Are you ever afraid to fly on an airplane?

[ringmastery]

I know it's an irrational fear and the statistics say that driving a car is much more dangerous, yet flying has always weirded me out.

I guess it's the thought of getting blown up 40,000 feet up and disintegrating into bits and bits. Not much chance you'll make it out alive from that whereas in a car wreck, only the most serious accidents end up in death.

[Sandpiper]

1. Yes

And pretty much for the same reasons as you.

Statistically, I have a much better chance of getting into a car wreck than a plane crash. But on the other hand, how many people walk away from a plane crash?

[AndyTiedye]

12. Fear of NOT Flying...

...you know, getting stuck in O'Hare interminably...

[ewagner]

2. I love flying ...except...

in Thunderstorms.

I am especially nervous about landings or takeoffs near or around thunderstorms because of wind shear and microbursts.

At altitude, decompression is the only real concern and there are oxygen masks to handle that.

Otherwise: No problem.

[Old and In the Way]

3. When it's your time, it's your time.

Statistically, you're way better off traveling by plane. I think it would take 100 plane crashes a year @ 250 deaths to equal what we lose on our highways.

[Burma Jones]

4. ALWAYS

I prefer to fly IN the airplane

[trof]

6. Damn right!

Not near as windy.
;-)

[johnnie]

16. Yes

Like George Carlin says..Let Evel Knevel get ON the plane!

[TheWizardOfMudd]

31. You haven't lived!

But bring an oxygen tank. ;)

[Teddy_Salad]

5. I've flown a lot and I still get nervous

In fact, I never used to get too nervous but I find the more flying I do, the more nervous I become.

I never like to drink alcohol on planes but always have a "stiffener" just before a flight.
And once in the air and cruising for a while, I'm fine.
But take-offs and landings I find nerve-racking.

[Kellanved]

7. no

Once I'm on the plane I can relax. I've got a pilot in the family and he did a pretty good job in convincing me.
The whole check-in and X-Ray stuff gets me nervous though. Oh: and thunderstorms :scared: .

[FlashHarry]

17. Ok--how 'bout LANDING! (pic)

[terrya]

8. Nope. If it goes down, we all die.

And well, when it's time to go, it's time to go.

[didntvote4shrub]

9. absolutely..

It's a gut-level thing, not an intellectual one. I know all the statistics too. But, I saw "Castaway" on the big screen and completely broke down crying -- it's a good thing that those scenes were so LOUD, because people would've heard me otherwise. But it added to the sheer terror I felt.

[Obamarama]

10. Never had a fear of flying, even after a tragic close call....

Back in August 1987 a very good friend of my partner and I was moving out west to start grad school. We were both supposed to fly out to help him get settled in, and hang out with him for a few days since we weren't going to see him again until the winter holidays.

There was a crisis at work and I had to stay behind. They flew as planned and died in the crash of Northwest Airlines flight 255 in Detroit.

I have never been afraid of flying, and even after the crash I wasn't fearful.

As for being blown up at 40,000 feet by a terrorist bomb, I don't fret over that, either. The heathens can't get EVERY plane, and you have to hope that the TSA, CIA & FBI folks are doing their jobs to protect commercial aviation. Beyond that, if I happen to wind up on a plane with the next terrorist to take down a flight (praying, of course that it NEVER happens again), then I guess it would be my time to go.

[trof]

35. Then there's the guy...

who always kept a bomb in his carry on luggage.
"What are the odds of TWO bombs on an airplane?"

[Mr. McD]

11. No, I love to fly

especially on helicopters, I logged over 1000 flight hrs during my military service. The only time I got nervous was when we were being shot at.

[TrogL]

13. A regional airline in Quebec

Something in the belly of the plane started making horrible noises in mid-air. Also, some sort of access panel fell off the wing.

[Liberal Veteran]

14. It's like a rollercoaster ride to me....

The fear is just a little bit more rational, but it's there.

[FlashHarry]

15. Only about ten seconds after takeoff.

When it feels as if you're sliding backwards, and your stomach drops to the ground.

I understand lift. I understand thrust-to-weight ratios. But for that split-second, I'm terrified. Then, I'm fine again. I don't know why.

[hiphopnation]

19. so what are

thrust-to-weight ratios? I'm curious to know as much as possible because, for my part, I am terrified of flying.

What's wierd is that I wasn't, always. I became afraid of flying 1) after I had kids and 2) after 9/11. I don't know why.

