Fear of Flying

[Rathark]

I would like to know your thoughts and feelings on this subject. I have to go to work soon, so I can't recount my own experiences in detail, but I've discovered that I'm one of those nervous flyers. I'm more afraid of bad weather, human error or bad luck than terrorism. It's the randomness of the universe that scares me (I'm not an atheist, but neither do I believe in divine intervention or favoritism).

Discuss.

[Sea Skimmer]

My fears only occur when the angle of decent passes the 70 degree mark.

[The Dark]

The universe isn't random. Natural laws work perfectly consistently. As long as the airplane has enough air flowing over its wings to maintain lift, you've got nothing to worry about. I've flown across the country, and it's really nothing. Most of the time the pilots have nothing to do in the airplane anyway, they're almost entirely automated. I have a friend whose father is a pilot, and he's said the planes could literally fly themselves if they had a few extra lines of programming. Fewer people die in airplanes than automobiles, the mass media just hypes plane crashes.

[Darth Wong]

I'm more nervous on a two-lane highway than in a plane. In a two-lane highway with no median divider, you're zooming along at 100 km/h while some other guy is doing the same going the other way, with your cars passing within a few feet of each other.

All it takes is for some dumb-fuck in the opposite lane to fall asleep at the wheel or reach for his tape deck and jerk his wheel by accident, and we have a massive head-on collision which probably kills both of us.

However, having said that, planes are unnerving in the sense that when you're a passenger (as opposed to the pilot) you really have no idea what's going on, and no control over what's happening.

[neoolong]

I'm more nervous on a two-lane highway than in a plane. In a two-lane highway with no median divider, you're zooming along at 100 km/h while some other guy is doing the same going the other way, with your cars passing within a few feet of each other.

All it takes is for some dumb-fuck in the opposite lane to fall asleep at the wheel or reach for his tape deck and jerk his wheel by accident, and we have a massive head-on collision which probably kills both of us.

However, having said that, planes are unnerving in the sense that when you're a passenger (as opposed to the pilot) you really have no idea what's going on, and no control over what's happening.

Of course, you assume that you're a better driver than a pilot is at flying a plane.

Though, mechanical problems can be more dangerous on a plane, where if the engine stops working or something, you pretty much die.

[haas mark]

planes = fun. Nuff said. Just don't put me next to or behind a wing seat.

[neoolong]

I hear that people undergo certain physiological changes when in the air and that makes sex better. Of course, that's just what I hear.

[TrailerParkJawa]

Im not afraid of flying. I always go for the window seat to look at all the things I can see.

I have a strong fear of certain types of heights though. Not planes, but being next to any kind of sharp drop, like a cliff gives me the willies.

I get really scared skiing along catwalks above the alpine level. Something about the complete blanket of white, with a lack of depth perception makes me really freak out.

Its not rational I know, Im a good enough skier I handle a catwalk with no problem.

Remember the scene in LOTR where Gandalf is at the top of the tower in the rain? First time I saw that, I actually clenched my teeth and grunted cause the heights bothered me.

[Sea Skimmer]

I'm more nervous on a two-lane highway than in a plane. In a two-lane highway with no median divider, you're zooming along at 100 km/h while some other guy is doing the same going the other way, with your cars passing within a few feet of each other.

All it takes is for some dumb-fuck in the opposite lane to fall asleep at the wheel or reach for his tape deck and jerk his wheel by accident, and we have a massive head-on collision which probably kills both of us.

However, having said that, planes are unnerving in the sense that when you're a passenger (as opposed to the pilot) you really have no idea what's going on, and no control over what's happening.

Of course, you assume that you're a better driver than a pilot is at flying a plane.

Though, mechanical problems can be more dangerous on a plane, where if the engine stops working or something, you pretty much die.

Engine failures are actually very low risk. 98% of commercial passenger aircraft are twin engine, and there's almost no twin-engine aircraft that can't fly at least a few hundred miles on one engine. A 777 can cross the Atlantic if it has a fairly full fuel load on one. B747 can fly on two for a while. Thousands of miles on three. Most also fly at 32-40,000 feet and can glide without engine power for some 150 miles.

