The safest form of transportation is said to be flying. This goes beyond just an opinion. The belief that flying is safe gained popularity in the 1990s as air travel grew in popularity. For first-time flyers, who needed to know they were safer in the air than on the ground, this assurance was especially crucial.
It’s amazing how far aviation technology has come. Modern aircraft have cutting-edge safety systems that outperform the safest automobiles. A few may still question, however, which is safer: helicopters or airplanes.
How do they both work?
Fundamental concepts of flight, including lift, weight, propulsion, and drag, are shared by helicopters and airplanes. They have different flight patterns, though. In order to stay in the air, airplanes need continuous airflow, but helicopters have rotor blades that spin quickly, creating lift.
The fact that airplanes need a large runway for takeoff and landing is one of its limitations. Their ability to land in difficult-to-reach places makes them valuable for search and rescue operations. Also, unlike airplanes, helicopters can hover and make sharp turns.
Operating a helicopter requires more attention to detail and is more hands-on. Pilots must constantly employ collective, cyclic, and anti-torque pedals with both hands and feet to control the aircraft. Pilots must be alert and adjust the flight path slightly because even the slightest change of these controls might have serious consequences. All things considered, when it comes to search and rescue missions, helicopters have special advantages over airplanes.
Safety
Like almost every other mode of transportation, flying in a helicopter is considerably more dangerous than airline travel. But it’s far safer than riding in a car.
The most recent helicopter incident that killed six people in the Hudson River, among previous ones like the one involving the basketball legend, Kobe Bryant, has raised questions about the safety of helicopters.
According to the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team, there were 35 fatalities from helicopter crashes in 2020, down 36% from 146 in 2013. The FAA adds that because of their special capabilities and pilot mistake, helicopter accidents are more common than those involving fixed-wing aircraft. Pilot mistake accounts for over 80 percent of all aviation accidents.
Even with advancements in safety, flying in a helicopter is statistically riskier than flying on a commercial aircraft, which frequently reports zero or almost zero fatal incidents. Pilot error and strict controls on commercial airplanes are probably to blame for this. Compared to commercial airlines and private aircraft, helicopter charters are less regulated and carry a higher risk. To lower the number of accidents, the FAA maintains stringent regulations on pilot training and aircraft maintenance.
On the other hand, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study, the chance of dying when flying commercially is declining; between 2018 and 2022, the risk decreased from 1 in 13.7 million passenger boardings worldwide. Compared to the 1 in 350,000 boardings that occurred between 1968 and 1977, this is a significant drop. According to the study, which made use of data from the International Air Transport Association, the Flight Safety Foundation, and the World Bank, “Moore’s Law,” which states that chipmakers double their processing power every 18 months, can be used to explain the trend toward safer flights. In this instance, from the late 1960s, commercial travel has gotten about twice as safe every ten years.
Planes and helicopters are two different types of aircraft, each with unique benefits and drawbacks. Because of their superior mobility and low flying speed, helicopters are perfect for certain jobs. Contrarily, planes are made for efficient transportation, extended range, and fast speed, which makes them appropriate for both military and commercial uses. Both airplanes and helicopters are considered safe as long as pilots stay within their training and the machines are well-maintained.
