People are often nervous to fly. When they feel that way, others will often tell them that it’s far less dangerous to fly than to ride in a car. Statistically, this is true, but those who make these claims are most often referring to how safe you are on a commercial airliner, like a 747.
But what if you’re in a smaller craft, like a helicopter? Does that increase your odds of being involved in an accident? Is flying in a helicopter more dangerous than flying in a plane?
The crash rate for helicopters
Fortunately, you can look into the data before you get on a helicopter, as it is tracked by the National Transportation Safety Board, or the NTSB. They report that there are 7.28 accidents for all flying vehicles — everything from small planes to blimps to hot air balloons — for every 100,000 hours of time spent in the air. For helicopters, the rate rises to 9.84 crashes for every 100,000 hours spent flying.
So, at the end of the day, both are still safer than cars. There are roughly 35,000+ fatal car crashes in the United States every year. Flying is safer, but it’s also worth noting that flying on a smaller craft is decidedly more dangerous than flying on a commercial airliner. Bigger planes just feel more dangerous because, if there is a crash, it’s a catastrophic event that makes the news for days. Small craft crash far more often, but it’s not as dramatic for the news cycle.
Have you lost a loved one?
If you have lost a loved one in an aviation accident or been injured yourself, it is time for you to start looking into your legal options for compensation.