These connections are the basis for why the Commission's recommendations are comprehensive and sweeping. It is the belief of the Commission that without these changes, the aviation system infrastructure of this country will become an impediment to economic growth. Critics of these proposals, or defenders of the status quo, must provide a compelling alternative, because the current system is headed down a path toward economic disaster and reduced safety. Since this is unacceptable, the Commission offers its funding report as a clarion call to action and innovation. The Commission was also directed to examine some specific safety issues.
Commercial aviation is an extraordinarily safe human endeavor.
The risk of perishing in a commercial aircraft accident is about one in every two million flights. This safety record is due to the high standards that exist in the building and operation of commercial aircraft. These high standards are the result of decades of strong interaction between government regulators and safety professionals within the aviation industry. Even with this excellent safety record, there is a growing sense that the high level of public confidence in the safety of the aviation system will slowly erode over the next 10-15 years if significant steps are not taken to further improve aviation safety. The commercial aviation accident rate is extraordinarily low, but it has shown virtually no improvement over the past 30 years.