TORONTO – Despite some recent high-profile airplane losses and accidents, flying still continues to be one of the safest methods of transportation.
READ MORE: IN PHOTOS – Air Canada plane skids off runway at Halifax airport
Of course, for nervous fliers, it might be hard to believe.
The number of flights operated worldwide has increased by 22 per cent over the last decade while fatalities on passenger commercial jets fell to 0.3 deaths per million flights, according to the Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom.
And even when there were accidents, the survivability rate has greatly improved. From 1971 to 1980, less than half — 48 per cent — of passengers survived major accidents. But from 2001 to 2010 that rose to 67 per cent.
In 2013, the World Health Organization reported in its Global Status Report on Road Safety that 1.24 million people die on roads each year. Comparatively, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization, 2013 was the year with the fewest number of fatalities in commercial air travel since 2000.
In fact, global accident rates have decreased to 2.8 per cent per million flights down from 4.1 per cent in 2009.
And that’s because aircraft are put through rigorous testing before they take to the skies. From wing endurance, to aircraft loads, to fuselage endurance, each plane that is designed goes through what can be years of testing with and without pilots. As well, the material used has changed dramatically over the years. Now, aircraft are made of composite material which make them stronger.
As for Air Canada, the airline has a great safety record: Before Saturday night’s crash, it had 18 accidents in its history, with the most recent being in 2002. The airline has 138 fatalities in its history, but hasn’t had one since 1983.
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