Fear of Heights
The fear of flying due to heights is fairly common. Yet this fear should be non-existent. Flying in an airliner is not like looking out the window of a high-rise and seeing the ground below. You don't get the same sensation of heights due to objects looking smaller. Often, in an airliner, you could be flying in or around clouds, so you may not be able to see the ground at all. A friend I recently took up flying remarked this exact statement, in the terms that you just don't get a real height sensation in an airplane versus standing on the side of a cliff.
While most fears are mental, the symptoms of a fear of heights in flying are:
• Vomiting and nausea
• Panic attacks
• Severe anxiety
• A fear of airplanes that is so bad that it prevents the individual from taking part in any kind of air travel.
• Panic attacks
• Severe anxiety
• A fear of airplanes that is so bad that it prevents the individual from taking part in any kind of air travel.
Anxiety is a fear that myself as a pilot has encountered in the past. I used to not be the greatest person when it came to heights, even though I flew an airplane. It was knowing that I had confidence in my ability (or in the case of an airliner, the pilots ability) to fly the aircraft and trust in the construction of the airplane's cabin. I think that most fears when it comes to flying stem from the fear that if something happens to the airplane, it will break apart and they will plummet towards the ground. This is not true. There has never been a case of an airplane just plummeting towards the ground. It has never happened, and never will, since airplanes have a glide ratio. This glide ration allows the pilot to glide the plane to a nearby airport or suitable landing environment in case the engine fails. The glide ratio is increased even more by the height the airplane is traveling at. If at high altitude, the airplane will be able to glide for a longer period of time, versus being a low altitude when the loss of altitude will happen in a shorter amount of time.Many people will experience these symptoms before or during their flight, yet there are some things you can do to calm these nerves. Get a seat away from the window, so you won't have to look out. Other treatments such as hypnosis or medication have also helped some people. An even better choice in my opinion; take a nap, so you won't see anything at all. In the end, it comes down to you being able to get over your fear of heights, by knowing the truth behind flying and the fears you have.
1. Bouc, Jana. Giraffe Mountain. No date. Online Image. Flickr. 2 Nov. 2011.
<http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/250088391_0036303c20_o.jpg>
My purpose in using this graphic was to provide a comic relief to relate to the fears of flying. The picture, showing a giraffe looking over a cliff, it's ironic since giraffes are already tall and should not have a fear of heights. Being a cartoon, it allows viewers of all ages to relate to the subject in the picture, regardless of age and understand the point.
The graphic that includes the giraffe allows me to prove a point about views on an airplane versus views from a mountain. It displays my point in looking over a cliff is different that riding on an airliner. This form of comic relief enhances the blog by allowing my viewers to see a graphic image, while also providing a comedic relief.
2. Fear of Flying. 21 January 2010. Online image. Everything in line with leisure. 2 Nov 2011.
This image that I included in my blog includes a lady in distress and an airplane. The image, like the giraffe, is also a comic relief due to the ladies facial expression showing a terrified sense, and the airplane flying in a clear blue sky without any problems that one who has a fear of flying may think about.
The image is able to relate to my blog posting by allowing me to show another person who may be scared of flying. Her face shows terror due to the airplane in the background and the fear that she has of flying on an airplane, more than likely due to the heights one could encounter.
3. "How to Overcome Fear of Flying." Healthadel. No date. 2 Nov 2011.
The information provided by Healthadel in their article, "How to Overcome Fear of Flying" provided my with information on the symptoms of a fear of heights to include in my blog. A few of these symptoms includevomiting and nausea, panic attacks, and severe anxiety. These fears as I noted, are some that I have even experienced as a pilot who has been flying for several years.
Heathadel's article relates to my main point of the blog by allowing me to show the readers the symptoms of a fear of heights while flying, and let them decided if a fear of heights is a fear they have. I then am able to show how to overcome these fears later in my blog by providing things you can do to calm the symptoms.
