A very logical commenter pointed out an analysis error in the Airline Unions blog. The original blog claimed that thousands of people were killed each year because higher flying costs pushed them to drive instead of fly. While this blog stands by the effect of unnecessary costs like the TSA and airline unions as a factor that shifts people from flying to driving, the estimate was too high.
The commenter considered the price elasticity of demand for air travel (surprisingly high), along with the number of hours an experienced pilot flies each month. By his better calculations, the number of people killed each year due to excessive pilot wages is probably around 500, not 2,000.
Still, driving is so dangerous compared to flying, anything that discourages flying kills people. Pilot and flight attendant compensation are far too high. Mechanics are overpaid by double. Even the people who allegedly clean the planes between flights earn more than most college graduates. The government makes flying an immense hassle through abusive TSA practices and inefficient air traffic control. Of course Ken Salazar’s outlawing most domestic oil exploration drives up the cost of all travel. All these factors combined might bring the number up to 2,000 deaths per year.
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