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A Delta airlines plane sits on its roof after crashing upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Feb. 17.

The airplane crashes and mishaps of the past several weeks have shaken some people’s confidence in air travel. At airports and on flights across the country, many passengers may be wondering: Is flying still safe? The answer is yes – thanks to rigorous pilot training standards that serve as the foundation of aviation safety.

On Jan. 29, American Eagle Flight 5342 and a Black Hawk helicopter collided in midair as the commercial airliner was preparing to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people on board both aircraft. Just weeks later on Feb. 17, a Delta Air Lines regional jet, Endeavor Air Flight 4819, crashed and flipped over at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Thankfully, all 80 passengers and crew survived in that case.

As investigators from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Canada’s Transportation Safety Board do their critical work investigating these accidents, travelers should remember that aviation safety is not a fixed achievement but rather an ongoing commitment to upholding our highest standards.

In the aftermath of the two accidents, there were allegations that corners were cut or that qualification standards for pilots had been lowered. Those claims are unfounded and outrageous, and steeped in ignorance. As both Delta Air Lines and the Air Line Pilots Association, which I lead,

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