Flying is the safest form of transportation when you fly commercial airlines. Flying in smaller private aircraft is slightly less safe, because private pilots are not flying for a living, and their aircraft are not built for flying in any type of weather or icing conditions.
Statistically, only one in seven small aircraft accidents results in any fatality. That means that 6 of 7 accidents are NON FATAL. Small aircraft are slower, can make emergency landings in fields and on roads if need arizes, and are able to touch down at slower than freeway speeds, minimizing injuries. Jets cannot make safe off airport landings like a small aircraft can.
Single engine aircraft can actully be safer that multi-engine aircraft in "engine out" situations. One engine out in a single does not create instability or severe YAW forces (flipping the plane to one side abruptly when one engine fails). Aircraft are stringently controlled by the FAA as compared to autos, and require an "annual inspection". Pilots are heavily trained and require lots of time to become proficient as an instrument pilot.
As long as the PILOT is safe, usually the flight will be safe too. Most recorded accidents involve preventable causes like running out of fuel, flying in poor or stormy weather, and improper maintenance of aircraft. Our pilots are FAA certified and obligate themselves to stay current in all phases of flight in order to assure the highest safety standards for our trips.
Our Manos Con Alas volunteer pilots are very experienced instrument certified pilots (IFR) with many years of experience. A few of our pilots are flight instructors as well. Your safety and comfort is our prime concern on mission trips. If you have a question or a concern about flying with our pilots, let us know by phone at 626 893 3025. If you are too afraid to fly in a private plane, there are driving options sometimes available on trips that are not too far south. Driving may require you driving yourself if there are no others driving to a mission trip, but we can assist you in getting the proper Mexican car insurance, and tips to safely make the trip.
Flying down to Mexico is probably safer in many ways than driving, due to recent border problems and night time road conditions. Flying to military, commercial, and guarded airports allows a larger margin of safety for airplane passengers, and avoids the long border lines, street people, and problems typically found in border towns.
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