Have you ever thought your plane would crash?

[Music_Producer]

well, will you feel safer when you fly your own plane, or machined/programmed pilots instead of human pilots?

If the plane was programmed.. and so was the ATC.. then yes, I'd feel safer. I'd feel safer if I could fly my own plane too.. but I can't afford a 777 right now (no, I'll never buy a small jet)

Sushi.. I don't mean continual 27-30 hours.. I mean total travel time. I fly to Bombay, and sometimes Bangalore from LA.. so LAX to LHR is usually 10 hrs (non-stop) .. if it's 2 stops.. then it works out to more. Then LHR to BOM is something like 9 hrs.. and then fly from BOM to BLR.

I flew the Pacific route once.. ahh, total travel time was 42 hours! (SIN to LAX itself was 22 hrs)

 

[dmr727]

Sushi.. I don't mean continual 27-30 hours.. I mean total travel time. I fly to Bombay, and sometimes Bangalore from LA.. so LAX to LHR is usually 10 hrs (non-stop) .. if it's 2 stops.. then it works out to more. Then LHR to BOM is something like 9 hrs.. and then fly from BOM to BLR.

I flew the Pacific route once.. ahh, total travel time was 42 hours! (SIN to LAX itself was 22 hrs)

Wow! That's a lot of flying! It's really too bad you don't enjoy it. I love to fly - enjoy every minute of it.

 

[iMacZealot]

I've been on that SIN-LAX flight on SQ, but I thought it was only 19 hours.

Whatever the time is, it's still the second longest flight in the world (to SQ's own EWN-SIN.)

I've been on a total of 59 flights in my short fifteen year life, and I love flying. It's so much fun flying internationally and having to change planes and be on different aircraft and airlines and arrive in different airports. Half the fun is getting there, right? I'm also not only a mac nerd, but a Boeing/Airbus nerd. My favorite plane to fly is the 777.

Like Cassie, there's always a little voice in my head saying that I'm doomed, though that usually comes a few days before the trip, and then I take into consideration how many flights land successfully everyday and compare it to the number of air crashes everyday, and I'm relieved.

 

[iSamurai]

I'm also not only a mac nerd, but a Boeing/Airbus nerd. My favorite plane to fly is the 777.

I think we're the same hey. Put this more politically correct, we're "technology enthusiasts".

my favourite plane is the 777 too I haven't been on the A380 yet, it should be awesome (like back in the days when kids got candies, but for me it was ice-cream). Also I'd like to see the 787, should be interesting as it's laden with new technologies and unseeable ones such as the fibre composite body.

the 787 won't replace the 777 I think, as there's plenty of orders from many airlines and the 787 is slightly smaller than its bigger brother.

 

[72930]

Never, ever, ever...even on the bumpiest of flights

 

[Kamera RAWr]

Like Cassie, there's always a little voice in my head saying that I'm doomed, though that usually comes a few days before the trip, and then I take into consideration how many flights land successfully everyday and compare it to the number of air crashes everyday, and I'm relieved.

That logic won't save you when its YOUR plane that's going down

 

[iMacZealot]

That logic won't save you when its YOUR plane that's going down

Right, but I'm going on the 60th flight of my life tomorrow, and I'm not freaking out right now because of that fact and I'm flying a relatively safe airline, Frontier, that I'm familiar with and trust.

 

[iMacZealot]

my favourite plane is the 777 too I haven't been on the A380 yet, it should be awesome (like back in the days when kids got candies, but for me it was ice-cream). Also I'd like to see the 787, should be interesting as it's laden with new technologies and unseeable ones such as the fibre composite body.

the 787 won't replace the 777 I think, as there's plenty of orders from many airlines and the 787 is slightly smaller than its bigger brother.

Singapore serves ice cream to all passengers on their EWK-SIN and LAX-SIN flights.

I'm also looking forward to flying the A380 and 787 one day. I've always liked Boeing more than Airbus (except for the A320, much nicer to fly than the 737), but this A380 looks very nice. The 787 should be interesting with its efficiency and it being the "21st century aircraft".

 

[iSamurai]

Singapore serves ice cream to all passengers on their EWK-SIN and LAX-SIN flights.

I always fly Singapore airlines if I can. they're nice. Speaking of ice creams, they never go low budget (except once where we had these kids ice creams). Otherwise it's the usual Häagen-Dazs. They gave ice creams on JNB-SIN, in winter as well.

Here's a pic woohoo, 3 tubs of ice cream good on ya son, keep up the service.

P.S. If you are by any chance, through any means employed by Singapore Airlines, reading this article, I doth request you that you should authorise the personnels involved and regarding to this situation (i.e. giving more Häagen-Dazs ice-cream tubs to the value of more than one) to being kind towards your customers. I highly admire your staff for the professional excellence in handing out three tubs of Häagen-Dazs ice-cream to me. Such efforts must and should be maintained for all customers. Thank you for reading this, and please note that smoking is forbidden at all times, even in the lavatory. Have a pleasant day (flight).

