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> The estimated damages caused by spatial disorientation cost the U.S. military an estimated $300 million every year, along with the lives of around 30 pilots.

> The estimated damages caused by spatial disorientation cost the U.S. military an estimated $300 million every year, along with the lives of around 30 pilots. I find it surprising that 30 pilots die every year because of this. I would think every time US loses a military plane there are some news about it on TV. But now 30 pilots dies per year only because of this? What about other causes of death? How many? US is not at war currently. How many US pilots died during Iraq war? I seem to remember (based on TV news) it was about or close to 0.

Stevvo 5y ago
About 30 US military pilots a year are killed in all accidents. That propaganda you might have heard on TV nearly 20 years ago is bullshit.
adewinter 5y ago
"Military aviation accidents have killed 224 pilots or aircrew, destroyed 186 aircraft, and cost more than $11.6 billion since 2013"[1] "Combined with information from the Federal Aviation Administration, an average of 383 pilots die every year in the US." [2] [1] https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-aviation-mishaps-deaths-cost/ https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-aviation-mishaps-de... [2] https://www.skytough.com/post/how-many-pilots-die-a-year https://www.skytough.com/post/how-many-pilots-die-a-year
- CobrastanJorji 5y ago
  So in this case, they are trying to say that this costs the U.S. military an estimated $300 million every year, and also kills 30 (non-military and military combined) pilots?
  - trutannus 5y ago
    I think they're two separate ideas maybe. The "per year" in that sentence is ambiguous. It's unclear if it applies to the $300 million, or both that and the 30 lives.
- ensignavenger 5y ago
  That is 32 pilots or aircrew killed in military aviation accidents total per year from 2013-2020. The article claims 30 pilot die every year from spatial disorientation alone. I find it unlikely that 30 out of 32 deaths of "pilots and crew" are pilots, and also unlikely that all of these accidents are due to spatial disorientation. (Edit- just read the source article- https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug=2965073- https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug... it says 30 lives, not 30 pilots... the posted article got it wrong. Even then, I have some doubts as to the number, but its definitely closer to the truth).
  - trutannus 5y ago
    I think the sentence is just poorly worded. I see this "it costs $300 per year" and "30 lives" as two separate ideas. I think we might just be assuming that its also 30 lives per year, when it might just have been $300 million and 30 lives in recent years. I struggled with that sentence too, so I could also be totally wrong.
  - rvba 5y ago
    It costs a lot of money to train a military pilot. All thr trainig, all the simulators, even salary. Then fuel for hours of flight every year. Aircraft mainenance. That's why everyone tries to save them when shot down (also they know secrets).
  - TechBro8615 5y ago
    As far as journalism goes these days, that looks like an accurate portrayal of the numbers.
colechristensen 5y ago
Accidents dominate this, you hear about quite a lot of them, not all fatal. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/04/08/the-death-toll-for-rising-aviation-accidents-133-troops-killed-in-five-years/ https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/04/08/...
peeters 5y ago
They are misquoting their own source: > The spatial disorientation, or vertigo, suffered by the pilot is very common and causes accidents that cost the U.S. military more than $300 million and about 30 lives every year [1] Lives, not pilots. It could be 2 pilots and 28 other service members on the same one aircraft. [1] https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug=2965073 https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug...
simulate-me 5y ago
I only know one pilot, but the number of other pilots he knows that have died is pretty insane. This is non-military.

Stevvo 5y ago

About 30 US military pilots a year are killed in all accidents. That propaganda you might have heard on TV nearly 20 years ago is bullshit.

adewinter 5y ago

"Military aviation accidents have killed 224 pilots or aircrew, destroyed 186 aircraft, and cost more than $11.6 billion since 2013"[1] "Combined with information from the Federal Aviation Administration, an average of 383 pilots die every year in the US." [2] [1] https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-aviation-mishaps-deaths-cost/ https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-aviation-mishaps-de... [2] https://www.skytough.com/post/how-many-pilots-die-a-year https://www.skytough.com/post/how-many-pilots-die-a-year

CobrastanJorji 5y ago
So in this case, they are trying to say that this costs the U.S. military an estimated $300 million every year, and also kills 30 (non-military and military combined) pilots?
- trutannus 5y ago
  I think they're two separate ideas maybe. The "per year" in that sentence is ambiguous. It's unclear if it applies to the $300 million, or both that and the 30 lives.
ensignavenger 5y ago
That is 32 pilots or aircrew killed in military aviation accidents total per year from 2013-2020. The article claims 30 pilot die every year from spatial disorientation alone. I find it unlikely that 30 out of 32 deaths of "pilots and crew" are pilots, and also unlikely that all of these accidents are due to spatial disorientation. (Edit- just read the source article- https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug=2965073- https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug... it says 30 lives, not 30 pilots... the posted article got it wrong. Even then, I have some doubts as to the number, but its definitely closer to the truth).
- trutannus 5y ago
  I think the sentence is just poorly worded. I see this "it costs $300 per year" and "30 lives" as two separate ideas. I think we might just be assuming that its also 30 lives per year, when it might just have been $300 million and 30 lives in recent years. I struggled with that sentence too, so I could also be totally wrong.
- rvba 5y ago
  It costs a lot of money to train a military pilot. All thr trainig, all the simulators, even salary. Then fuel for hours of flight every year. Aircraft mainenance. That's why everyone tries to save them when shot down (also they know secrets).
- TechBro8615 5y ago
  As far as journalism goes these days, that looks like an accurate portrayal of the numbers.

colechristensen 5y ago

Accidents dominate this, you hear about quite a lot of them, not all fatal. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/04/08/the-death-toll-for-rising-aviation-accidents-133-troops-killed-in-five-years/ https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/04/08/...

peeters 5y ago

They are misquoting their own source: > The spatial disorientation, or vertigo, suffered by the pilot is very common and causes accidents that cost the U.S. military more than $300 million and about 30 lives every year [1] Lives, not pilots. It could be 2 pilots and 28 other service members on the same one aircraft. [1] https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug=2965073 https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19990606&slug...

simulate-me 5y ago

I only know one pilot, but the number of other pilots he knows that have died is pretty insane. This is non-military.