Apparently we fly a lot - no need to be nervous next time on a flight!

[IndiraLightfoot]

British NATS have just made a video that shows one day of flying in Europe last summer, and holy cow! Obviously, we fly a lot, and that means a massive amount of planes in the air at any given time. Given that planes almost crash once in a blue moon, I must say flying feels a bit safer now.

Just watch the video in the NATS blog that I link here (I didn't know how to embed it here). It's beautiful and mind-blowing!

http://nats.aero/blog/2014/03/europe-24-air-traffic-data-visualisation/

[Keyrock]

I haven't been on a plane in at least 10 years.  Not because I'm afraid of flying (which I'm not), mind you.

[Nonek]

This reminds me of an old joke I heard: Muhammad Ali the famous pugilist was relaxing on a flight to Britain when the stewardess asked him to buckle up his seat belt, the boxer flirtily replied. "Superman don't need no seat belt!" The stewardess smiled, leaned in and whispered. "Superman don't need no plane!"

 

As Superman said it's still one of the safer methods of travelling, unless ones pilots are called Mr Oveur, Unger and Dunn.

[rjshae]

I enjoy flying and I've never had a significant concern about it. I just don't like being stuffed into a winged sardine can.

[Woldan]

I'm nervous because IF an accident happens chances are almost 100% that I'll ( along with the 200 other passengers) get blown to bits, burned, frozen, squished, suffocated and drowned. And it does not take much to make a plane crash, a decade ago a slightly damaged wire ignited the fuel tank of a plane and booooom. If the wiring of the car is screwed up and the engine starts to burn you can stop and leave the car. 

Cars may crash more often but the survival rate is much MUCH higher and I feel safer in a wheeled vehicle. Also, I can control the car myself and do not have to put my life in the hands of some random dude I never met before, someone who might be an incompetent drunk idiot. 

 

Its a flying highly explosive tin can with seats.  You cant exit it, there is no brakes and if something goes wrong, something as little as a damaged cable you going to have the worst day ever. Your last day. 

Edited March 14, 2014 by Woldan

[ManifestedISO]

Heh, the few moments of abundant acceleration, speed, and power make up for any risks, I tell myself. Just once, once, in a lifetime I want to experience how hard a jet fighter could press me into the seat. Stupid news anchors and their stupid invitations from the Blue Angels ... *I* deserve to fly with the gods, not them.       

[Hiro Protagonist]

I love flying. I can't get enough of it. Also, catch up on watching the movies or take a good book to read and before you know it, you're at your destination

[Guard Dog]

I hate it like poison. I have nothing against the plane or the actual act of flying. It's the airports, crowds, delays, aggravations. It seems nearly every airport is staffed with people who should be in a locked room eating crayons somewhere. And the only thing worse is your fellow passengers. What ever etiquette people have obviously got checked with their luggage. No wonder the flight attendants are so grouchy. When the plane lands I get to get off and walk away, all they have to look forward to is another flight and a plane full of fools. 

 

If it's at all possible I'd rather drive. Just my $.02.

[Valsuelm]

I used to like flying, then we got the TSA, and now I fly a small fraction of what I used to.

Edited March 15, 2014 by Valsuelm

[Humanoid]

Don't mind the act of flying myself, but I hate the whole airport business and ticketing schemes. Air travel should be no more complicated than train travel: rock up to the station, buy a ticket to X destination from the booth, then when the next plane arrives, take all your stuff in and relax.

[ShadySands]

So when I flew to Chicago earlier this week it was awesome because I was able to leave everything on and all my electronics in my bags.

 

The flight back, not so much.

[Valsuelm]

Don't mind the act of flying myself, but I hate the whole airport business and ticketing schemes. Air travel should be no more complicated than train travel: rock up to the station, buy a ticket to X destination from the booth, then when the next plane arrives, take all your stuff in and relax.

 

It used to be that way...

[Agiel]

Most aircraft we fly don't have to worry about trapping on a carrier:

 

[Walsingham]

Don't mind the act of flying myself, but I hate the whole airport business and ticketing schemes. Air travel should be no more complicated than train travel: rock up to the station, buy a ticket to X destination from the booth, then when the next plane arrives, take all your stuff in and relax.

 

I love airports. They're like tangled knots in the skein of life.

Edited March 15, 2014 by Walsingham

[Hiro Protagonist]

My partner and I must be one of the very few people that have never had any problems or dramas with flying, other passengers and airports over the last 20 years. Also the online booking, pick your seats, print your ticket is so much easier now for domestic flights. It's great to just walk through without having to do anything. Similar with overseas travel and when checking in, it's never been a problem for us.

Edited March 18, 2014 by Hiro Protagonist

[Bryy]

I live right next to SFO.

 

The pure volume of planes constantly going in and out puts things in perspective.

[Gorth]

I hate flying. Probably because I've done it so much the last 15 years, that I know the inside of major airports better than the inner city roads.

 

I don't worry about crashing. Been in some close calls, including near misses between 737's with somebody parked on the runway we were seconds about setting down on (you would have to see it to believe it, how impressive evasive maneuvers a 737 can do at an altitude where the wingtip is almost touching the grass on the apron) and turbulence so bad that I worried about that *snap* sound from my neck might have been a "whiplash". No, what really brings out the cold sweat is the thought of being cooped up for hours in a small cabin with peoples screaming brats, that wont keep quiet, wont keep their ****ing knees out of my back and has to consistently stand up and jump in their seats because of the obvious lack of on board trampolines. *That's* why I hate flying. If/when they introduce child free flights, especially long haul flights, I might actually enjoy the services of airlines again.