Airline pilots do have a lower occupational fatality rate (by a factor of
three) than professional pilots in general.

And even that includes a lot of stuff we don't really think of as
airlines. Basically, the number you're quoting is everything with a
Part 121 Certificate, right down to the guys running Cessna 402's back
and forth to Nantucket and Beech 1900's and Twin Otters between Houston
Hobby and Houston Intercontinental. It also includes all the commuters
- not just the respectable operators like ConEx and Horizon running
RJ's, but also the prop jobs like Great Mistakes (common CFI slang for
Great Lakes).

When you look at what we think of as 'real' airlines - Northwest,
Continental, United, American, Delta, and the other major carriers -
the numbers are even better.

But the occupational fatality
rate for airline pilots is still seven times as high as the US average for
all occupations

That's true but misleading. It's not substantially higher than other
occupations that involve heavy equipment, transportation, etc.

the rate for airline pilots is slightly higher than the
rate for truck drivers.

But only slightly. It is also in line with other occupations that
involve leaving the office and doing stuff - construction and factory
workers, for example, or even farmers. It's just that these farming,
manufacturing, and transportation jobs are on the decline. Most
americans work in an office or retail environment - and that's very
safe. Safe as houses.

Michael