It's when you have tail damage or control loss to that area that things get bad really quickly.

[Raxmei]

I'm actually more afraid of crossing the street than I am of flying. I have more faith in a professional pilot's ability to do his job than I have in American drivers keeping their eyes on the road.

[neoolong]

Engine failures are actually very low risk. 98% of commercial passenger aircraft are twin engine, and there's almost no twin-engine aircraft that can't fly at least a few hundred miles on one engine. A 777 can cross the Atlantic if it has a fairly full fuel load on one. B747 can fly on two for a while. Thousands of miles on three. Most also fly at 32-40,000 feet and can glide without engine power for some 150 miles.

It's when you have tail damage or control loss to that area that things get bad really quickly.

Yes, but if a problem does occur you are more likely to die.

[haas mark]

Engine failures are actually very low risk. 98% of commercial passenger aircraft are twin engine, and there's almost no twin-engine aircraft that can't fly at least a few hundred miles on one engine. A 777 can cross the Atlantic if it has a fairly full fuel load on one. B747 can fly on two for a while. Thousands of miles on three. Most also fly at 32-40,000 feet and can glide without engine power for some 150 miles.

It's when you have tail damage or control loss to that area that things get bad really quickly.

Yes, but if a problem does occur you are more likely to die.

But it's still better odds than walking across the street (esp where I live), or DRIVING for that matter.

[Sea Skimmer]

Engine failures are actually very low risk. 98% of commercial passenger aircraft are twin engine, and there's almost no twin-engine aircraft that can't fly at least a few hundred miles on one engine. A 777 can cross the Atlantic if it has a fairly full fuel load on one. B747 can fly on two for a while. Thousands of miles on three. Most also fly at 32-40,000 feet and can glide without engine power for some 150 miles.

It's when you have tail damage or control loss to that area that things get bad really quickly.

Yes, but if a problem does occur you are more likely to die.

To some extent. But unless the engine blows up, which does happen from time to time, its very rare for a plane to go down from such problems. Most engine related crashes are from bad fuel which stops them all or a lack of fuel. The latter may be caused by a ground crew mistake, leakage or mechanical failures.

[haas mark]

ie, human error. It does happen.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

I've never even been in a aeroplane.

[neoolong]

Engine failures are actually very low risk. 98% of commercial passenger aircraft are twin engine, and there's almost no twin-engine aircraft that can't fly at least a few hundred miles on one engine. A 777 can cross the Atlantic if it has a fairly full fuel load on one. B747 can fly on two for a while. Thousands of miles on three. Most also fly at 32-40,000 feet and can glide without engine power for some 150 miles.

It's when you have tail damage or control loss to that area that things get bad really quickly.

Yes, but if a problem does occur you are more likely to die.

To some extent. But unless the engine blows up, which does happen from time to time, its very rare for a plane to go down from such problems. Most engine related crashes are from bad fuel which stops them all or a lack of fuel. The latter may be caused by a ground crew mistake, leakage or mechanical failures.

I'm just saying that in the event of a mechanical problem that brings the vehicle down, it is more likely that you die in a plane than in a car.

But, yes the chances of it happening are pretty remote.

[Hyperion]

My fears only occur when the angle of decent passes the 70 degree mark.

oh comeon that's when the fun starts, granted the fun don't last more than a few seconds and ends with a pile of kibble a big fucking boom and a very expensive lawn dart.

i'm not afraid of flying, my philosophy is that if my number comes up i'm a deadman no matter what, may it be that i'm up at 30,000 feet when a terrorist bomb shreds the aircraft i'm on, at an intersection in town being broadsided by a peterbuilt with the stereo still blasting "it's the end of the world as we know it" as my car's wreckage comes to rest against the streetlamp with my smashed body still strapped in at the helm, behind the computer of some previously unknown cardiac problem, or just plain old dying for no good reason because i avoided death some other way. i may be only 19 but i'm not afraid of dying, i'd rather not for at least another 40 years, but hey, if i go out in a big bang or in my sleep, i'm happy as long as it's quick and painless.

my dad on the otherhand used to be a flight engineer with Pan Am airways, for 33 f'ing years, he flat out refuses to get aboard an aircraft now... he's 76... am i the only one seeing a problem here?

