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In truth, diving done right is procedures, procedures, procedures. That's why many novices and professionals suck at it. It needs boring personalities, or these

In truth, diving done right is procedures, procedures, procedures. That's why many novices and professionals suck at it. It needs boring personalities, or these that can handle boredom. I don't have to remember about the danger, I don't even have to respect the danger: if I actually go through all the steps and all the procedures, the risk is minimal. "If there was zero adrenaline, it was a dive done properly." I've once taken an intro flight on a light aircraft. After I observed my instructor doing all his pre-flight procedures, I reflected "umm, you know, it's actually much less than I do for a simple dive." He thought for a moment, but found an interesting reply: "I'm not an expert, but I think, if we take a number of dives or flights, we have more diving-related deaths than light-aircraft-related." (He was talking about Poland though - i.e. cold water dives.)

akiselev 6y ago
As long as you're not flying an experimental aircraft, general aviation is naturally safer than diving. Since GA planes are aerodynamically stable and can glide, pilots (usually) have a lot more time to calm down and think through their options before the situation becomes really dangerous. Most emergencies can be resolved by identifying a flat field or calling an emergency at the nearest airport (which the FAA is encouraging pilots to do more often). Not to mention, getting a pilots license is about 10 hours of "how to fly a plane" and 30+ hours of "how to deal with emergencies" including the instructor cutting off engine power mid flight. There's a procedure for just about every situation and the most important ones are practically muscle memory by the time one receives a pilots license.