To be a bit scared of DH's hobby?

Every single air accident in the U.K. is reported to the AAIB and investigated.

And when I say "accident" I mean anything that breaks unexpectedly on an airplane.

The AAIB's website is here.

www.gov.uk/aaib-reports

You will note there are thousands of them and very very few involve any kind of injury much less loss of life.

The usual is: something stopped working and we had to use emergency procedure X.

A large part of the private pilot's license is learning and doing "emergency" procedures.

So you will learn how to fly if instrument X stops working by using instrument Y and Z instead. And vice versa. You will practice abortibg landings at every possible stage.

Slightly different, but my teenager is a scuba diver. Last weekend he was picked up by someone from his diving club and they went diving off a boat in the sea.

I have to try very hard not to think about it too much, he's qualified, the rest are all adults with years of experience, but there's nothing quite like the relief I get when he messages to say they are on their way back!

Ps. And just wait til your DS wants to try it!! (Honestly, you have to find a way to not worry! Your worry won't help anything. It's safer than you might think! Maybe find some stats somewhere about how many light aircraft and gliders etc.. there are flying every week on the UK and how many fatal accidents there are. I'm sure it's a v small percentage)

I've been up in a tiny 3 seater plane and it was incredible, not the least bit scary. The views over the North Wales coast and Snowdon were amazing, The pilot was a friend of DH's, and very, very cautious, so I felt safe throughout. Obviously it is a hobby where any little error could prove fatal, but so are a lot of risk taking ventures, like rock climbing, abseiling, base jumping, kite surfing.

My husband and son both go gliding every week! I try not to worry :) There are thousands of adults and kids flying gliders or light aircraft up and down the country every single weekend. It's probably no more dangerous than rock climbing, or water skiing! It's much much safer than free climbing!!!

Don't worry!!

My ExH flew.

Not commercial.

I'd recommend getting life insurance up to date and for a large amount and then forgetting about it.

Most accidents are pilot error. The aircraft have to be recertified and inspected frequently. It's extrenely highly regulated which means it is actually quite safe.

Pilot error is most likely between 50-100 hours flying or by being a showy off bastard like my ExH was.

I went up with him a few times. Didn't like it.