The Semi-automatic Cessna

The Semi-Automatic Cessna

A friend of mine who has recently been parroting the NRA illusion of “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people”, tried to deflect my criticism of the NRA by reminding me that I’m a pilot. As a pilot, he said, I should know that flying is risky for both people in planes as well as those on the ground who may unexpectedly find themselves with a small aircraft plummeting through their roof. “Even with this risk we wouldn’t think of taking away your planes” he says.

On the surface it would seem that this argument has some merit. Giving even the slightest thought to the analogy however shows how full of holes his position really is. Just as gun owners have the NRA, pilots have associations that perform a similar function. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) for example, advocates, organizes, supports, and lobbies for General Aviation (GA) pilots. There are also federal aviation agencies that parallel those responsible for gun control (The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) such as the FAA and the NTSB. So far, the opportunity for comparison seems ripe.

Here is where the comparison between guns and aircraft (or just about anything else on the planet with the potential to kill you) breaks down in a big way. Every side of the aviation triangle – federal agencies, advocacy groups, and pilots are constantly working together to improve aviation safety. Federal funds are used to study and learn from aviation accidents. Detailed, scientifically supported reports are issued, and proposals for new training requirements and aircraft regulations are put forth. Groups like AOPA spend a significant portion of their resources to facilitate improvements in aviation safety. Through their magazines and member network they write about safety, provide access to safety information, and sponsor local safety seminars, all in an effort to reach as many pilots as possible. Pilots themselves take responsibility for their own lives and the lives of others very seriously. The entire pilot training process instills a never-ending focus for continuous improvement in piloting skills.

The end result of this cooperative triangle of safety is that GA flying is safer today than it has ever been since aviation began. This could only be achieved though the shared goal of everyone involved to push the accident rate towards zero and with the acceptance of ALL involved that safety in the air cannot be achieved without some level of cost and personal sacrifice. There are a minority of pilots who chafe at anything that regulates their freedom of flight, but the reality is, pass the pilot test and the sky you get to play in is almost limitless.

The aviation safety example I have given can easily be used to describe automobiles, medicine, boats, or even lethal fuzzy slippers. We take for granted that government agencies, manufacturers, and end users share a common goal of reducing accidents and injury. This holds true in every industry but firearms, where even to suggest a discussion of gun violence is met with rabid derision. History has proven that it is possible for continuous safety improvement, but only if we are willing to work for it.

Imagine a world where the auto industry was represented by an organization like the NRA. It would be a world filled with cars devoid of anti-lock brakes, ignition keys, airbags, and crumple zones. These cars however would travel at 180 MPH, and you wouldn’t need a license to drive one.

David Fisichella

Feb 2018