Are helicopters safe to fly?

Question

My husband is considering a job being a helicopter pilot. Vs airline/corperate pilot due to better pay rates. Is this a safe field? I have heard lots of stories growing up, so I'm a little unsure.

Answer 1

Very safe... commercial choppers are as safe as commercial planes - both WAY safer than driving on the highway!

If you said military helicopter pilot - well, that is a completely different story!!!

Answer 2

Safe up until the crash.

Answer 3

h**l NO!

Besides those things don't really fly, thye just beat the air into submission.

But yeah, SAFE??? Uh UH, those guys have like a 110% mortality rate per year (the extra 10% are for guys who weren't really helicopter pilots, but Kamikazi's with helmets on)

Answer 4

Helicopters are safer than planes but they pay less i think your husband should take the helicopter cause of the great view\safer

Answer 5

It's fine. How many helicopter crashes have you heard on the news? Hardly any. Its his choice!

Answer 6

They are as safe as any other aircraft.  Much of the problem comes in play because of decisions pilots make.  Therefore, if your husband observes the rules, regulations, checklists, procedures, and is trained properly to handle emergencies, he will be as safe a pilot as he can.

I like rotary wing aircraft.  I just don't want to fly an aircraft where the wing moves.  I like to know where it's at all the time..

Answer 7

It depends on what kind of work he is doing.

Flying scenic tours or charters in a helicopter is pretty much just as safe as flying an airline (even more safe if the helicopter is twin engined, two crew, and IFR capable).

However, doing jobs like long-lining and flying in remote or mountainous area can be very dangerous if he encounters bad weather, has an engine failure, or if there is a rotor strike or dynamic rollover (when the helicopter looses its balance and falls over with the rotors still spinning).  I believe one of the most dangerous jobs with a helicopter is heli-logging, closely followed by bucketing [fires].

As for pay rates they are comparable.  Top pay for the airlines is better than for helicopters, but in rotary-wing, you make more sooner.

The dangers of each of these jobs is negligible in comparison to the dangers of putting your family in a car and driving down the highway.

Answer 8

yes  it is really  safe  i  love  fliing  on  them

Answer 9

Here is the honest deal…

Riding anything that flies, is theoretically safer than riding a car.

However, crashing is usually more fatal when it comes to planes than to cars.

Now the good news, is helicopters do not fly as high and as fast as airliners do. So theoretically, your husband would be safer flying a helicopter when it comes to that particular issue.

However, flying a helicopter requires a lot more concentration, attention, and skill than flying a plane.

As a conclusion, I’m sure your husband will be just fine if he knows what he is doing. Helicopter crashes are less often than plane crashes.

Don’t worry. And best of luck with his new career.