Are you concerned about flying?

[Ari]

Started a job that requires a bit of international flying about a year ago. Love the travelling, not sure I'd say I hate the flying, but distinctly uneasy about it.

I rationalise it all the time, realise probably more dangerous driving to the airport etc, but it's just being... up there. At least if you're in a car crash you're already on the ground.

I find myself analysing every noise, every change in engine note, every bump, even scrutinising every passenger in the boarding queue. Pointless.

Anyone else do this?

Anyone got past it?

[Ari]

Thanks all, a few useful comments and suggestions there.

Trouble is, doesn't matter how well designed the aircraft, or good the pilot, if someone wanders on with a bomb down their kecks...

[Ari]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

I listen for 'gear up', and then try to call when the flaps are brought back in, and the engine power reduced from take-off power.

Hate that! You've just been hurled into the air at 200mph, can still make out the models of cars below, and suddenly the engine power winds back...! WTF!

Getting more used to it now...

[Ari]

Phil Dicky said:

swerni said:

Nope, I fly every week.

But I've never been able to eat fish on a plane,
It goes back to watching Airplane in the 80's.

Shirley you can't be serious

He is serious, and stop calling him Shirley!

[Ari]

bertieg said:

im not far off qualified as a licensed aircraft engineer, and i find air travel worse now i know how they work and i've seen how they're maintained. scary stuff.....

Helpful, cheers!

[Ari]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

You'll be even more worried then when I tell you that the 'EPR' (engine power ratio) on take-off is NOT to just mash the throttle controls as far as they'll go for 'full power' - oh, no.

The pilots work out what will be ostensibly 'enough' power to get the bird off the ground depending on the weight of the passengers and baggage, the wind and the length of the runway.

They're constantly badgered by the airlines to save fuel, and take-off EPR is a part of that.

So - you're relying on something (ok, a little more sophisticated, maybe) that is essentially a 'back of a fag packet' sum on how much power will get us all safely off the ground

Scared yet?

I'm ok with that. Too much power, take off faster. Not enough power, just give it more throttle.

[Ari]

kiteless said:

But what has really helped me over the last year or so is loading up the European map on FlightRadar24, and looking at all the air movements on it. Every day there must be thousands of flights over mainland Europe, and I'm comforted by the fact that major incidents - despite those crowded skies - are very rare indeed.

Funny you say that. I bought Plane Finder for my iPhone, and that had the same effect on me. Seeing thousands of planes in the air at any one time rather puts it into perspective!

[Ari]

dfen5 said:

Sure, it wouldn't be nice to be chucked out of a fusalage at 550mph and have your clothes ripped off (probably the least of your worries but it would be a bit chilly). However, there are tens of thousands of people dying right now, slowly and painfully in a soft hospital bed, no control of it for them either. What's worse?

I'm not sure it'd be that toasty with them on!

You're right though, it'd be over in minutes.

Just a long, long way down...

[Ari]

N8CYL said:

You're right to be concerned though OP, statistically the world is due a couple of crashes

Many thanks!!

[Ari]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

So - let's have our first lesson, shall we, on what's safely possible, despite it appearing suicidal?

Huge, multi-engined 'Heavy' aircraft on final approach, laughing in the face of such trivia as 'wind shear'...

One linky of many on You Tube

Some great ones here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PdUdaXDHm4

[Ari]

aizvara said:

One thing I find interesting is the presentation of risk. Air travel is safest when measured by fatalities per km travelled, but by fatalities per journey you get a different picture (third worst, behind bicycle & motorcycle I think).

What WHAT!??

Hang on,explain please..?

[Ari]

Justices said:

Ahh.. the good old days. That cloud of smoke was the result of a plane load of clenched buttocks giving a sigh of relief I'd suspect.

Why "good old days"? Surely planes still have to make wind sheer landings?

[Ari]

ChrisRS6 said:

So you would rather have lax security like pre 9/11 then?

Thing about that is, if a bloke can simply stick a bomb in his pants and wander on anyway...

[Ari]

Condi said:

As far as I see it there are 2 chances when getting on a plane. I cant control either of them so may as well sit back and enjoy the ride.

Absolutely totally 100% this!!!!

I tell myself exactly this every time.

If only my brain would listen...

[Ari]

What if every airport is fog bound..?

[Ari]

Alfanatic said:

Heavy wind, on the other hand, could well leave an aircraft with nowhere to land easily.

There's been gales all week, haven't heard of any airports closing...

[Ari]

Alfanatic said:

Ari said:

Alfanatic said:

Heavy wind, on the other hand, could well leave an aircraft with nowhere to land easily.

There's been gales all week, haven't heard of any airports closing...

and did all the aircraft have easy landings everywhere?

I thought you meant no where to land within easy reach. I couldn't imagine planes being diverted because of strong winds in the first place (which was what we were talking about, planes being diverted as unable to land due to fog).

[Ari]

Alfanatic said:

...and a strong crosswind makes the pilots work much harder for their pay, and gusting is even worse.

To be fair, I'd be gusting much worse if I were trying to land a bloody great plane in a crosswind too!