation in the cabin walls is fire retardant, and in the event of a fire, emergency lighting will illuminate! This makes it easier to find the escape exits.

Important for your safety: Most commercial aviation accidents are not fatal. Of the 301 accidents worldwide over the last 10 years, fewer than a quarter involved fatalities.

 

Air traffic control

Pilots and aeroplanes may be the “faces” and heroes visible upfront, but behind the scenes are the air traffic controllers who oversee the aircraft and inform them of every movement they need to make. With over 28 million flights every year, controllers have a very important job to do!

Just as there are “lanes” on the ground, so too are there in the air. Each aeroplane flies in its designated lane and does not move into other lanes. This provides a relative sense of safety in the air.

 

Airport security

In recent years, airport security checks have increased due to several incidents. At the airport, you arrive with your air ticket in hand, all your belongings are checked, and then you are free to fly. This is all for your flight safety!