General Chat

I don't freak out about it but just do it as a means to get where ever I want to go. O.h. has only flown three or four times, three with me, and doesn't like it so won't go abroad now - can't do coach trips as I couldn't cope with that with my fm. My son was taken on a plane several times when small and was ok, but now he isn't that keen, didn't like it when we went to Malta last year but I am sure he will still fly cos he wants to go back there and to other places.
I feel that if Fate has decided it is your turn to go, then it will happen whatever you do.
Lizx

I have never been put off flying and I have even been on the way to the airport when all over the news is an air accident (it was a police helicopter and police plane that hit head on) and they even had the news piping into the toilets of the airport!

I was on a plane landing at Dar-es-Salaam once that hit the run way with a almighty thud as a 20 knot wind shear (sp?) came through as the pilot was landing the plane.

Michelle

I am not very happy about flying at the best of times and as we are about to fly to Canada next week, I try not to think about what could happen.
On one of our trips there we did have to have an emergancy landing with fire crews waiting for us and it was strange but I was not worried---very odd.
I am still waiting to see the first few episodes of Lost which I missed but will not watch until I get home as dont want to see the crash

xx Jill

There is more risk of serious accident taking the kids to school each morning.

Remember, over 3,000 people are killed on the roads every year and over 20% are pedestrians.

I have been passenger (Airfield Defence Guard in the Aussie Airforce) in a RAAF helicopter that came down after loosing power from about 600 feet up. we did bounce around a bit but all done in safety. The two pilots just looked at each other; shrugged their shoulders; flicked a few switches and started the machine up and we took aff again to complete the flight. There is much safety in flying today.

Having worked in the airline industry I can confirm that every night engineers are clambering all over the aircraft, inspecting every item and running extensive tests both on flightdeck instruments and engine power. Every flight has pre-flight checks throughout the aircraft from external examination of the aircraft to security checks to even ensuring the loos flush properly and have been treated with cleansing chemicals. Even the cleaning of aircraft is carefully controlled with only approved cleaning equipment and chemicals allowed in the aircraft. So air travel really is the safest form of travel

Glad that you all appear to be ok with flying............on a different travel note


last night on the A1 near sawtry about 15 cars ran into an object on the road,
allegedly, a lump of wood..........ALL cars had their (mostly) offside wheel rims destroyed.

my nephew was driving one of the vehicles.
a very lucky escape, no reports of personal injury, so far..
Bob

No, it will not put me off flying. I live on an Island, pretty much the only way off is to fly. The only Ferries are to Porto Santo and also one that runs in the Summer to the Canaries. No ferries to the mainland, no banana boats, the only other option is a cruise that takes you where you want to go.

Pilots have to have special training to land on Madeira, bit like landing on an aircraft carrier. Wind shear and cross winds are always a problem, and it is very windy today, but warm.

Rosalind

Rosalind -

Have you still got that scarily short runway in Madeira?!!

If I had been due to fly the day after the crash, it might have put me off.
Saying that, I'm a nervous wreck flying anyway.Always glad to touch down coming home ;)

Hev x

Hi Sheila,

no they lenthened it a few years ago. One end is on stilts out in the drink. It is now around 2,700m long as apposed to 1,600. Some of the stilts are 50m high! They have landed an empty jumbo, but only once. Porto Santo is 3,000m long and is a NATO runway. I have had a couple of interesting landings, but have never been diverted to Porto Santo or Tenerife (yet)

Rosalind

As an aircraft engineer, I can agree with Colins comments abour airline safety, all parts used have to be certified and approved, all engineers have to be highly trained and licenced to certify work completed, an accident such as the one at Heathrow or any accident would certainly not stop me flying.

I flew home from the Canary Islands on Saturday not a bit worried. More chance of an accident in a car.

Sue

iv never flown but dont think it will put me off

how many cars crash daily?? and i still go in the car everyday

i have been in a helicopter tho that was fab ti had glass floors

stray
xxx