There is a lot of controversy as to which airline is safest. Many have the idea that some “third world country” airlines are unsafe when in actuallity they have some of the best safety records.

Sometimes it’s best to fly a carrier located in the region where you are flying. They have more knowlege of certain conditions that may occur in that area. Here again, their airlines may only have four or five units as compared to a larger airline like American Airlines that have several hundred. So their safety record would naturally be greater simply because of the numbers. Statistics can be vague because a carrier that handles several million passengers per year may have had more crashes but that does not make them any less safe to fly than a carrier carrying much fewer passengers. It’s like playing the lottery, does buying three tickets out of millions make you more of a chance to win? No, the differences are negligable.

There are some airlines that have not had a fatalitiy in the last 25 years. One website you can log onto is: Airsafe.com. They have a listing of these airlines. You might be surprised of the airlines listed.

In review, I wouldn’t worry about an airline safety record unless I was planning on flying in a dubius area. Even at that, you are still safer flying than you are driving to the airport.

THINK ABOUT IT.

Ever wonder how I can make my next airline flight safer? Here are some tips to this question.

Most accidents happen during landing and take off. That only makes sense because there are more aircraft in the same area surrounding an airport. So limit this probable cause by taking non-stop flights whenever possible. This limits the amount of take offs and landings.

Familiarize yourself to the aircraft you are flying in when you enter the plane. Notice where the emergency exits are and how many seats you are sitting from them. If you are sitting in one of the seats that indicates it has an emergency exit next to it, be sure you are able to operate it. If you feel you can’t, ask to be moved to another seat.

Pay attention to the Flight attendant’s instructions and read the safety card that is located in the pocket of the seat in front of you.

It is not good to over-indulge in alcoholic beverages or medications before a flight. You want to be at your best if an emergency does occur. Quick action and clear thinking could save your life.

Remain in your seat with your seat belt fastened at all times. You never know when the aircraft may enter into a sudden violent pocket of air. Keep your movement to a minimum.

Dress comfortably but keep in mind what might be good to wear in a survival situation. Shorts and short sleeve shirts are not recommended. Wear hard sole shoes not flip flops or sandals. Some foot wear is made of synthetic materials that will melt under high heat conditions. If it is a long flight try not to wear tight clothing such as panty hose and some foundation under garments.

Finally, if you have any special medical conditions be sure the flight attendant is aware of them and take any medications well in advance of your flight to insure maximum effectiveness. Be sure you bring enough of your medications to last for the entire flight, especially if you require inhalers.

Next blog will inform you where you can go to find out your airlines safety record before you make your reservations.

THINK ABOUT IT