Who else is scared of airplanes?

Woolygimp · #1 04-08-2006, 07:56 AM

I use to fly alot as a kid, and I never minded planes all that much. It seems lately after watching LOST that I've aquired a fear of flying.

It's just scary knowing that if something did indeed go wrong, theres almost a 0% chance of surviving the actual crash. Yes I know planes are very safe, it's just I don't see how they are that safe. Damnit it's 500 tons of metal 30,000 feet up in the sky!

That combined with the annoyance of sitting in airports for 2+ hours prior to check-in, then having painstaking ear-aches... I'd just rather take a boat or drive.

Anyone know of any way to get over my LOST inspired manic regression aerophobia?

Spota · #2 04-08-2006, 08:10 AM

We had two recent threads on this here and here.

And to answer your question, for the short term maybe have your Dr. give you some meds or have a drink or 3 before you get on.

cambraceres · #3 04-08-2006, 10:53 AM

If your already cautious, let me help you become terrified.
In engineering class, our professor was discussing safety factors, and used bridges, and airplanes as examples.

A safety factor of 10 means if you say a bridge can hold 10lb it has to actually be able to hold 100.

Airplanes have a safety factor of f*cking 1.17!!!!

ahnuld · #4 04-08-2006, 10:54 AM

uh, otherwise they coouldnt get off the ground.

jaffa · #5 04-08-2006, 10:55 AM

I know someone who's survived 2 major air crashes. Most of the other people didnt.

He was running bad.

cambraceres · #6 04-08-2006, 10:56 AM

dude it isn't scary if you say that part!!!

Peca277 · #7 04-08-2006, 11:08 AM

Yeah, so does he think of himself as extremely lucky? Or the unluckiest son of a bitch on the face of the Earth? Could go either way really.

Brainwalter · #8 04-08-2006, 11:10 AM

Does he still fly?

jaffa · #9 04-08-2006, 11:14 AM

I believe he does, yes. Though he's only started again within the last few years, i think he had a long gap of refusing to fly anywhere, and i think that's understandable.

If i were him id see it as quite unlucky. Plane crashes probably dont do your general metal state any good. He found it quite traumatic I think.

Plus the chances of being in a plane crash are probably more remote, than those of surviving a plane crash, which would tend to indicate he's unlucky.

Peca277 · #10 04-08-2006, 11:20 AM

Be sure to let us know whenever he's flying in the future so we can avoid that plane. Or, with the law of averages, should we assume his plane can never crash again?

I know, I know, just because it came up black 15 times in a row doesn't mean red is bound to hit next.