Fear of Terrorism
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| Restrictions on Air Travel |
Ever since the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, a common fear for people getting on airplanes for travel has been the fear of terrorism. But why? The government and airlines have all taken precautions since the attacks to limit the risks, and make sure that an event like September 11th will never happen again.
Whenever you go to the airport now, your greeted by security messages on the intercom, and what some people call "an invasion of privacy" during the TSA screening process. Yet this process is here for your safety. Most of the procedures in place during this screening process result from past incidents, such as removing shoes due to the shoe bomber, or full body scanners due to the incident that happened in Detroit last year around Christmas. The items that are prohibited on an airline, while sometimes not necessary to be in place, do help save lives. Would you want the passenger sitting behind you to be able to carry a knife? How about mix chemicals together to make an acid or other type of explosive compound because they were allowed to bring liquids on an plane? By limiting the amount of liquids one can bring on a plane, it helps limit the risk. The procedures put in place by the TSA have, and will prevent terrorism in the future.
But what if a terrorist did get on your plane? What would happen? Well, after 9/11 the US Government added Federal Air Marshals (FAM) to some airlines, who are allowed to carry guns. The thinking is that in the event of an emergency, these Air Marshals can confront the person and confine the situation. According to the TSA, Federal Air Marshals "They blend in with passengers and rely on their training, including investigative techniques, criminal terrorist behavior recognition, firearms proficiency, aircraft specific tactics, and close quarters self-defense measures to protect the flying public." They are the best of the best when it comes to their job. Yet Air Marshals aren't the only ones carrying guns. Some pilots are also permitted to carry guns now on a flight, to defend themselves if a terrorist made it into the cockpit and tried to hijack the plane, like what happened on September 11th. Since September 11th, there has not been an incident that the crew has not been able to calm down. Commonly, if there is a security issue, the pilots will also be notified and the closest landing spot will be determined so that the crew can land the plane and police forces on the ground can come aboard and calm the situation if necessary.
Overall, the fear of flying due to terrorism should be a fear that is non-existent, due to restrictions and safety precautions put in place due to lessons learned from past events.
4. Transportation Security Administration. 3-1-1 for Carry-Ons. 2011. Washington. Web. 2 Nov 2011.
The image that was published by the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA regards information on carry ons. The image states that one cannot carry more than 3 ounce bottles of a liquid onto an airplane, and that the bag size that these containers can be in is limited to 1 quart, in one carry on bag per person.
3-1-1 for Carry-Ons relates to my blog posting by showing the limits that are placed on travelers in regards to liquids and bag size. The image is straight, and down to the point, providing a visual representation of the limits to the viewers of the blog to see and easily distinguish for themselves.
5.socom308. "Federal Air Marshal Qualification Drill with Sig 220."Youtube. Youtube, 7 April 2011.Web. 2
In this Youtube video about Federal Air Marshals, it is demonstrated the skill that Federal Air Marshals have. The person in the video is able to shoot off several rounds, and reload quickly just like he may have to do in a real shoot off situation on an airline in the event of terrorism.
This Youtube video about Federal Air Marshals relates to my blog by demonstrating the point I made in my blog about how qualified Air Marshals are. They are trained to be the best of the best, as pointed out by the TSA and react quickly in unusual situations that are presented to them in the event of an emergency.
6."Federal Air Marshals." TSA.gov. 2011. Transportation Security Administration. 2 Nov 2011.
This website sponsored by the Transportation Security Administration provides information on Federal Air Marshals, and their training. In it, the TSA lists Air Marshals as people who blend in with passengers, and rely on their training, such as terrorism, firearms proficiency, and close quarters combat to protect air safety and passengers in the skies.
The information provided on this website relates to my blog by allowing myself to show to the readers background information on Federal Air Marshals. I can show the training they have to my readers. To me, this is a fair representation of Federal Air Marshals, based on my experience as a pilot and knowing how Air Marshals work.