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

I once sat next to someone who almost started hyperventilating when the plane landed. I had to talk her through it and tell her to take deep breaths and exhale slowly.

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

My fears only occur when the angle of decent passes the 70 degree mark.

oh comeon that's when the fun starts, granted the fun don't last more than a few seconds and ends with a pile of kibble a big fucking boom and a very expensive lawn dart.

i'm not afraid of flying, my philosophy is that if my number comes up i'm a deadman no matter what, may it be that i'm up at 30,000 feet when a terrorist bomb shreds the aircraft i'm on, at an intersection in town being broadsided by a peterbuilt with the stereo still blasting "it's the end of the world as we know it" as my car's wreckage comes to rest against the streetlamp with my smashed body still strapped in at the helm, behind the computer of some previously unknown cardiac problem, or just plain old dying for no good reason because i avoided death some other way. i may be only 19 but i'm not afraid of dying, i'd rather not for at least another 40 years, but hey, if i go out in a big bang or in my sleep, i'm happy as long as it's quick and painless.

my dad on the otherhand used to be a flight engineer with Pan Am airways, for 33 f'ing years, he flat out refuses to get aboard an aircraft now... he's 76... am i the only one seeing a problem here?

Let's see... 76 - 19 = 57. Your dad was 57 when you were born? Good lord! I'm a year older than you and my dad's 57 now!

[Knife]

I've actualy flown enought that I just sleep through any flight now a day's. This would include airplanes and helo's and the only time I ever got nervous is when I could see the cockpit and any indicators that suddenly turned red!

[neoolong]

I once sat next to someone who almost started hyperventilating when the plane landed. I had to talk her through it and tell her to take deep breaths and exhale slowly.

What? When the plane landed? What did she think the plane was going to fall 15 ft. and explode?

[Sea Skimmer]

I've actualy flown enought that I just sleep through any flight now a day's. This would include airplanes and helo's and the only time I ever got nervous is when I could see the cockpit and any indicators that suddenly turned red!

Even a on a B-52 making a low level pass in daylight over Baghdad in the Gulf War? All that triple A, dozens of Sam batteries locking up the aircraft and its 1000 square feet of ill armored downwards facing fuel tank surface.

[Icehawk]

Ive flown in planes several times when our family went to Florida. No problems. I even got to fly a Cessna once when I tried the flight camp at our local airport a few years back. It was quite fun actually.

However I don't think I would make a great pilot since I seemed to have mental block when it comes to learning and applying aerial navigation. I have little to no fear of flying though.

[The Dark]

I once sat next to someone who almost started hyperventilating when the plane landed. I had to talk her through it and tell her to take deep breaths and exhale slowly.

What? When the plane landed? What did she think the plane was going to fall 15 ft. and explode?

I will admit I've almost been in one crash, when a headwind blew up unexpectedly during our approach and was causing us to come in short. Since I was the only one in our group who knew anything about flight, I had to remain calm as the engines came back up to full power during final approach, since we had 30 high school students traveling together and they all knew that I would only panic if something was really wrong. They didn't know that I could act unafraid when my heart was going about 200 beats per minute. Takeoffs and landings are the riskiest part of flying.

[Knife]

I've actualy flown enought that I just sleep through any flight now a day's. This would include airplanes and helo's and the only time I ever got nervous is when I could see the cockpit and any indicators that suddenly turned red!

Even a on a B-52 making a low level pass in daylight over Baghdad in the Gulf War? All that triple A, dozens of Sam batteries locking up the aircraft and its 1000 square feet of ill armored downwards facing fuel tank surface.

Ah, no but I was a grunt so I learned to sleep just about anywhere. A CH 53, a CH 47, a huey, a amtrack(if you can sleep in one of those you are special), dragon wagons, C 130(again your special if you can snooze in one), C 141, and all manner of civilian aircraft.