The numbers don't lie; aviation is exceptionally safe and the second safest mode of transport in the world after the elevator (yes, elevators are on that list). The incidence of accidents in the billions of miles traveled makes aviation almost infallible. But like any system, aviation still has flaws, but will we ever see aviation without failures, without accidents, without lives lost?49 in 2010, 11 in 2018, and 7 in 2022 are not random numbers; they are the number of fatal aviation accidents, 7 accidents may seem small, but we lost 160 people in these accidents, people whose lives were abruptly interrupted. But what we can do to honor the lives of these people and not allow their deaths to be in vain is to try to find the reason for the accident and prevent it from happening again; this is the fundamental pillar of modern aviation, ICAO statistics show a constant reduction in fatal accidents in aviation, showing that we are on a good path.
An accident-free future
Imagining a world without aviation accidents involves eliminating human errors, mechanical failures, and external disturbances. This would mean removing pilots, air traffic control, passengers, and even aircraft from the equation. However, searching for a system completely free of failures is impossible. Even by replacing humans with computers, it would not be feasible to eliminate mechanical problems in aircraft. Furthermore, when introducing computer systems to perform the functions of pilots or air traffic controllers, we would still face the risk of failures in these same computers.
Perfection is unattainable, and aviation is no exception to this reality. However, this should not instill a fear of flying. Every day, when using cars, we face the probability of accidents, but even so, we board them confidently and without constantly thinking about this risk. If we stop doing things because we're afraid something will happen, we'll be stuck in the same place forever.
While an utterly accident-free future in aviation seems unlikely, it is crucial to recognize the value of the hard work of thousands of professionals over the years. These efforts were aimed at continually improving aviation safety, transforming it into a remarkably safe mode of transportation.
The next time you board a plane, relax and enjoy the journey. Aviation safety goes far beyond the moment the aircraft takes off; it begins in the offices of the engineers responsible for developing the aircraft. It goes through the factory, where thousands of dedicated professionals ensure everything is ready for the aircraft to conquer the skies. Even after that, every day, a tireless team of thousands of professionals works to ensure that the aircraft used daily are safe to fly.
Pilots undergo rigorous training to deal with emergencies, while flight attendants are there to ensure your safety and comfort. Plus, there's a team behind the scenes, including those you don't see, like the professionals in the control tower and at the airport, all dedicated to ensuring planes cross the skies safely. Aviation is not limited to planes; aviation is the people who work in it and unite destinations and shorten distances. Each professional plays an essential role in the equation that makes aviation safe.