Why are helicopters less safe than planes?

Riskier Flights Unlike airplanes, helicopters do not have set flight patterns, runways to take off and land on, and the guidance of a trained air traffic controller. Helicopters are also typically flown into areas that may not be accessible with any other type of aviation machinery.



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Since helicopters typically land and take off far more often than larger aircraft, and since general aviation pilots aren't required to have as much training or experience as commercial pilots, helicopter flights are more prone to accidents, including fatal ones.

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Generally speaking, it is understood that helicopters are harder to operate as compared to standard light aircraft. While a pilot may be able to undertake long flights in a standard aeroplane and not be all too tired at the end of it, just a few hours of flying a helicopter may be exhausting for some.

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Understanding a Helicopter Accident The crash rate for general aircraft is 7.28 crashes per 100,000 hours of flight time. For helicopters, that number is 9.84 per 100,000 hours. That means helicopters have a 35 percent higher risk of crashing compared to airplanes.

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  1. Airplane Safety. Airplanes are by far the safest mode of transportation when the number of transported passengers are measured against personal injuries and fatality totals, even though all plane crashes generally receive some form of media attention. ...
  2. Train Safety. ...
  3. Bus Travel. ...
  4. Boat Travel.


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Aeroplanes are generally more stable due to the fixed-wing component, while helicopters come with some instability due to the rotors that allow them to fly. A pilot must be skilled in order to ensure a smooth flight and constantly needs to be engaged in keeping the helicopter stable.

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It's probably embarrassing to admit it, but if you're like most other pilots, the answer is “Yes.” According to Chaytor Mason, a retired professor of aviation psychology at the University of Southern California, the rate of acrophobia is upwards of 90% in some of the pilot groups he's encountered.

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