Pretty fly for a white guy (How safe do you feel about flying?)

Member Name: biggerdeffer

Product:	How safe do you feel about flying?
Date:	01/04/08 (151 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: you get to go to far away places

Disadvantages: cramped

I'm scared of flying
well I say flying, I actually mean dying horribly in a plane crash.

The dumb part is that for he last 20 years I have travelled all over the world by plane for work and I have never had a bad flight
(except one story that actually got me banned from one major airline but that was all my own fault and not for discussion right now as I've not had a beer yet)
Turbulence has never been too bad, the plane has never had to dump fuel or turn back, all flights have been mostly uneventful for me.

Of course I've had to deal with the cramped conditions but being on the larger side that's to be expected (and on a couple of occasions has got me upgraded to first class)
However in economy I feel that there really should be provisions made for taller folk, I'm 6 foot tall and really could due with just a bit more room in front. This would stop the drinks trolley getting caught on leg as it passes through the isle and the person in front of me getting jabbed in the back each time I adjust myself.
So, DVT is a bit of a worry, but in the little space I have I do a few exercises to keep me mobile.
I also pop an aspirin just before the flight, this apparently thins the blood and stops DVT forming.
Tight stocking socks are also supposed to help.

once, due to the fear of flying I took a couple of sleeping pills to knock me out for the whole of the flight. I took them at the gate hoping I'd be asleep for the take off too, but that was not to be being as the flight was delayed and I had to stumble onto the plane an hour later looking like some kinda drunken zombie
it was lucky that the airport staff let me on the plane in that state and by the time we left the ground I was wide awake again

Twice I have caught chest infections after flying, all that nasty air circulating - is that safe??

But those aren't why I hate plane travel

As a kid I loved it, but as I got older and understood more about how and why an Airplane works that's when I became scared.
It seems to be a case of Ignorance is bliss

take off = scary - too much strain on the plane, I just don't like that feeling.
flying along = scary - we're flying at 600 miles an hour at 35000 feet above the earth, there's nothing holding us up.
landing = scariest - more plane strain, plane correction making me motion sick.

A few stats I keep in my mind when flying:
You are more likely to get killed by a donkey than you are to die in a plane crash
when I heard that stat I knew to stay away from donkeys, especially if it's carrying an axe

You are more likely to win the lottery than fall from the sky
Well thanks for that, I know which I'd prefer

and what's the deal with that life jacket? it's got a whistle and a light to "attract attention" - now I would have thought the burning plane wreck sinking in the sea would be enough attention?!?!

so, statistically you would have to fly 600 times a day for 75 years for you to be involved in a fatal plane crash
if it was dangerous then those painted smiling dollies would not be serving you drinks for a living (that's just the stewards)
if anything was to occur then there is nothing I could do about it (except if it's a hijack, then I would tackle a terrorist if asked by staff or air marshal)
What I think would help is along with the in-flight entertainment, maybe have a video telling you about:
"what those noises are" - referring to landing gear and bing bong sounds - always scary the first time you hear them
"how safe the plane really is" - that explains itself

so, sit back, have a couple of glasses of wine, relax, enjoy the in-flight entertainment and remember that in a couple of hours you're probably going to be on holiday*
in a meeting* - coming back home* - stuck at immigration*
*delete as appropriate

Summary: got to be done