But I will never forget flying into Philidelphia last Chirstmas and we were flying into a thunder storm and the turbulence was practically unbareable.

I even started doing research on it and I found that, statistically, if you were to fly every day it would take 4 million days before you be in an accident.

I'm definitely not scared of being blown out of the sky- at least that would be quick. I'm more afraid of some manuvering malfunction and the plane taking a dive. It would just be a horrible way to go. I would love any help and info on this from anyone because it's become a serious problem for me and I have to fly all the time.

Drinking doesn't help either! :(

[FlashHarry]

20. It's the combined power of the engines compared to the plane's weight.

A thrust-to-weight ratio of 1:1 or better, means it can go straight up, like a jet fighter. It needs to be a certain ratio for the plane to climb. A plane is heaviest on takeoff, because it is full of fuel--especially at the beginning of a transatlantic trip.

[UrbScotty]

18. HELL YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have flown in one, and that's when I was an infant.

[Dropkick]

21. No, I LOVE flying.

I've only flown 6 times in the last ten years, though :cry:. I love take-off. I always get a window seat so I can plaster my face to it to watch as we speed up and climb for the clouds, watching everything below us shrinking, it's just the coolest thing. I LOVE that feeling I get just as the planes wheels leave the tarmac. I am endlessly amazed that human ingenuity has enabled us to do this.

As a kid, at least 3 times a week I had dreams that I could fly, and I always woke up with such a happy feeling afterwards.

[candy]

22. Not a bit----I hate high speed highway driving though!

Different strokes!

[Lisa]

23. it's not being in the air that gets me -- it's the poor circulation

I used to love flying, but in the past few years, I've begun to really dislike the stuffy feeling. Other passengers and even flight attendants have told me that they have noticed this too -- apparently airlines are attempting to save money by reducing the ventilation. (Apparently this is a false economy because the resulting accumulation of exhaled moisture in the plane's insulation is heavy enough to decrease fuel efficiency.)

I'm working on a theory that some panic attacks apparently due to "fear of flying" or cabin claustrophobia may actually be from lack of oxygen ... the epidemiology guy in my department says that there is actually a form of psychosis triggered by this. A few years ago, the passenger next to me was in serious distress, and when I explained this and reassured her that she wasn't "nuts", she felt a bit better and was able to hang on until we landed.

[SmokingJacket]

38. Wow --

this makes sense. I always associate my panicky feelings while flying with the smell of airplanes -- it's like being shut up in a locked box *and the air is running out*

ARGH!

[ThomWV]

24. Used to Be Bad About It

but now I just dislike flying.

[MissMillie]

25. I don't fly on airplanes

but I ride on them.

:evilgrin:

[AlFrankenFan]

26. Yeah especially when it starts falling and then stops suddenely

Shoot I have to be on an airplane on Monday ugh I hate that turbulence feeling...

[Braden]

27. Never

I fly all of the time and like clockwork something more dangerous happens each and every time I go to the airport in my car than what happens in the sky.

Cars are much more deserving of your fear than airplanes.

[flamingyouth]

28. Every time I get on board

It's a pretty common fear - you're putting your life in the hands of other people in some pretty amazing circumstances.

[leftofthedial]

29. I've probably flow a million miles

and always liked it. But one time, before a flight to London, I was unaccountably scared to death (though I never told anyone). This was a few years prior to 9-11.

It was very weird and irrational. It was a flight I had taken numerous times.

Bizaare. I had not frightening imagery of explosions or crashes or anything like that, just this unaccountable dread.

Now I have dread when I fly, but it's because the phony security bullshit is just such a monstrous pain in the ass and insult to free people.

[kevinam]

30. Yes, no death tube for me!!!!

There is not much about flying I like, well except for the fact that I haven't done it in rougly 10 years. I just flat out hate it. It starts with the fact that planes are not made for people 6'2". Oh, and the fact that something that weighs several thousand tons is not supposed to be 35k feet in the air. Yea, some birds, maybe light little balloons, but not a big ole chuck on metal, with me on it. It is awful, once you start taxi'ing, there is no turning back...Kevin.

[democracyindanger]

32. Nope, and here's why

a. Midair collisions--not to mention midflight explosions--are incredibly rare. The most hazardous times are when the plane is taking off or landing.

b. If your number's up, your number's up.

c. There's always my friend's safety device: 1 part Nyquil, 1 part vodka. Just have correct change. ;)

[ironflange]

33. I like to fly

But I hate the landings.

