wrote:
Many times I am reading a magazine related to flying and some aviation
related newsgroups and there are a fairly large number of people that
are dying, crashing, etc.
Even the post a bit below about OSH show, etc.

Since I would like to learn to fly I have one question:

Airplane is considered to be the most safe mode of transportation.
Looking at the airliners and their operation where they fly 24/7 all
over the world, seldom some crash happens. What is the root cause and
problem in general aviation regarding safety, crashing, etc? Shouldn't
the standards be the same and are they the same in terms of flying,
rules and equipment. Basically, I wonder, what is going on and most
importantly what to do to correct it? And why it hasn't been done yet?

The standards are not the same, nor should they be. If they were, a
general aviation airplane would cost tens of millions of dollars and it
would take you six years to get a pilot license. You would only be
allowed to fly directly from one airport to another -- no deviations
for sightseeing or just going up for a joy ride, and you would have to
have another fully qualified pilot with you at all times. You would
have to fly at very high altitudes, out of the weather. You would have
strict operating rules and you would be regularly audited to make sure
you obey them. You could not fly in or out of most airports. You would
not be allowed to do any aerobatics. You would have to have a physical
checkup every six months instead of every two or three years and, if
you ever have any sort of problem with the checkup, you would be
grounded forever.

You choose your own level of risk when you fly an airplane. If you want
to fly at night, in bad weather, in mountainous terrain, in an airplane
that has known problems, etc., you increase your risk. If you want to
be stupid and fly into box canyons, buzz your girlfriend's house, do
low leverl aerobatics, or fly when when intoxicated, you can do that,
too. Lots of pilots do, and they are the pilots who are largely
responsible for general aviation's dismal accident record.

If you want to fly like a professional then you can have something
approaching the safety of a professional. But it is your choice. Just
remember that there are many pilots who choose poorly. And do not kid
yourself. There will be times when you make some very poor choices.
Everyone is human. Apparently, some pilots are more human than others.