BRITISH AIR LINES

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1935, Page 7

BRITISH AIR LINES

FIGURES SHOW INCREASED SAFETY. BRITISH TRANSPORT SUMMARY. Striking figures showing the steady increase -of safety in British air transport were quoted by Mr. C. F. B. Richardson in an address to the Institute of Actuaries at London recently. In 1929, when British aviation companies carried 28,327 passengers on their regular air • routes at home and abroad 12 passengers were killed. The number of passengers miles flown was 7,147,000. In 1934, when the number of passenger miles—29,o9l,ooo —had been more than quadrupled, and the number of passengers had increased nearly five times—--135,000—0n1y nine were killed. During the six years 1929-34 inclusive only 44 passengers lost their lives, a mortality rate of .130 per 1000 passenger flights and .505 per 100,000 passenger miles flown. Passenger fatalities rates in leading foreign countries, stated Mr. Richardson, were:—

Discussing • risks of private pilots, Mr. Richardson said age appeared to have little effect on the mortality rate, although pilots under 28 tended to have a higher mortality than older men. The mortality of student pilots was low, but they showed a heavy mortality after qualifying. “Aviation is a new hazard that is entering more and more into our business,” he added, “and the life insurance companies will be forced sooner or later to face the problem and find a solution for it.”

Passengers Deaths. carried. United States . 1928-32 109 1,703,649 Germany .... 1927-31 32 517,310 France 1927-31 42 122,449 Italy 1928-32 9 155,374 Holland 1929-31 13 109,866