[DS1]

34. I have recurring visions of crash landings

and if I'm ever in the situation where I'm in a "controlled" crash, and the fuselage splits open next to me I'm undoing my seatbelt and jumping out and taking my chances that way.

[pink-o]

36. I work for the airlines

Here in San Francisco--but I work on the ground, I would hate to be a flight attendant! Not because I'm fearful, but for reasons others have mentioned here: the bad air that makes everyone sick, the lack of room, uncomfortable seats, and that someone else is telling you to sit still, just like when I was a kid in school. (I was bad at it then, and I'm still restless) Also, I'm 6'1" (female)and trying to sleep in an airplane seat is just pure torture.

But it's a necessary evil, if you wanna travel. In Europe you have alternatives, but in the USA, there is really no other way to get across the country. You gotta psyche yourself into it, take excedrin PM, drink lots of water, bring eyedrops and a spray mister for your face, and get up and stretch as much as you can. Especially on the west coast, where it takes twice as long to get anywhere on a plane!

My friend, who's very anxious, takes a dose of Paxil before flying. I've just found out about Pro-Vigil, a prescription that totally wipes out jet lag and is used by pilots. So while never pleasant, most of the pain of flying can be diminished.

[RebelOne]

37. Love to fly.

Even did some piloting on my own for a while until I ran out of money.

[Carolina]

39. All. The. Time!

And that was long before 9/11. There's a small (32 seater) commuter plane that I often use when I go from SC to DC. It is generally fine and I prefer it because it's direct (no flying to some hub and then spoking out from there). But heaven forbid the weather is windy ... then you bounce around up there and it's scary as hell.

On my last flight aboard a wide-bodied jumbo jet (8 seats across), my husband chided me that NOTHING ever happens to these things. Yeah, midway through the beverage service, a male steward comes hauling ass down the aisle, shoves the cart in its stall and all the attendants take to their jumpseats as we drop 5,000 ft (a fact we the passengers knew because of that big center screen that was giving details like altitude, etc). I shot my a husband an "if looks could kill" glare, pulled out my Mom's lucky travel charm (which I never fly without), and started saying the Lord's prayer (though I'm not now religious, I was raised a good Episcopalian).

Well, I'm still here to talk about it. But flying scares the hell out of me, always has and likely always will.

[amandae]

40. I've never flown

Rare these days, I know, but I really never have. We always drive when we travel, which is nice because it gives you a chance to see more as you're going to your destination.

I'm not afraid of flying, just haven't. I know I will someday though because there are a lot of places I'd like to go that you can't drive to :)

[lagniappe]

41. I hate flying.

I absolutely hate flying – HATE it! The thought of breaking apart in midair or colliding with another plane is not really terrifying to me. Taking off is not that bad either because it happens very quickly. Turbulence doesn't really bother me either.

For me, the worst part of flying is landing. It is difficult because I am not in control, and it generally takes about 15 minutes – a very long 15 minutes. In that time, the pilot is doing all sorts of things to the plane such as: extending the flaps, lowering the landing gear, and changing the engine speed. This is the worst part because I know a mechanical failure is imminent and the plane is about to stall or roll over and take a dive at any moment. I've been blessed with a very vivid imagination, so I can picture in excruciating detail every sequence of a crash right down to the collapse of the airframe, the sound of ripping metal, and the impact of the seats into one another. To make things worse, I have a mechanical engineering degree, so I'm thinking about all the different failure modes that can occur and how they might correlate to the sounds I'm hearing as we are landing.

It is interesting because I've been on flights where you could listen in on the conversations of the air controllers. I've also been on a flight where the door was open to the cockpit. Because I could see out the front of the plane and see or listen to the pilots, I felt more in control and actually enjoyed the flight. Not knowing what is going on is the hard part or more specifically, not being able to anticipate the next sound or maneuver of the plane.

I've found that listening to music with my MP3 player helps quite a bit. Unfortunately, the attendants always tell me to remove my headphones at the time when I want them most. So if you work on an airplane and you see a few nervous people with their headphones on, please be merciful and leave them alone. I've never believed the bs that an MP3 player could interfere with a plane's electronics.

[HuckleB]

42. I'd be very afraid to fly "ON" an airplane. No doubt about it.

My fear would definitely be reduced if I could fly IN an airplane, however.

:)