To never want to get on a plane again?

[TwatMcTwonk]

Just watching coverage of the French air crash
I've always been a nervous flyer, took medication etc and would still be anxious all the way through the flight.

Used to go on holiday as a family, maybe two or three times a year, but I'm seriously thinking I don't think I could physically get on a plane again after all these news reports.

I know, statistically, it's rare to be involved in a plane crash, but I can't shake this awful feeling that it is just happening too often for my liking.

Anyone else feel like this?

I interviewed a risk analyst who specialised in fires once.

He insisted on a room with a balcony and never above the third floor because that's how high average fire brigade ladders reach.

When he arrived he located the fire exits and walked with his eyes shut, counting the footsteps to them from his room.

In a fire it will be dark.

He walked down the steps with his eyes shut holding on to the bannisters and counting until he got outside. The alarms on the fire doors generally went off. That's a security thing, and it really pissed off the management when he did it.

But lots of times the doors wouldn't open. That's really frightening. If he found that he would leave immediately.

He said he loves holidays but he always takes those checks and once he's done them he feels comfortable.

He added that his family thought he was mad but I guess they'd be glad of him in a crisis.

Since talking to him I've started doing that but on the quiet. I'm sure DH wonders about the times I set off alarms but I'm potentially saving his arse.

When DS was 3 and DD was nine months sitting on my lap in a lapstrap we were all (including DH) coming in to land as we were visiting the PIL. I was in the window seat and as we got very close to the runway we were hit by a blizzard/windshear and the plane tipped wildly to my side. I could see the texture of the concrete on the runway and the left tip of the wing far too close to it. The pilot put on full power and we climbed again very, very steeply with everyone being pressed back really hard into their seats. Strangely enough my first thought when I saw the wing and the runway was that at least we would all died together. The pilot came on and very calmly explained we had been hit by the blizzard and would be circling until it had passed through. When we did come in for our second attempt everyone was clutching their seat arms really tightly. We landed perfectly and when the pilot came out he got a massive round of applause. When we were due to fly home we checked in and I asked for the seats we wanted and added "And just one landing please". The girl on the desk said that anyone watching the previous week had been terrified and it was a close call. I was glad I had to fly home because it made it easier to get on another plane and I hope statistically that means we are unlikely ever to experience anything like that again.

Flossie. I sobbed my way round Ibiza airport too. I made DH sit with the kids on his own on the plane as I just couldn't pull myself together and I didn't want them to see me. It was awful.

We're having the annual argument again now. I was kind of hoping the fact that it pissed down for the whole week we were away might have been a win for me. I want to hire a camper van for 2 weeks and drive round Cornwall.

Can I ask why those who keep quoting statistics do it? Do you think we don't know already? If you say it enough times we'll suddenly get over it? Only DH and friends do it constantly and it just annoys me no end.

I am genuinely terrified of flying. I am not stupid, I've heard all the statistics and all the things that are more likely to happen than being in a plane crash a million times before. It just seems a bit dismissive

so you won't have any fun on a holiday that involves flying and should not fly.

as noted, everywhere is accessible by land transport. Perhaps your partner flies with the kids and you catch up by rail/sea?

marriage is about compromise, or so I thought.

Can I ask why those who keep quoting statistics do it? Do you think we don't know already? If you say it enough times we'll suddenly get over it?

Because some people think flying is more dangerous that the statistics would indicate.

I have a fear of flying and not been on a plane for 25 years. When I go to France I go on the ferry, I'm not keen on that either!!!

I am a flight attendant. I am terrified of lifts. I always tell my passengers who I might be comforting on a flight that I haven't been in a lift for years and they laugh of me for being so silly. Its an irrational fear. I see people going into lifts and think they are super-brave.

RIP to the poor souls lost today.

I think if I was with someone whose phobia didn't allow them to set foot on a plane I'd have to go on holidays without them. The idea of spending all future holidays in places readily accessible by boat or car doesn't appeal.

I do know what the OP means but I also know that the statistics are right. The bottom line is that tragedy is awful whenever or however it happens. It's less likely on a plane than in a car but no less terrible.

Limited - dh counts the rows of seats on planes to the emergency exit. It would help orientate yourself in the event of fire on board.

Can I ask why those who keep quoting statistics do it? Do you think we don't know already? Well, several people have indeed expressed their surprise that not everybody dies in every plane crash.

At this precise moment DS is aboard a plane to Benidorm. Im on the online flight tracker and i was almost sick when i saw the plane had departed. Everyone has said he will be fine but it doesnt stop me worrying. And after the tragic news today im even more worried. Telling people that its the safest way to travel ect is not helping when you are bloody terrified

Swoosh I'm fortunate that my DP has the same fear of flying as me, makes life less complicated

I have to fly for work on Sunday and I am so scared I don't know if I'll physically be able to get on the plane.

I have Valium but it now isn't enough to get me through this week. I have an impeding sense of doom and melancholy and think I'll never see DD again. I had to work from home this afternoon because I thought I was going to cry in the office.

I have flown around the world, the fear is increasing.

Just like to add, if you knew the big safety margins involved in European air travel you might also be re assured. Aborted landings happen all the time and passengers might like to tell their stories as quite dramatic and everyone watching were nervous blah blah In reality it's routine and no one was at anytime at risk at all. We don't just make landing attempts hoping for the best, everything is calculated within massive safety margins. Remember the pilot and his crew want to get home for dinner too!

I haven't looked at the links but when they say accident, I think that includes things happening to the plane in flight, such as bits falling off, cracked windshield etc

Also the figures may include private flying, turboprop planes, etc etc

Harrison Ford survived a plane crash only the other week. And so did Nigel Farage. I'm sure I've read that Sandra Bullock has been in 2 plane crashes.

there's really big difference between a light aircraft crash landing onto a golf course and a jet crashing into a mountain range though!

I also hate flying because aeroplanes are prone to be full of large groups of drunken twats. I wish they would ban alcohol on all flights :(

I'd be very reluctant to get in a plane with someone who flew for a hobby.

But that's where the statistics come from. That's what they include (I assume). I don't like flying but I'm a lot more sanguine than I used to be as I have a partner who really hates it. And I don't want to pass that fear on.

Last time I flew, I read a lot of survivors' stories and remembered what they said helped them. I've no doubt I wouldn't really remember any of that in the event of a crash but it made me feel more prepared/in control. I don't look out of the window at take off though.

I'm gathering that the plane that was lost today was at 380 or possibly much higher when whatever went wrong occurred, meaning that if there was a decompression, most people would have passed out within 30-60 seconds.

I hope that they knew nothing.

It is terrible news today. So sad for all involved.

I am a nervous flyer. I wasn't as a child. I loved it then. As an adult I the fear has grown. I particularly hate take-off and landing. If the bit in-between goes smoothly and I can soothe myself with a couple of g & ts when the drinks trolley appears then I count that as a good flight. It doesn't stop me enjoying my holiday, but it is an inconvenience that I can't always get round.

We are flying on holiday this summer for the first time in years. I shall be ready in the days before it with my kalms tablets, which I find help me somewhat when I am finding things stressful.

But how many aircraft are flying right now around the world and they aren't falling out of the skies

This many: www.flightradar24.com/#1.08,1.69/6?&_suid=142721748110607185282045673654 Watching it is strangely hypnotic.

Wow, that's so cool Percy*.