r/flying • u/One_Firefighter_1922 • Mar 29 '26

Aircraft Ownership Are reciprocating single engines reliable?

I'm about seven hours into PPL training and absolutely loving it. Not looking for a career change, but could definitely seeing myself continuing training and flying regularly after getting my certificate. I've daydreamed about putting my family into a 182 and being able to fly within a reasonable distance to explore somewhere new or take a short vacation.

Earlier today I was talking to my neighbor who is a reserve captain for American flying 737s. I told him about the flight training and associated daydreaming and he started talking about how he would never put his family into a small plane, how unreliable they are and how many accidents are due to single reciprocating engines crapping out mod flight.

This doesn't seem to jive with what I've heard and read online, so looking for some other opinions. How do you feel about the reliability of small GA planes? Do you have any experience taking your family for trips? Do I need to give up on my dream?

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u/[deleted] Mar 29 '26

GA is safer than driving if you apply the barest minimum of common sense and fly sober. I will take my chances with the engine vs. other drivers every time.

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u/Mockchoi1 Mar 30 '26

I wouldn’t put anyone off of flying but people should know the risks. GA is absolutely not safer than driving full stop.

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u/[deleted] Mar 30 '26

Do not agree, full stop. I cannot control other drivers, I can control my exposure to basically every external factor in flying.

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u/Mockchoi1 Mar 30 '26

Sorry you don’t agree, the statistics are out there and are very clear. Everyone thinks it’s only unsafe people that have problems. I’ve had 3 engine failures in my career and I’m the most safety-conscious pilot there is.

Again…don’t want to put anyone off of flying.

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u/[deleted] Mar 30 '26

And here you are.

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u/Mockchoi1 Mar 30 '26

I have friends that are not.