Fear of Fires
To passenger and pilots alike, one of the biggest fears on an flight in the air is fire. Yet, this horrific scene is one that rarely occurs. However, when under the right conditions, fires on airplanes can occur fast. Fires need 3 ingredients to start; fuel, air, and an ignition source. The engines on an airplane are running hot, and in some planes when aircraft fuel or fluid comes in contact with the hot engine cowling, it can cause a fire to ignite. Another problem is the threat of electrical fires. In a large airliner with thousands of wires, these fires can occur anywhere. This is where pilot and flight attendant training come in.
Flight attendants know where all the fire extinguisher locations are on an airline flight. In the event of a fire, the flight attendant can reach for the extinguisher quickly, and put out the fire in a quickly manner. All airplanes are required by federal law to carry a fire extinguisher. The FAA each year publishes a book calledFederal Aviation Regulations which list over 250 rules and procedures for pilots to conform to on a flight. Under FAR Part 25 Section 851, the following rules are listed:
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| Flight Attendant trying to put out a fire |
- "At least one hand fire extinguisher must be conveniently located in the pilot compartment"
- "At least one readily accessible hand fire extinguisher must be made available for use in in each Class A or Class B cargo or baggage compartment.
- "At least one hand fire extinguisher must be located in, or readily accessible for use in, each galley located above or below the passenger compartment."
By having these rules in place, airplanes are safe while in the air, but what about on the ground?
On the ground, most airports have a fire department on site. All major airports do. If there is a gear failure or other problem with the airplane, the pilot will likely call an emergency or mayday which will have the airport send out the fire and rescue trucks to the end of the runway to wait for the aircraft to arrive. Often, before landing, pilots will also circle the airport to burn off fuel so that in the event of a mishap, there is less fuel to burn and so that the airplane is lighter during the landing rollout, hence shortening it in the event of a brake failure. Less mass to stop means a shorter rollout.
Overall, in any in flight fire or fire on the ground scenario that could occur, airports, pilots, and flight attendants are well trained to deal with the possible situations that could arise and how to quickly get rid of the problem, keeping passengers safe and sound.
Rossier, Robert. "Aircraft Fires." flighttraining. 2011.AOPA. Web. 4 Nov 2011.
The article on aircraft fires was able to provide me with information on how fires start and what could cause them. I was able to provide the three main ingredients that fire need, and how a fire can occur under an engine cowling due to the fluids that are present in the area which is already hot due to the engine running.
AOPA's Flight Training articles are known as some of the best in the world, and this one is no exception. They listed all the information I needed for this part of my blog and more. Pilots trust AOPA's ideas and techniques to save their lives, and in my mind, if it's saved others lives, it may save yours or mine.
"FAR Part 25.851." Flightsimviation.com. 16 Apr 1991. Web. 4 Nov 2011.
The link regarding FAR Part 25.851 was able to provide me with information on what fire equipment is required in an airplane in each cabin and crew section. It tells what the requirements are for a cargo area, a crew area, and the cockpit area all in one FAR issued by the FAA.
As a pilot myself, I have read the FAR's and know that they are the rules of trade. What the FAA says, you do. If a pilot violates a FAR, they can be punished and their license may be revoked. Knowing this, the information provided in this FAR is valid, since I have myself noted the location of the fire extinguisher in my airplane when I fly.
"Cabin Simulator."No date. Online image. airbaltic. 4 Nov 2011.
< http://blog.airbaltic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/flight_crew_fire.jpg>
The image that involves a flight attendant trying to put out a fire in the cockpit of an airplane with a red fire extinguisher shows my point that flight attendants are trained to react to situations. The red fire extinguisher is one of the required types that must be carried on an airplane during any flight.
The image is a great representation of my point I am trying to make. It goes to show that flight attendants are well trained to react to any situation. Being a pilot, like I said earlier, I have learned how to use the fire extinguisher in close quarters like an airplane, and know how hard it can be for someone to put out a fire in an area where air is not easily circulated.