 

[dmr727]

Right, but I'm going on the 60th flight of my life tomorrow, and I'm not freaking out right now because of that fact and I'm flying a relatively safe airline, Frontier, that I'm familiar with and trust.

Not to scare you (this could happen on *any* airline), but take a look at this:

----------------------------
ACN: 611329 (1 of 1)

Time / Day

Date : 200403
Local Time Of Day : 0601 To 1200
Day : Thu


Place

Locale Reference.Airport : DEN.Airport
State Reference : CO
Altitude.MSL.Single Value : 35000


Environment

Flight Conditions : VMC
Light : Daylight


Aircraft : 1

Controlling Facilities.ARTCC : ZDV.ARTCC
Operator.Common Carrier : Air Carrier
Make Model Name : A319
Operating Under FAR Part : Part 121
Flight Phase.Descent : Approach
Flight Phase.Descent : Intermediate Altitude
Flight Phase.Descent : Vacating Altitude
Flight Plan : IFR


Person : 1

Affiliation.Company : Air Carrier
Function.Flight Crew : Captain
Function.Oversight : PIC
Qualification.Pilot : ATP
Qualification.Pilot : Commercial
Qualification.Pilot : Instrument
Qualification.Pilot : Multi Engine
Experience.Flight Time.Last 90 Days : 200
Experience.Flight Time.Total : 17000
Experience.Flight Time.Type : 330
ASRS Report : 611329


Person : 2

Affiliation.Company : Air Carrier
Function.Flight Crew : First Officer


Person : 3

Affiliation.Government : FAA
Function.Controller : Radar


Events

Anomaly.Non Adherence : FAR
Independent Detector.Other.Flight CrewA
Resolutory Action.None Taken : Detected After The Fact
Consequence.Other : Company Review


Assessments

Problem Areas : Company
Problem Areas : Flight Crew Human Performance
Problem Areas : FAA
Primary Problem : Flight Crew Human Performance


Situations


Narrative

HAD BEEN DOING 4 MONTHS OF STAND-UP'S. LATE RPT, FLY TO DFW ARRIVE AT
XA30 AND GO TO MOTEL AND REST APPROX 8 HRS. SHOW AT XH00, FLY BACK TO
DEN. FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH, HAD A SCHEDULE CHANGE TO 'RED EYES,'
WHICH CONSISTS OF LEAVING DEN AT XA50, FLY TO BWI AND 1 HR TURN-BACK
TO DEN. NO REST, JUST STRAIGHT 7 HRS 55 MINS FLT TO BALTIMORE AND
BACK. ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY (MAR/THU/04) AFTER 2 PREVIOUS RED EYES,
THIS BEING THIRD RED EYE IN A ROW, LAST 45 MINS OF FLT I FELL ASLEEP
AND SO DID THE FO. MISSED ALL CALLS FROM ATC TO MEET XING RESTR AT
DANDD INTXN IN THE SE CORRIDOR TO DEN. THE XING RESTR BEING DANDD AT
FL190 AND 250 KTS. INSTEAD, WE CROSSED DANDD AT FL350 AND MACH .82. I
WOKE UP, WHY I DON'T KNOW, AND HEARD FRANTIC CALLS FROM ATC APPROX 5
DME INSIDE OF DANDD. I ANSWERED ATC AND ABIDED BY ALL INSTRUCTIONS TO
GET DOWN. WOKE FO UP, STARTED DOWN TO FL220 AS INSTRUCTED, EXPEDITING
TO FL220 AND THEN TO 14000 FT WITH TURNS TO 360 DEGS AND THEN TO 180
DEGS. FINISHED ALL CHKLISTS AND LANDED IN DEN WITH NO FURTHER
INCIDENTS. WAS NOT TOLD TO CALL ATC, BUT DID FILE RPT WITH COMPANY.
ATTRIBUTE INCIDENT TO PLT FATIGUE, AND HOPEFULLY COMPANY IS IN PROCESS
OF CHANGING THESE TRIP PAIRINGS.

Synopsis

AN ACR FLT CREW SLEEPS THROUGH THEIR DSCNT CLRNC 60 MI SE OF DENVER.
ONCE THEY WERE AWAKENED BY 'FRANTIC' CALLS FROM ATC, A SUCCESSFUL ARR
WAS COMPLETED.
-----------------------------

This was Frontier. Just pointing this out to illustrate that no airline is completely guilt-free.

 

[stylinexpat]

I worried when I saw the pilot asleep before the flight today. I asked the supervisor on board and he said that the pilot probably had a long day today and was a little tired. I said if he was tired then maybe he should not be flying now. He said rest assured there are two up front. I said if both are sleepy then this flight could be doomed He then said rest assured these two pilots have military training background which exceeds western standards. When the plane lands you can tell how good a pilot is.

