Q&A · 2:40:59-2:41:44

Why larger carriers can lower the accident rate

A carrier-safety answer distinguishes the raw number of accidents from the accident rate across a larger air group.

Question

Would building much larger S6-type carriers change the number of aircraft crashes?

Short answer

Absolute crashes might remain similar, but more aircraft, easier landing areas, better maintenance space, and improved barriers could reduce losses as a share of the force.

Notes

A larger air group creates more opportunities for accidents simply because more aircraft fly. At the same time, a larger carrier can provide an easier landing deck, more maintenance capacity, and better crash-protection arrangements. The total number of crashes would probably remain broadly similar while the percentage of aircraft lost declines. The comparison is a reminder to normalize safety figures by operational scale.