Fear of Crashes
Another fear of some passengers is the threat of a crash. However, crashes rarely occur. Over 10,000 flights occur each day across the United States, with crashes only occurring maybe once a year, if that .Your overall threat of being in an airplane crash, in my opinion, is less than being struck by lightning.
Even if you did get in a crash situation, airplanes are built to resist breakage and there are things you can do to protect yourself. Most of these are discussed in the safety briefing before the flight. You know, the one you never listen to? This speech could save your life. The FAA mandates that Flight Attendants provide this information to you before the flight is conducted to ensure that each passenger is effectivly briefed on flight safety precautions. A sample of a video briefing can be seen in the Youtube video, this one being more of a comedy aboard Southwest Airlines. This flight attendant decided to rap the in-flight safety briefing!
Now some of the things mentioned in that safety briefing can save your life. The mention on all bags must be stored either in the carry on or under your seat is to protect you in case of a crash. The impact would cause the bags to become projectiles that could impact you and harm you upon collision. The emergency doors mentioned are seats which have a little more leg room for one purpose, to let people use the door to your left or right to escape over the wings in the event of an evacuation. Most airplanes have at least 4 doors, one in the front, one over each wing, and one in the rear of the airplane.
So those are some of the things mentioned before you take off that relate to safety in a crash, but what do you do as your plane has a problem and the flight crew mentions the word "Brace for Impact!" There are six basic crash positions which come in play while onboard an airplane. The Youtube video I've linked help show some of these.
As it notes, crash positions "reduce flailing during an impact and reduce secondary impact," which in case limits head movement in a crash. Much research has been done on the best positions for a passenger to sit in during a crash, even per cabin. For example, in coach, like most people fly, the best thing to do is to hold onto the seat in front of you and if possible keep head below the seat top to protect yourself from any falling debris.The precautions in place are there to do one thing, to save your life. Most people will NEVER have to assume the crash position, but knowing how and what to do may save your life.
Curtis, Todd. "The Six Basic Aircraft Crash Positions." Youtube. Youtube. 10 Dec. 2007. Web. 4 Nov. 2011.
The Youtube Video by Todd Curtis was able to provide me with the diagrams I needed to show the crash positions to my viewers regarding airplane crash safety. It discusses six different crash positions that passengers can take to brace themselves in the event of an incident onboard an airplane.
The video is a good source to include since it lists more than one crash position and is diagrams the positions in a visual form. By showing a visual, a reader or viewer is able to picture themselves it the situation and remember a visual of what should be done instead of just words which can confuse someone.
reggiep08v2. "Rapping Flight Attendant from Southwest Airlines." Youtube .Youtube. 5 Nov. 2009. Web.
4 Nov. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9lZV_828OA&feature=related>
This Youtube video features a rapping flight attendant on Southwest Airlines. The Southwest flight attendant, David Holmes decides to change it up a bit instead of the usual boring safety briefing by asking the passengers to get involved and get a beat for him to rap the safety briefing out to.
I decided to include this more humorous view of a safety briefing to show my readers a briefing that they may remember. The information included in a briefing can save lives, and most people just ignore it. By switching it up, this Southwest flight attendant could save lives in the unlikely event of a crash.
denon2500. "QANTAS Airbus A380-800 Safety Card inside." 17 June 2009. Online image. Flickr. 4 Nov.
This image includes a safety briefing card that is included on a Quantas Airbus A380-800 series aircraft. In the safety briefing card, it shows the locations of the emergency exit doors, how to put on a life vest, and what to do in case of a loss of cabin pressure.
I included this image in my blog since it relates to my point of airplane emergency exits. It shows that there are at least four exit doors on the aircraft and where they are located. By showing the information, it goes to prove that aircraft safety briefings can save lives.
Fear of Bad Weather
As you walk out of your front door on the way to the airport, the thing many people dread seeing is dark, scary skies all around them This signals rain or thunderstorms may be in the area; a thing that many fear when flying. Yet there is no reason to fear. Airplanes are built to fly in rain and can even survive a flight through a thunderstorm if necessary.
