Why Is Flying So Safe? Overcoming Your Fear of Aviation

Aviation safety does not stay stagnant; it improves exponentially. A recent study from MIT describes an “aerial version of Moore’s Law,” noting that the risk of dying during a commercial flight has dropped by approximately 7% annually since the late 1960s [3].

In the period between 2018 and 2022, the fatality risk was 1 per every 13.7 million passenger boardings globally [3]. Compare this to the 1968-1977 era, where the risk was 1 per 350,000 boardings. Travelers today are 39 times safer than their parents were two generations ago. This progress is fueled by a relentless cycle of investigating every minor “near-miss” to ensure it never graduates into a major accident.

Modern jet engines, like the CFM LEAP or the Rolls-Royce Trent family, are marvels of reliability. However, aviation safety assumes that everything will eventually fail, so planes are built with at least two of everything.

• Engine Redundancy: All commercial twin-engine jets are certified to fly, climb, and land on a single engine. The ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) rating allows planes like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 to fly routes that are hours away from the nearest airport because their single-engine reliability is so high.
• Systems Overlap: Commercial aircraft have triple-redundant hydraulic systems and multiple electrical sources (engines, the Auxiliary Power Unit, and even a deployment-ready wind turbine called a Ram Air Turbine).
• Automation and TCAS: Modern cockpits utilize the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which communicates directly with other aircraft to coordinate maneuvers and prevent mid-air collisions.

Pilots are not merely “drivers”; they are highly trained systems managers. Before a pilot takes command of a commercial jet, they have undergone thousands of hours of flight time and regular “check rides.”

The industry has moved toward Evidence-Based Training (EBT), where flight simulators recreate specific high-risk scenarios based on real-world data. Pilots also employ Crew Resource Management (CRM), a communication protocol that encourages junior officers to speak up if they notice an error by a senior captain. This shift in culture has solved the “authority gradient” issues that caused accidents in the 1970s.

Fear of flying, or aerophobia, is rarely about the statistics. It often stems from a lack of control or a misunderstanding of how flight works. As we explored in Why Do Humans Dream of Flying? The Allure of Aviation, our fascination with flight is often tempered by our biological grounding to the earth.

Community discussions on platforms like Reddit’s r/flightsim and r/fearofflying frequently highlight that “exposure to the mechanics” is the best cure. Understanding that “turbulence” is merely the plane moving through air currents—much like a car hitting a pothole—can demystify the experience. For those looking for tactical advice, check out our 10 Proven Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Flying.

A common myth is that aviation accidents are always fatal. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in the vast majority of accidents involving US Part 121 air carriers (commercial airlines), 100% of the occupants survived [4]. Between 2001 and 2017, only 4.1% of accidents resulted in at least one fatality [4]. Even in “serious” accidents involving fire and substantial damage, over 59% of occupants survived [4].

• Statistically Safest: Aviation is vastly safer than driving; the fatal accident rate is roughly 1 per 16.3 million flight hours in the US [4].
• Continuous Improvement: Safety improves by a factor of two every decade, a phenomenon known as “Moore’s Law of Aviation.”
• Redundancy is Key: Planes are designed with multiple backups for every critical system, including engines, hydraulics, and electronics.
• Survivor Rates are High: Most aviation incidents do not result in fatalities; modern safety standards for seats and cabin materials have increased survivability significantly.

Action Plan for Fearful Flyers

1. Educate on Turbulence: Recognize that turbulence is a comfort issue, not a safety issue. Planes are tested to withstand forces far beyond what nature provides.
2. Monitor Official Data: Use resources like the IATA Safety Report to see real-world trends rather than sensationalized news.
3. Choose Major Carriers: Fly with airlines that are IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registered, as they consistently show lower accident rates [1].

Flying remains a feat of engineering and human cooperation. By trusting the data and the layers of technology protecting you, you can move past the fear and embrace the incredible freedom of the skies.