Following a widely publicized incident involving an Alaska Airlines flight that lost a door panel during a journey from Oregon to California, concerns about air travel safety might be expected among the public. However, it appears that the majority of travelers are largely undeterred by the incident, which resulted in an emergency landing of the Boeing MAX aircraft, according to a recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
The survey reveals that 71 percent, or more than seven in 10 respondents, still believe that air travel is either very or somewhat safe, while only 12 percent consider it unsafe. Despite this overall confidence in flying, the poll also highlights that only about two in 10 U.S. adults have “a great deal of confidence” in the proper maintenance and structural safety of airplanes.
However, respondents express high levels of confidence in pilots and air traffic controllers, with 84 percent and 81 percent, respectively, expressing trust in these professionals. Additionally, 74 percent have confidence in commercial airlines, and 71 percent share the same sentiment for plane manufacturers. The lowest confidence levels were reported for the federal government, with 62 percent of U.S. adults expressing trust.
Regarding government oversight of air travel, only 23 percent of respondents feel very confident that appropriate safety regulations have been implemented by oversight agencies. Approximately 48 percent feel moderately comfortable with the safety regulations put in place, while only 7 percent are not at all comfortable with the current level of safety regulation.
The survey also touched on public perceptions of the threat of terrorist attacks on planes. About 45 percent feel moderately confident that air travel is safe from terrorist attacks, while 24 percent feel very confident.
This new AP survey coincides with recent criticism from the FAA chief, who expressed concerns about the oversight process at Boeing manufacturing facilities. During testimony before a House subcommittee, FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker stated that Boeing is under pressure to produce too many planes, potentially compromising safety standards.
source: travelpulse.com