My new bf owns a 4 passenger plane and wants to fly accross the continent city by city, how safe are private?

Question

planes? Id love to do something like this but Im nervous cause of all the accidents you hear about cause by private planes

Answer 1

I agree. If your bf is careful, knows his own limitations, those of the plane, and respects the weather, you should have no problems. Mechanical failures are few. And always allow extra time to wait out weather when necessary.

Answer 2

I would worry more about the pilot than the airplane.  Can he make decisions about whether to fly or not if the weather was questionable?  Or is he able to recognize he is really too tired to fly?  I don't ask these questions because I want the answer, I want you to ask yourself these questions.

Most of the problems you see that involve private planes are where the pilot was over-confident or he underestimated a situation or was in too much of a hurry and took a chance.  Taking chances is a losing proposition when you are talking about flying.

I took flying lessons years ago and enjoyed it a lot!  But we moved to another city and I couldn't keep up the training.  I never did get my license.  I had a friend who flew across the country with his dad.  It was a great adventure for them!

I hope you do it if your bf is a good pilot and that you have a great time!

Good luck.

j

Answer 3

Flying a small plane is really safe just as safe if not more so than big planes.  Just make sure that all maintence is kept up with and that it remains airworthy (the pilot will know all about that)  there are crashes with small planes but there are literally thousands of flights in them in the matter of a few days. They are also really really fun you see and experience a lot more with a small plane then with a big jet.  Good luck and have fun.  What kind of plane is it?

Answer 4

The chances are you will be perfectly safe.  The way an airplane is maintained is a matter of federal law, and mechanical problems in flight are very rare.

As others have mentioned, the key is the pilot's attitude.  If he is a mature and level-headed person who knows his limitations and those of the flight envelope (the airplane and the route), he should be fine.

If in doubt, chat with the last flight instructor he flew with.  That may be tricky, but is worth a try.  If your friend has a short fuse or likes to show off, that may make it risky to fly with him.  If you know him well and find him careful and considerate, you should be safe.

"He who can be trusted in small things can be trusted in great things."  --ancient Middle-Eastern saying

The very best way to learn how to judge the safety of a flying situation is to learn to fly, yourself, By Golly!  There is nothing about being female that prevents that.

Get yourself a flight instructor and start your flight lessons.  It will improve your enjoyment of flying with your friend and make you a much more valuable passenger/co-pilot.

It's also a great way to scope out your guy.  If you learning to fly makes him feel threatened, you may want to wonder about the depths of his character and how much at peace he is with himself.

Men who are slightly feminist are the best!

In any case, have a great trip!

Answer 5

I think it would be a great adventure.  Flying is still the safest mode of transport than anything else.  If the plane is well maintained and your b/f is a seasoned pilot than you should not have to worry.  The reason you always hear about plane crashes is that they really dont happen all that much and when they do its a big thing because they are not that common.  If you are afraid of heights?? well there is no better way to get over them than in an airplane.  Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

Answer 6

You'll love it.

Answer 7

Find out his pilot credentials, proficiency, and recency of experience.

Answer 8

I agree with what the above have said.  The more you learn before-hand, the more fun you'll have.  Those "pinch-hitter" courses available through AOPA would be perfect.

Also, get psyched up by reading some classic stories about similar trips such as 'Flight of Passage', 'The Cannibal Queen' and 'Nothing By Chance'

I cross the country routinely but don't get to stop, and the whole thing is done in 5-6 hours.  I wish I had the time to make a trip like that.

Answer 9

they are as safe as the Pilot.

Answer 10

Flying in a small plane is still safer than driving across the continent.  As long as the plane has been well maintained and your bf flies safely, I wouldn't worry.  The majority of accidents are pilot error, not mechanical.

Answer 11

Great advice from others already. Here's my two cents:

I've been flying for over 25 years, 22 of that as a commercial pilot. Of the more than 15,000 flight's I've made, my favorite ones were four coast-to-coast trips in my own airplane, landing only at very small airports along the way. It's more fun than you can possibly imagine.

This kind of flying can be like a boring car trip if all you do is spend your time flying and landing at big airports. Take your time if you can afford it, get off the beaten path,  and you'll meet all kinds of great people. Take the time at each of your stops to "look around and smell the roses". Make side trips if possible by renting or borrowing a car or bicycles. Most small airports at least have loaner vehicles so you can get to town and buy lunch or dinner. I hope you are also planning to do some "air camping" along the way too (tent, sleeping bags, etc). Some airports cater to this and it can save considerable money on motels.

If your BF is a competent pilot, it'll be very safe, even if he's never done this kind trans-continental flying before.  Most accidents occur for two reasons: continuing into deteriorating weather (especially when you don't know the area) and running out of fuel, so keep a good eye on the weather and fuel. Also make use of local pilots and air traffic controllers to learn local procedures or weather patterns. Call ahead if necessary.

For you especially, I'd suggest that you learn some aeronautical chart reading and proper radio usage. Become part of the "flight crew" and you'll not only be a big help but you'll enjoy it even more. If you can, also take a "pinch hitter" course of a few flight hours from a local flight school before you go so you know the basics of what to do "just in case". Don't have your BF teach you if you want to avoid stress...not a good idea. Been there, done that.

Have fun, I'm jealous already...

Answer 12

If you bear in mind that you really don't HAVE to be anywhere, not only will the trip be safe, but quite enjoyable. The key here is to not push it when you have questions about the weather or any other concerns that may crop up.

Often when carefully laid plans go slightly awry, and you end up diverting to another airport due to weather, you'll have the most memorable experiences and lively stories. Just go with the flow. This sounds like a grand adventure. Go for it!