 

[Tech198]

I generally do not worry. If it happens it happens. It still MUCH safer than car travel and that's something i have to do daily.

only because there is less planes traveling in the same space at one time..

Multiply air travel by the number of cars on the roads and you'll get the same exact thing. There may be more sky than roads, and defiantly less congested.

Its even a miracle you don't get more planes crashes at Hethrow airport in London.

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

www.flightradar24.com

 

[rhett7660]

I have flown way to much, but I still dislike flying... more so now than ever. Between a few rough flights, really rough flights, dropping out of the air, seeing the plane bend in ways I didn't think were possible. Yeah, I don't like flying. One of the worst flights I have been on, was a short trip to Las Vegas from Long Beach. Total flying time is like 40 plus minutes. But coming in from the east and landing facing west, I thought we were going to crash.I guess flying over the mountain/ridge top is a bit of a challenge with the strong winds and up drafts. All I know, Is I could have sworn I saw the wings touching above my head! Not going to tell me anything different! I saw it!!!

I always wonder what is going through the minds of folks who are going down... Scary to even think about it.

 

[VitaminX67]

Not really concerned with it. If it happens it happens.

 

[LordVic]

wow necro thread

but no, oddly enough, Im never afraid of crashing while I"m inside an aeroplane.


Howver, I have a peculiarly odd phobia of them crashing into me while they fly overhead. Enough to cause me panic attacks, especially when driving on the highways near the airports.

Oh, and I just moved recently into a house that's 1km from a regional airport and I'm in the flight path. Thankfully the windows are sound resistant and I can't hear all the aircraft. I'd probably live in constant utter panic otherwise.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Multiply air travel by the number of cars on the roads and you'll get the same exact thing.r[/URL]

Why would you multiply an object that transports 100-500 people for thousands of miles at a time with an object that transports about 2 to 4 people mostly for less than 100 miles.
Calculate the rate of deaths per passenger-mile.

 

[Allyance]

Years ago I flew from Shrevesport LA to Houston, then on to Austin. The flight from Shrevesport was a small commuter plane, weather in Texas was overcast/rainy with a low ceiling. When the pilot came down out of the clouds to land, the runway was about 100 feet to the right of the plane! He pulled up and managed to get it on the runway. They were a little shaken up! Then on our flight from Houston to Austin (full size plane), again the ceiling was very low, when we came in we just cleared the cyclone fence and put it down before the white stripes at the end of the runway! We were one of 4 planes that landed that day. Thats the worst, have flown 100's of times over the years, and you get to know the noises each type of plane makes.

 

[RootBeerMan]

Yep. I was on an American Airlines flight from Athens to NY many years ago when, somewhere over the Atlantic in a storm, the plane dropped straight down (no tilt or anything, just dropping) about 100 feet. No telling how many people crapped themselves, (not me), but it was the single most scary event in a plane in my life.

 

[newellj]

Once. Maybe 1.5x.

737 on take-off from STL to SNA. Take off roll - rotation - BOOM. One rear engine gone. Pilot executes a very sharp turnaround and puts the plane back down on the runway. One of the cabin crew lost her head completely, which could have been extremely unhelpful. The captain was obviously very cool under pressure.

The .5 was a flight from LGA to DCA. Quite close to the ground at DCA, the plane banks up like a superball that just hit the sidewalk. On our way back around, the captain gets on the cabin intercom and explains "Folks, you're probably wondering what happened back there - the tower advised that there was another aircraft on the runway directly in front of us - we decided to accept the tower's recommendation that we come around for another approach." I was thinking: "you decided to accept"? A recommendation? Just how long did you have to think about accepting that recommendation?" The episode ended with the black car driver who was meeting me giving me a little bit of a hard time for being late. I said "yeah, we had to wave off, the pilot tried to land on top of another plane." His eyes got very big and he said in a solemn voice "ohhh - yes - I saw that!"

 

[LizKat]

wow necro thread

Yeah, gee.

Once a plane I was in did crash land, in a farm field in Kansas. A Piper Tri Pacer. They glide more or less like a set of car keys but no real harm done. The farmer's wife laid on some amazing spread of food while we waited for a tow off the rather disgruntled farmer's turf.

One other time going back to school after a break, I wished myself unconscious after a Mohawk Airlines prop flight had aborted takeoff midway down an Albany NY runway. It taxied back and without even having anything happen like tightening up the ashtrays or whatever (those planes were really noisy and stuff sometimes sounded like it was rattling around loose deep in the interior), we realized the plane was just setting up for another go without ever even really coming to a full stop anywhere along the way.

