Are Helicopters safe and how do they compare to other Transportation Methods?
Helicopters are transportation mediums that have revolutionized our ability to traverse the sky, allowing for pilots to have 360 degrees of control over the rotorcraft, the capability of hovering, as well as other features that other various vehicles may not have. With recent fatal accidents that have shocked many communities, some individuals wonder how safe a standard rotorcraft is for either piloting, transportation, or simple leisure activities. While helicopters are often compared to aircraft in regard to safety, they can also be held against other options such as automobiles and public transportation mediums such as trains. To help you understand the safety or risk of helicopters battery, we will discuss how they compare against other common transportation types.
When discussing the safety of transportation methods, it is important to be aware that there is no perfect method in which diverse modes of travel can be compared. This is due to the great differences in how such transportation methods are used, how they operate, and other such factors. Nevertheless, fatal accident statistics is one metric that may be comparable on a per capita rating. Another method is to utilize flight hours for aircraft and passenger miles for cars, trains, and airliners. While some of these metrics are not included for certain vehicle types, the combination of various statistics can help paint a more clear picture.
When focusing on United States based transportation, the death index ranges from airlines being the safest with an index number of 1 to automobiles which have the highest death index number of 453.6. Intercity rail lines and mass transit options such as rail and bus are fairly safe, both having an index of 20 and 49.8 respectively. Non-scheduled helicopter flights, on the other hand, remain at a death index of 63. Index numbers indicate the number of times more likely that a fatal accident may happen. As such, one can then infer that an intercity rail system such as Amtrak has a fatality rate that is 20 times higher over the same distance as compared to a standard scheduled passenger flight.
Based on this information, one can generally adapter gauge the safety of each method of transportation. While non-scheduled helicopter flights are slightly more dangerous than mass transit, they pose a much smaller risk when held against driving or riding in an automobile. While this can still make helicopters seem dangerous to certain individuals, it is important to note that such statistics include many types of flight operations that a rotorcraft may undertake. For example, this average takes into account all times that a helicopter was used for a dangerous rescue mission taking place in hard-to-reach areas, and helicopters are one of the most common forms of transportation for such operations due to their capabilities. As such, the danger of sightseeing tours or general transportation is much lower despite being coupled alongside dangerous missions for the total helicopter death index.
By breaking down the death index and roles that helicopters serve, such methods of transportation can be fairly safe when compared to other mediums such as an automobile. To ensure that your particular helicopter maintains optimal functionality and safety across all operations, one should always regularly maintain all assemblies and replace aging or failing parts. At ASAP Aviation Stocks, we are your sourcing solution for top quality aircraft parts that are new, used, and obsolete. As you explore our various part and manufacturer catalogs, you may take advantage of our RFQ services to receive competitive quotes for your comparisons. Begin the purchasing process today to see why customers choose to rely on ASAP Aviation Stocks for all their operational needs.
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