I know it is the safest form of travel but................... ..... (Flying in general)

Member Name: Trishajs

Product:	Flying in general
Date:	27/07/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You can see the world

Disadvantages: Carbon Footprint

I came across this review topic by chance, and have thought long and hard as to whether I should write of my feelings on the subject. Nevertheless, in the end I decided I would, because it is a true reflection of my opinion on flying and not all reviews can be positive.

I took my first flight when I was eleven, and continued to fly every year after that. Flying was fine as far as I was concerned, a necessary requirement to reach our destination. It was like getting on a bus or a train, I just did it.

Twelve years later and my parents had rented a villa in the sun and invited me to join them. I readily agreed.
Then once my flight was booked, I began to get cold sweats, followed by hot sweats. I didn't want to go on the holiday and told my parents of my nerves. They were as always, very understanding and reassuring, so I agreed to go, but still felt decidedly uneasy.

I told everyone and anyone of my nerves- doing it I think, because each time I relayed my fear, I would get encouragement back, which gave me a few seconds relief from what was by then anguish.

The day of departure arrived and to say I felt sick and uneasy would be an understatement. As we queued to board the plane, I remember my Mother turning to me and seeing the sweat pouring out of me, she said, "You really are nervous aren't you?"

In those days, I was a smoker and you could smoke on planes, so as always I was seated away from my non-smoking parents.

The seat next to me was empty, until take off, when a stewardess sat next to me and strapped herself in.

Seconds after take off, there was a very loud bang and I couldn't help but notice that the stewardess went grey as she undid her seat belt and rose silently from the seat. I looked out the window and saw the flames coming from the engine. Other passengers on the left had seen the flames and the potential problem was hitting everyone in a domino effect. I stopped the first stewardess I saw and asked them to fetch my Father. In hindsight that was a very selfish act, leaving my Mother alone, because I didn't want to be alone, but no reason or logic prevails at such a time.

The pilot announced that we had a problem and that we needed to return to the airport, but we couldn't do so with a full fuel tank so we had to fly out to an area where he could jettison the fuel. He instructed the airline crew to give us all complimentary drinks.

My Father came and he commented on how the offer of free drinks was welcome and obviously needed, as many around us were swigging their duty free alcohol. He told me not to worry, pilots were trained to deal with such incidents and all would be fine. I pointed out that the flames were getting higher and my Father said it was the reflection of the flames in the glass that resulted in the optical illusion of height?! ?! I remember worrying who would look after my pet budgie.

I have no idea how long it took to fly out and dump the fuel, it felt like a very long time, but I guess it couldn't have been. Many people were crying, many laughing, almost all were drinking. A group of four sitting near us, ripped a credit card wallet up and wrote their names on scraps of paper, which they placed inside the plastic holders, the men putting them in the breast pockets of their suits -one lady was able to do the same and the other, used a brooch pin to attach it to her dress. We gleaned from the talk that the reason they had done this was to aid identification of their bodies.

I broke the strap on my watch as I was fiddling with it so much and on noticing this, my Father took my hand and squeezed it tight.
I did likewise.

The pilot announced that he had jettisoned the fuel and we would be turning back to the airport, he advised that because of the fire everything needed to be done slowly- so not to worry.

Again, what seemed like an age later, the pilot made his next announcement, we were going to fly very low over the landing tower for them to look up and see if we could land. I cannot say if I was alone, in not even considering what would happen if the tower had said no. But I guess when you know you are staring the Grim Reaper in the eyes, there is very little else that can worry you.

The news was eventually given, that we had been given the ok to land and as we approached the runway, very, very slowly it was like a scene from a movie, the runway was a sea of flashing emergency lights; airport trucks, fire engines and ambulances, surrounded it. All visible areas near the runway had been cleared.

We were told to put on our seat belts and advised that when the plane landed we were to follow the crews' instructions for disembarkation.
We headed slowly towards the runway and then we felt the wheels touch down. Now any of you that have flown will know that after touch down you taxi for quite a while, until the plane eventually comes to a halt. We didn't, don't ask me how they did it, but as soon as we landed we heard an almighty thrust from the remaining engines and we stopped. The passengers as one, cheered and clapped, it was as if we were an audience reacting to having seen the greatest show on earth, the only difference being no one wanted an encore.

Reunited with my Mother, we hugged and she showed us her rosary beads that she had broken as she turned them over and over in her hands.

Later, when we were all in a large room in a nearby hotel, we were told that a tyre had burst on take off and gone back into the engine, and consequently caught fire. Today, we would no doubt we suing the airline, but all we got was a complimentary meal in the hotel. But no one was complaining, we were alive and none of us had expected to be.

I will always remember the face of my Father as we got back home and he slumped in an armchair- he looked around saying - "well I never thought I would see this room again". As all fathers would, he had made me feel at the time that all would be well, while suffering from the fear that his life would soon be over.

I suffered from post traumatic stress and my GP advised hypnotherapy- it didn't work, I remain to this day a very nervous traveller.

I have only ever flown to the USA since, always with the aid of prescription drugs. I love being in the US of A so much that I was willing to take the risk. Nevertheless hating the nightmares and panic attacks, I suffer from as soon as the trip is booked. To every other destination I go by train or boat, if I cannot get there by train and or boat, I don't go. So I think the furthest point I have reached is Rome.

I have read countless books about flying, I know that more people get kicked to death by donkeys every year than get killed in plane crashes, so maybe if the town where I lived was inhabited by hundreds of donkeys I would feel safer off the ground, but it isn't, so I don't.

I know it is the safest form of travel, but the problem is that you cannot get off. Having had to endure the flights to and from my holiday on that fateful trip- I know what that fear feels like. The holiday was not enjoyable as I was terrified of the return flight.

I have thought about doing one of the fear of flying courses offered by the airlines-but I saw one on TV once and they went round the class and asked each person why they were there- I would probably clear the classroom.

But there is a positive I guess, my carbon footprint is low.



Copyright2009

Summary: Wonder if I will ever be able to afford a world cruise?