Air Travel

Question:

>    Of course, air disasters are the result of factors such as weather >conditions, human error, terrain, etc., rather than that the plane carried a >particular logo, and TWA is lucky in that recent mishaps in New York and St. >Louis didn’t result in fatalities. But I think its interesting that TWA and >its commuter partner have the "least risk," based on these calculations, >since this is the carrier most people seem "to love to hate."

   I’ll agree that TWA was lucky that there have been no fatalities in the two accidents they have been involved in over the past few years…. BUT, the way you said it makes it sound like TWA was at fault for both.  The accident in New York (where an L-1011 caught fire just prior to takeoff) was something that falls in the accident category… the airline very well could have been at fault.    But, the runway collision at STL last November was the fault of the pilot of the small plane who took a wrong turn on to the active runway… it was the TWA pilot who was credited as a hero in that incident.    You call TWA "everyone’s favorite whipping boy"… but a lot of that is still a leftover to the Carl Icahn era… things are much better now (although they did piss me off a bit tonight… but that’s another story). Greg

Response:

Howdy Friends  My wife and I are looking to take a trip to Munich this fall. Air travel is a must and am looking for recommendations as to cheap tickets or value towards this trip but we dont travel much and dont know how to start looking other than to see an agent. Is this the thing to do? Thanks Chuck

Response:

Hello EveryOne         The current weeks Newsweek (dated April 24, 1995), has the cover report about safty in the air. You may want to check it out. The headlines on the cover have the following.                         " HOW SAFE IS THIS FLIGHT?                         WHY 1994 WAS SO DEADLY                         10 WAYS TO MAKE FLYING SAFER                         WHICH AIRLINES ARE RISKIEST"         I have yet to read my copy. Hope it has good news R.S.

Response:

    The April 24 edition of Newsweek features a special report on airline safety. Under the heading "Which Airlines Are Safest?," the airline ranks major carriers according to calculations that attempt to assess "the odds of dying on airlines based on deaths in the past decade."     Three major carriers were given a death risk of 0 (zero) from 1985-1994: American, Southwest, and everyone’s favorite whipping boy, TWA.     Interestingly, only one U.S. commuter airline was given a 0 (zero) death risk for 1985-1994: Trans World Express, TWA’s commuter link. USAir Express was given a 1 in 10 million risk for the period, far below American Eagle, Continental Express, Northwest Airlink, United Express, and the Delta Connection (though its not clear if that title includes both Comair and ASA), each of which was ranked at 1 in 1.5 million. Alaska Airlines Commuter was ranked at 1 in 1 million.     Of the other major U.S. carriers, another carrier that travelers love to put down, Continental, was given a risk of 1 in 10 million, which is below Delta’s 1 in 8 million and far below United’s 1 in 4 million, Northwest’s 1 in 3 million, and USAir’s 1 in 2 million.     Five non-U.S. carriers were given a 0 (zero) death risk, according to Newsweek: Air Canada, British Airways, El Al, Japan Air Lines, and Qantas. Air France and Lufthansa were each given a risk of 1 in 100 million, while Alitalia was given a risk of 1 in 1 million.     Of course, air disasters are the result of factors such as weather conditions, human error, terrain, etc., rather than that the plane carried a particular logo, and TWA is lucky in that recent mishaps in New York and St. Louis didn’t result in fatalities. But I think its interesting that TWA and its commuter partner have the "least risk," based on these calculations, since this is the carrier most people seem "to love to hate." –DSL

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