Re:Nuclear-powered passenger aircraft 'to transport millions'
by ars on Monday October 27, 2008 @08:42PM
(#345839)
"with the same lethal outcome in case of failure"
Not so, it's a lot easier to put extra safety equipment on the ground then on an airplane.
I quite agree that parachuting the reactor is not going to work - if you were flying the thing, and you had a 50% chance of saving the plane if you had a power plant, but a 100% chance of crashing if you let it drop - would you do it?
The military is trained for such choices, civilians are not.
Not so, it's a lot easier to put extra safety equipment on the ground then on an airplane.
I quite agree that parachuting the reactor is not going to work - if you were flying the thing, and you had a 50% chance of saving the plane if you had a power plant, but a 100% chance of crashing if you let it drop - would you do it?
The military is trained for such choices, civilians are not.