Indeed all the pilot ever had said during the taxi back was a kind of laconic "Ladies and gents we're gonna give this another try in a couple minutes here."

The 60s seem in retrospect a sort of golden hazy time of flying for a lot of people my age when I talk with them about it. It was still novel not to be driving or taking a train. Bad stuff happened to airplanes but only in the newspapers, was sort of how it felt when one took a plane back then. A lot of the mid-career pilots had been very young WW II combat pilots and nothing about any commercial flight really fazed them, or so one of my uncles said. So there was this assumption that we were all in safe hands and we all bought it.

No one panicked that day in Albany. I was just thinking well it's sure out of my hands isn't it, because we're rolling down the runway again. Anyway no crash and the 2nd try was uneventful. But what that pilot had said might as well have been "Buckle up good now 'cuz what just happened back there was only your second worst nightmare." I know it did affect me, because my next trip home from school I took two buses instead of a bus and a plane. Ugh, it took ten hours, so that cured me and from then on it was back to the planes.

 

[konqerror]

I was thinking: "you decided to accept"? A recommendation? Just how long did you have to think about accepting that recommendation?"

Fun fact: it used to be that once an airplane was moving, ATC could not cancel takeoff clearance and order the plane to stop. They could only describe the issue and let the captain conclude that they should stop. This is because it may be safer to fly over an obstructing airplane than abort takeoff and run right into them. It was changed fairly recently.

The captain still can override ATC and takeoff or land anyway if he judges it to be safer, under his ultimate responsibility for the safe operation of the aircraft.

 

[jonblatho]

I’ve only been on several flights in my life, but I’ve never been worried. I’m pretty trusting that the folks up front know what they’re doing, and even if they don’t in the case of some emergency, the chances of something going wrong are so close to zero that I’m just…not concerned about it.

Besides, I’m a meteorologist and have loved weather since I was a kid, so usually I’ve been too busy staring at and/or taking pictures of clouds outside the window to notice or care what’s going on with the flight itself. Got some great pics the last time I flew, in April, on a couple nonstop flights between OKC and Dulles. Lots of storms around us both there and back, so it was a really bumpy ride both ways, but totally worth it. I haven’t gotten to fly much, so it’s still so cool to me to see the sky from that perspective.

The flight back to OKC was the only time I recall there being an actual issue with the plane I was on (or at least us finding out about it), and it was some heater issue that was resolved — yes, really — by turning the plane off and back on while we were taxiing. Wasn’t worried at all about that as we were able to take off right after that restart.

 

[stylinexpat]

only because there is less planes traveling in the same space at one time..

Multiply air travel by the number of cars on the roads and you'll get the same exact thing. There may be more sky than roads, and defiantly less congested.

Its even a miracle you don't get more planes crashes at Hethrow airport in London.

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

The world’s most popular flight tracker. Track planes in real-time on our flight tracker map and get up-to-date flight status & airport information.

www.flightradar24.com

Heathrow is quite busy alright. Airports in Asia are just as busy if not busier I reckon. Scary once you look at flight radar how many planes are up above you.

 

[LizKat]

Besides, I’m a meteorologist and have loved weather since I was a kid, so usually I’ve been too busy staring at and/or taking pictures of clouds outside the window to notice or care what’s going on with the flight itself. Got some great pics the last time I flew, in April, on a couple nonstop flights between OKC and Dulles. Lots of storms around us both there and back, so it was a really bumpy ride both ways, but totally worth it. I haven’t gotten to fly much, so it’s still so cool to me to see the sky from that perspective.

Not to sidetrack too much off the subject of flying but it sounds like you should post cloud pics in here -- or do you? I don't visit the photo galleries in this site often enough but I love pics of unusual cloud formations and you'd certainly know when the atmospheric pickin's were good to get some great sky photos.

I don't fly much either; when I do, it's still a treat to see aerial views of the terrain. Only time I get nervous about planes now is just from the ground, and when the weather in the western Catskill Mountains is really socked in. I can then sometimes hear small planes sounding a bit low as they pick their way into Oneonta, nickname of which is.. gulp.. 'City of the Hills.'

The old mail plane used to make me crazy that way, I sometimes thought that guy was going to hit a high hill across the valley from my place, and once in awhile you could hear the plane sputter and half stall as he headed around it through some lower hills into "the bowl" farther north. I don't hear that plane any more, as the mail mostly gets trucked into this area from Binghamton or Syracuse. I don't mind not hearing that terrible silence in between sputters.

 

[jonblatho]

Not to sidetrack too much off the subject of flying but it sounds like you should post cloud pics in here -- or do you? I don't visit the photo galleries in this site often enough but I love pics of unusual cloud formations and you'd certainly know when the atmospheric pickin's were good to get some great sky photos.

I’ll definitely have to post some! I’ll look and see if I can’t find a thread where it’d be a bit more on-topic.