RE: unreported pre-Tokaimura industrial fatality

["Sandy Perle" <sandyfl@earthlink.net>]

> But if you work out the figures per
> passenger JOURNEY rather than per passenger MILE, air transport turns out
> the second most hazardous after the motorcycle.  Car transport per journey
> is far safer than air travel on this basis.  The air travel sector does have
> this ultimate safety image, in contrast to the nuclear industry.  How did
> they manage this?

You're playing statistics games. I don't have your data, but even if 
I did, in my opinion, to state that air travel is the second most 
hazardous form of travel, behind motorcycles, is a totally 
misappropriate accusation. What you are doing, looking for some lower 
level denominator to make your point, is exactly the same methodology 
that those who object to nuclear energy. I am speaking of those who 
are solely out to kill an option, and most often, have no real basis, 
so they use statistics. In the end, the statistics are misused.

Accidents per mile is a sound basis. Travel by journey is not 
appropriate. If I get in my car and use it to go 1/2 block, 100 times 
a day, and another 100,000 people do that .. there are a lot of 
journeys, and yes, probably many accidents as well. If one addresses 
deaths from air travel, be they per mile or by journey, to say that 
the airlines are more dangerous than the automobile, that kills over 
50,000 in the USA each year alone, is simply not an accurate or 
appropriate statement, and does nothing to advance the ideas of 
nuclear safety. A stretch by any means.

Your final question ... How did they manage this? By flying safely 
(as best as possible) with minimal deaths. Can they improve,, they 
certainly can, but to say that they are unsafe ... no way.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandy Perle					Tel:(714) 545-0100 / (800) 548-5100   				    	
Director, Technical				Extension 2306 				     	
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Personal Website:  http://www.geocities.com/scperle
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