Here is a recent series from the Miami Herald regarding accident rates among cargo operators. .

Here is an accompanying audio segment which aired on NPR.

Unfortunately, the NPR piece doesn't make clear the distinction between Part 135 and Part 121 rules. Nor does it ever discuss the similarities of 121 passenger and cargo operations.

Don't shoot the messenger.

Tipsy

insurance companies do the same . if you fly for UPS and try to get a 30 year term life with prudential (cheapest)it cost 4 times more than a mesa pilot.

and yet these idiot insurance companies do not realize flying is safer than driving, i bet truck drivers have no problem getting life insurance

i hate insurance companies

While flying 121 cargo for UPS is more than likely safer than flying 135 for Uncle Nasty's Navajo Night Freightways, insurance cos look at statistics.

Google "top ten dangerous professions". It is a list from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Compare truckers to pilots. If I remember correctly, pilots are 3rd or 4th in the most dangerous, while truckers come in near number 8.

Here ya go:

1. Logging (tie)
Logging maintained its position as the most dangerous job in the United States again last year, tying aircraft pilots with 92.4 deaths for every 100,000 workers.

Source: US Bureau of Labor and Statistics

9. Truck driving
Falling asleep at the wheel and slick weather conditions are just two elements truck drivers face when they climb into their rigs.

Source: US Bureau of Labor and Statistics

Those new numbers are worse than before

I knew one of the guys in the story, Tom Lennon. Great guy. I also have 4 others who I knew well who were killed aover 5 years.

RIP gentlemen.

Check out Pilot Insurance Center www.piclife.com. They had the best price for a 20 year term life policy I could find. They cover ALL types of flying including experimental aircraft. Watch out for the name brand insurance policies. They charge a premium for pilots and DO NOT cover you unless you operate under part 121. So if you happen to crash while operating a ferry flight under part 91 rules (airlines do it all the time) you aren't covered.

Not at FDX. At my last job (ACMI non-sked) i did a lot of Pt 91 flights. Since I have been at FDX, all the ferry flights I have been on are 121. Flight test may be different. They do things like take DC10s to Italy for conversion.

Alright, but I bet these #'s are skewed due to including military pilots that have recenlty been killed in the Middle East. Also includes a lot of yahoo's that like to do crazy things in 1000 lb. aircraft powered by a scooter engine. Just an assumption though.

XtremeF150