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By 1931, after a few years' experience of flying scheduled…

“By 1931, after a few years' experience of flying scheduled airlines, those planes were operating at roughly 600 times the safety of the space shuttle. I look at safety not in terms of fatalities per passenger-mile, but when you get in and close the door, what is the risk of dying on this flight?” quote by Burt Rutan
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“By 1931, after a few years' experience of flying scheduled airlines, those planes were operating at roughly 600 times the safety of the space shuttle. I look at safety not in terms of fatalities per passenger-mile, but when you get in and close the door, what is the risk of dying on this flight?”

Burt Rutan

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Airline safety vastly exceeds that of space shuttles; risk assessment should focus on immediate passenger safety.

In simple terms: Air travel is extremely safe.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize practical safety metrics.

Themes

safety risk assessment technology aviation comparative analysis

Mood

analytical informative

Type

technical educational

When to use this quote

  • flight planning
  • policy making
  • public communication

Key Concepts

engineering statistics

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you convey safety statistics?
  • What safety concerns remain?
A Different Perspective

Risk perception can be skewed.

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