Safety Rules Help or Hurt?

[Froman3183]

What do you think about this and if possible where are you getting your info from. I'm looking for sources to use for saying that Safety rules are more harmful than helpful at times.

Thanks

[Denny of Oakland]

I hope you are serous about safety and not how Safety rules are more harmful than helpful at times. If you read CAR-3, CFR 23, CFR 25, and CFR 39 you will understand why we do things on airplanes the way we do. An example is why we have seat belts and shoulder harness. The shoulder harness was required starting in 1979 to keep you face out of the instrument panel if you crash. Ever wonder why the gear handle is shaped like a little tire, so you can find it if the cockpit fills with smoke.

Safety is engineered into aircraft to as we learn for accidents that’s why people like me perform accident investigation.

Denny of Oakland

[flaps22]

The arguments that stem from discussions on whether or not Safety rules are harmful than helpful ALL stem from the oft-ignored field of Human Factors. People tend to forget that when an accident occurs, it always has something to do with a human factor, whether it be mechanical, managerial, or a stressful situation beyond human control (i.e. an Act of God). Safety rules are created to inform other pilots of a mishap that can be avoided in the future. Take Air Florida's Palm 90 accident for example... MANY things went wrong on that fateful day in January of 1981. It simply wasn't a factor of weather, mechanical defects, or poor managerial decision-making that brought about the accident. EVERYTHING that went on inside and outside of the cockpit of that Boeing 737 played a vital role in the cause of that fatal accident. This issue hasn't really been studied then, until the NTSB and the FAA had pushed to inform pilots of the many resources of information available to them at their beck and call. It's a blessing that today's technology can help minimize the risks involved by allowing that information to be literally at your fingertips. Back then, that availability just wasn't possible. Even today, there are MORE Safety Rules being proposed to further ensure the safety of ALL pilots, new and experienced. I'm sure if everyone had the opportunity to do so, I'd recommend a thorough study of the accident reports in the NTSB Database to glean a better understanding of how to avoid a possible situation. After all, our training does not stop after getting that Private Pilot's License... It's always ongoing, and it's always up to the licensed pilot to decide for themselves if they want to take advantage of the additional education. Happy flying!