Events

When Wilburn and Orville Wright built the world’s first airplane, there was a lot of skepticism as to how reliable and worthwhile it was. Their first flight happened on December 17th, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. They are now considered to be inventors and pioneers, ushering in the aviation industry. 

Today, the average number of commercial flights is about 100,000 per day. That does not include military and private planes, helicopters, and large drones. Even with this statistic, aviation is considered to be one of the safest means of transportation. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t questions raised in regards to safety, thorough inspections, as well as proper training. There are numerous examples that could be provided, yet two crucial ones stand out the most. 

In 2014, flight MH370 disappeared without a trace. Then, just this past January, an American Airlines flight collided mid-air with a United States Army Black Hawk over the Potomac River in Washington D.C. Such incidents raise many questions and concerns. It is a known fact that air traffic control is considered to be one of the most stressful jobs in the world.

So, when accidents do occur, do we fully understand the basic international regulations for search and rescue in such incidents? What factors determine which country takes responsibility for the accident? Is it the country of origin from which the flight departs, or is it the country of destination? How can the pilot and co-pilot be better equipped to lower the risk of such catastrophes? What about the top three airline manufacturers that dominate production – who should bear the ultimate responsibility? And then climate change also plays a role, with strong, sometimes violent storms impacting the destination of landings, causing delays and chaos at airports and frustration for passengers.

Please join us for what will be a very lively conversation with personal anecdotes about air travel experiences.