Today, a majority of airplanes, and all commercial airplanes, carry an instrument system that can be used during IFR, or Instrument Flight Rules. These instruments allow the pilot to see what the airplane is doing even when he cannot get a visual of the horizon. The video included here shows these instruments, and what the pilot is seeing as he begins his approach to an airport and eventually pops out below of the cloud deck. You can tell that by using GPS and other instruments, the pilot is aware of his position relative to the ground and anything around him, just by looking inside the plane.
Another thing that fears many first time flyers, or even those who have been flying for their whole life, is the concept of taking off or landing on a wet runway. The threat of an airplane hydroplaning on a wet runway is almost non-existent. Airpower runways are created so that when rain falls, it will flow off of them. Many runways are surrounded by grass which allows for better flow of water off the runway and into the grassy areas.
When it comes to landing on a wet runway, the pilot is not going in blind. As nearly 100% of modern commercial airports have an air traffic control tower, he is getting information before he lands. Pilots report to the tower with what is called PIREPS, or pilot reports. They will call up the tower after a landing and tell them if based on their judgment the runway is poor, good, average, etc. This in term allows for the next pilot to judge his braking action and the motions he takes to land based off the previous pilots pilot report.In regards to thunderstorms and airplanes, it is 100% safe for an airplane to be struck by lightning. In fact, it happens every day! Airplanes are build to be able to take a lightning strike without causing a massive surge and taking out the airplanes flight control systems. The worst that would probably happen in the event of a lightning strike would be the lights in the main cabin would flash for a few seconds when the initial strike is received. The other threat of thunderstorms is wind shear or downdrafts. However, airports and planes have systems to avoid this as well. Modern airplanes have a shear avoidance system, which shows the planes relative location on a map and an alert when an area of intense shear or downdraft is recognized so the pilot can stay away from the area.
So next time it's a gloomy day on your flight, don't fret it. Smile, get on the plane, and worry more about the little kid kicking your chair than the weather outside of the airplane.
JHWellington. "TBM850 Landing HPN -- Hard IFR" Youtube. Youtube, 28 May 2009. Web. 11 Nov 2011.
This video uploaded to Youtube features the pilots of a TBM850 attempting to land during horrible weather conditions that pilots call IFR. In the video, the visibility is no more than a quarter of a mile, if that and they are flying through fog and precipitation to land on the airport runway which is light up.
The pilots in this video demonstrate my idea that airplanes are safe in hazardous weather by completing a safe landing even with the horrible weather conditions. It shows the airplane flight instrument systems that they use, and what the pilots are looking at outside the airplane. This view demonstrates why they have to look inside the airplane and relay on the instruments to get them safely to their destination without incident.
Fear of Flying Help. "FEAR OF FLYING IN BAD WEATHER: RAIN" A Flying Attendant's guide to overcoming
Your Fear of Flying. 2009. Flying Fear. 11 Nov 2011. <http://www.flyingfear.net/articles/fear-of-flying-in-bad-weather-rain.html>
This article provides information on how runways deal with rain, by saying that airplanes built to flow off any water that is present. It also reports on how pilots get information before a landing on the condition of the runway via air traffic control so that they know how to better land their own airplane.
This article, which is apparently written by a flight attendant, is an excellent source of information to relate to my blog. It shows the readers that the pilots are not going in blind and that they actually get information from other pilots to use in their judgment on a landing. By showing the safety steps that are in plane, I can demonstrate how flying in bad weather should not be a fear at all.
NASA. "Onboard Windshear Warning Systems." No date. Online image. NASA.gov. 11 Nov 2011.
<http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/images/content/69988main_Windshear-fig6.gif>
The image provided by NASA shows how an airplane onboard wind shear warning systems works. The airplane sends off a radio signal which when it hits the precipitation in the storm bounces back to the aircraft showing the pilot not only where the rain is located, but how heavy and what type of winds are inside the storm as well.
