WhiteTruckMan

Of course an airframe has a finite life, and of course metal fatigue can occur, but as I said earlier, modern airliners are built to withstand many pressurisation cycles without any ill-effects.

For most commercial aircraft that means a life cycle of around 75,000 pressurization cycles, which equates to an operating life of about 20 years for short-haul aircraft,and much longer for those flying long-haul routes.

The reason for pressurisation is to protect the passengers however, and not the airframe.

"Flying is by far the safest mode of transport"

That's certainly true - no other form of transport is so rigorously safety-checked and regulated.

Research done in America has shown that statistically you are far safer in an aircraft than in any other form of transport - 19 times safer than in a car.

Your chance of being killed in a commercial airliner is 1 in 7 million

For a bee sting it's 1 in 5.5 million, and for a lightning strike it's 1 in 1.9 million.

"I'm not going to labour the point any more."

You don't really have one.

Every time you turn the steering wheel of your car you set up stresses in the steering column.

Eventually it will fail.

However, it is designed with a finite life.

Ever since the Comet crashes of the early 50s airframes are designed to have one too.

Might help CurlyWhirly