This last weekend was tragically marred by fatalities at Oshkosh and Dayton, and in Switzerland, where a pilot attempting to reach Oshkosh in record time crashed into an apartment building. A relative called me, and asked: "Aren't air shows dangerous?"

I replied "No. They're not." One or two lose their lives every year on the way to Oshkosh, but given that there are 10,000 aircraft there these are accidents that could well have happened anyway, at another place and another time.

Not to dismiss them: every accident is one too many. Aerobatic and performance flying is inherently dangerous; that's why the FAA issues waivers to the professionals to do their stuff closer to the ground than most of us would care to get. The other unfortunate victims usually run out of fuel and are overcome by the pressure of the emergency.

Against this background we read today: 

Rail Crossings Deaths Called 'Preventable'

(July 30) -- Deaths at railroad crossings generally have dropped in the past 10 years, but the annual rate remains the equivalent of one person killed a day.

That, plus accidents at crossings averaging to about eight a day, has members of Congress, railroad officials and a consumer safety group pushing legislation that would provide the first major upgrade to rail-safety law since 1970.

 

One death per day!!!!

Just crossing the tracks is one heck of a lot more dangerous than flying in an air show!!