NASA provides a great visual representation to include by showing how exactly the system works. With the image, I'm able to show my readers just how the system helps the pilot and what it does exactly. The only bad part about the image is the massive amount of text included on it, which some readers may not want to waste time reading unless they are really interested in it.
Fear of the Pilot
One of the final fears I would like to address is the fear of your pilot. Yep, the man or woman behind the controls of the hundred thousand dollar airplane. Honestly thought, why would you have fear in your pilot. Do you think that the airlines which already pay pilots horribly would take the risk of putting a non-qualified pilot behind the controls of a expensive aircraft? I'll answer that for you... NO! And with most pilots already being horribly paid, most of them don't do it for a job. Most pilots do it for fun.
Let's take a look though at the training you need to become an airline pilot though. I myself just completed my private pilot license a few months ago (Aug 2011) on the first step of eventually flying for a living. This took me under 90 days but I was flying three to four times a week to get it done before I left for college. To fly an airline, you need to have your private, instrument, commercial, and Airline Transport Pilot licenses, in that order most of the time. Not only do these licenses take a long time to eventually complete, they also cost... a lot. Chances are if you pay a ton of money to get these licenses, you're going to be well trained and love what you do. You will dedicate yourself to that flight to get it done safely. Another way many pilots get into the airline transport industry is to be in the military. By this, they learn discipline and gain hours which are required before you can even be considered for the job.
Training is one thing, but what about the really old pilot flying my airliner across the Atlantic to Europe? How can we rely on him to get the job done and not have a medical problem? Well, that where the Federal Aviation Administration's flight medicals come in. To be an airline pilot, you have to pass a 1st class medical. This is the most extensive flight medical there is. You can click this link to find more information the requirements of a Class 1 medical, but in short you have to have at 20/20 or 20/40 corrected vision and the ability to decipher colors. You also have to have a minimal medical history not involving any heart related issues or other incidents which could hamper your ability to complete a flight. You must pass a physical test which is conducted by a FAA licensed medical doctor. Oh, by the way, this test is also conducted every six months and costs about $300.
So now that you know some of the minimal training and cost it takes to be an airline pilot, have some trust in your pilot the next time you climb aboard an airline, and know you're going to get their safely.
Malmquist, Shem. "Become an airline pilot." Jet Careers. No date. Jet Careers. 11 Nov 2011. <
The article posted on Jet Careers is able to provide insight into the requirements to become an airline pilot. It states that many airline pilots have a military background. It also addresses the idea that the training process is a long and costly road, that can sometimes even take 8 years to finish.
Jet Careers is an excellent source of information on how someone can get into the industry, and what costs they will have to take to get in it. It shows my point well that the training process is a long road, and a costly one at that for anyone who is an airline pilot.
FlightPhysical. "Class One Medical Standards for Pilots." Flight Physical. No date. Flight Physical. 11 Nov.
The Class One Medical Standards for Pilots are well addressed in this article. It lists information on vision, medical, cardiovascular, and other types of requirements that a pilot must pass to be issued a class one medical certificate. The cardiovascular requirements address any heart issues the pilot may have, and what is acceptable for a pass and what is not.
The information provided by Flight Physical on Class One medical requirements is a good source to include in case anyone wants to, in the future become an airline pilot, and see that many fears of their pilot have a heart attack is likely never to happen due to the requirements of a class one medical .
"Commercial Pilot." No date. Online image. Commercial Pilot Salary. 11 Nov 2011.
< http://commercialpilotsalary.net/wp-content/images/commercial-pilot-1.jpg>
The image of a commercial pilot is more of a visual to show to my readers a pilot in his environment. The pilot with wings on his uniform is sitting in the cockpit of the airplane which is where the main job of a commercial pilot is conducted on a flight.
The image is a good image to include in my blog to show the readers who a commercial pilot is, and to add a visual to not just keep the blog all bunched up without anything to look at. It is a relief to the readers to be able to look a picture instead of a long list of words.
