Editorial July 17, 1995 Issue

Safety in the skies

Russ Gerber

The overall record of safe air travel is very impressive. In the United States alone, 30,000 flights occur every day virtually problem-free. International air travel, as well, has a remarkably good safety record. Nonetheless, according to a poll published in Newsweek magazine (April 24, 1995), people are still worried. The record is very good, but it's not perfect.

On those rare occasions when there are problems or accidents, we're told of the need for even better technology, better performance, and improved procedures. Many highly skilled and devoted people in the airline industry, as well as in oversight agencies, realize this need and continue to take steps to improve conditions and reduce risk.

But we are also told that regardless of people's best intentions and follow-through, there are some factors that are simply beyond anyone's control. The human factor, for instance (the possibility of poor judgment or carelessness); unexpected and extreme weather conditions; mechanical failure. In other words, there's the sense that chance and a natural potential for error are realities that we just have to learn to live with, not only in air travel but in everything we undertake.

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