Are You Afraid To Fly Today?
When I was growing up we lived close to Greater Pittsburgh Airport, the early one, in Moon Township. This was where my brother, my friends and I hung out. There was a movie theater, arcades, actual restaurants, a hotel inside the airport and decks where you could stand and watch the planes land and take off. We mused about where we would travel when we became a grown ups. People dressed up to go to the airport in those days. There was something romantic about it. My parents would bring home those little sample bottles of liquor when they came back after a flight and the whole event just seemed classy.
Once I became an adult, the thought of air travel was still enticing. Then I had two close calls. One was in a snow storm flying back to Pittsburgh from Atlanta. The plane rocked and rolled in the sky and I don’t think I could breathe for a long time. The woman next to me, a perfect stranger, clutched my hand and together in silence we bonded in fear. Finally we landed but my knees were like jello.
The second close call came as I was flying home from the Dominican Republic. Again it was in winter and as we approached for landing the plane’s right wing almost tipped to the ground. There were some audible gasps but for the most part, just fearful silence. I have not flown since. If I can’t get there by my own trustworthy car, GPS and my own steady hands, I don’t go. I often think of that as unwarranted fear, but the news items of late have given me positive reinforcement of my fears.
Not all of us can have Sully as our captain. He reminds me of Jimmy Stewart in those old films where he was the pilot in charge and the ending was always good. Since Sully’s landing in the Hudson, he has become a spokesperson for the ailing airlines industry and warns of catastrophes which may come. Not all pilots have the requisite training one would hope for. With lay-offs and the economy being what it is, I often wonder whether maintenance is done with the schedule it should have. And how old are these planes? Surely they need repairs, but one must wonder if short-cuts are being taken. How many hours do the air traffic controllers log? Maybe there have been cut-backs with them so they might be tired or cranky or not feeling well.
I have a fear of flying and it has nothing to do with Erica Jong’s book.
6 Comments »
Leave a comment!
Well said, Cherlock!
It seems that from the details of your experiences, your hesitancy is understandable. You make a good point about much flying has changed. I too, can remember when you were expected to dress to fly – and they gave away peanuts…. It definately seemed classy.
Now, you can hop a puddle jumper for $49 in your sweatpants! It does make you wonder about the safety of this experience, as you’ve pointed out, with the state of the economy.
I frequently flew when I was younger, and loved it. I guess it had to have been 15 years ago when it changed for me. A friend and I had booked an all inclusive trip to the Bahamas. Round trip air was provided through Carnival Airlines. This was the first – and last time that I’d ever flown on this airline… So, I do not know if the circumstances were the norm… or if they were providing entertainment in our honor…. But, they played “games” during the entire flight. It was so annoying. For instance, one of the games required that you reach up and continually tap on the “request attendant” button…. Whatever the reason for this, it made me very uneasy…. and over the years, I’ve also become increasingly hesitant to fly.
Dear Cherlock,
I think you are in luck because Obama said he was going to build us a national high speed rail system by repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.
Dear Paul,
Well then the wealthy won’t need to have a fear of flying, will they? All that maintenance that went undone for these last years while airline CEO’s got fat will have to suffice for us in parity.
My first flight was from London to Perpignon on the way to Spain; the plane had propellers and rattled like a crate of milk bottles on take off (Yes, milk used to come in glass bottles). Was I scared? Not in the slightest, even though nobody told me flying was safer than going by bus.
I’m afraid flying at all is beyond my means today and no-one cares if I don’t. On Corfu (Greece) there’s not much else to fear either, not that I offer this as a recommendation, My point is that flying cheaply is probably a thing of the past, and what a good thing this will be for people who can still afford it. Business people will still have to travel, but less as video conferencing becomes easier. Long live the nostalgia mentioned by Susan above. Feel a bit sorry for those whose travel memories are a blur of forgotten flights and a general feeling of being herded rather than having an adventure. Bob
Dear Bob,
Cheers to you and Susan and the lovely nostalgia of less troublesome times. I envy your lifestyle in Greece. The beauty of a “Good Morning” from a neighbor who truly means it and the poignancy of a simpler lifestyle where the moments are measured by gentle rhythms of honest hearts is a rare treasure. You are a kind reminder of what life’s perspective should be.
I wonder how God chooses who he’s gonna scare the crap out of, because I travel ALL the time and have never had any close calls or seen my life flash before my eyes. I think the worst 2 experiences I’ve had are #1, when I was 7 months pregnant and some minor turbulence. It wasn’t bad but I was just hyper-sensitive. #2 a HUGE air pocket made the plane sink suddenly enough that my drink was suspended in mid-air. Those are the only two times I can recall my heart jumping while flying.
I adore the freedom of flying.