To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle • Hacker News Board

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#21

Post by rms » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:16 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #16

fiaz wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is an important parallel between the fear of flying and the fear of striking out on your own. There are so many things that are beyond your control, and taking-off (in either context) is the riskiest part. I never cease to be amazed at the first moment when an airplane feels like a kite in the wind right after takeoff.

No, there is no parallel at all, at least in my experience. Fear of striking out on your own is something that everyone should have a little of - it's healthy. But my fear of flying/heights is completely irrational and very strong.

I got a lot less comfortable flying after working in engineering for a major US airliner. I participated in an investigation as to why an engine suffered a catastrophic failure. The investigation was indecisive, the most likely conclusion being some mistake made in maintenance. There are still plenty of Boeing 757s with Rolls Royce engines flying so I don't think this particular event was indicative of an actual flaw with the engine.

Rather, what makes me uncomfortable, is that sometimes very important parts of the plane blow up and the engineers can't figure out why. But hey, at least there are two or four engines and three or more power supplies.

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#22

Post by keltecp11 » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:17 PM UTC

I'm really impressed with the look and feel of the site. Good luck guys.

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#23

Post by scott_s » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:19 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #16

fiaz wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is an important parallel between the fear of flying and the fear of striking out on your own. There are so many things that are beyond your control, and taking-off (in either context) is the riskiest part. I never cease to be amazed at the first moment when an airplane feels like a kite in the wind right after takeoff.

No, there is no parallel at all, at least in my experience. Fear of striking out on your own is something that everyone should have a little of - it's healthy. But my fear of flying/heights is completely irrational and very strong.

You might be able to get a prescription from a doctor for Xanax. It's an anti-anxiety drug and it's addictive, but one for each flight won't cause any problems. A friend of mine does that for his flights.

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#24

Post by scott_s » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:21 PM UTC

gcb wrote: post #3

it's not irrational. it's fear off lack of control for ones live. I do not know how to fly an airplane. I do not know the commander. I do know how to pilot a bike. I ride a bike in heavy traffic at high speeds. Despite the death rate for the bike case is higher, i crap myself on an airplane. because i'm not in control.

That's the very definition of an irrational fear - one that has nothing to do with the actual risk of an activity.

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#25

Post by davidw » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:25 PM UTC

rms wrote: post #21

davidw wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, there is no parallel at all, at least in my experience. Fear of striking out on your own is something that everyone should have a little of - it's healthy. But my fear of flying/heights is completely irrational and very strong.

I got a lot less comfortable flying after working in engineering for a major US airliner. I participated in an investigation as to why an engine suffered a catastrophic failure. The investigation was indecisive, the most likely conclusion being some mistake made in maintenance. There are still plenty of Boeing 757s with Rolls Royce engines flying so I don't think this particular event was indicative of an actual flaw…

I'm not worried (much) about crashes and the like: I realize it's not very likely.

I'm anxious because I'm very high up in a small tin can and can't get down.

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#26

Post by fiaz » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:25 PM UTC

rms wrote: post #21

davidw wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, there is no parallel at all, at least in my experience. Fear of striking out on your own is something that everyone should have a little of - it's healthy. But my fear of flying/heights is completely irrational and very strong.

I got a lot less comfortable flying after working in engineering for a major US airliner. I participated in an investigation as to why an engine suffered a catastrophic failure. The investigation was indecisive, the most likely conclusion being some mistake made in maintenance. There are still plenty of Boeing 757s with Rolls Royce engines flying so I don't think this particular event was indicative of an actual flaw…

The last two flights I took, there was something physically wrong with the plane. The first of which occurred after takeoff (the landing gear would not retract), forcing us to circle at low altitude for about 40 minutes before landing; and the second required us to be grounded for about 60 minutes (a component on the wing needed to be replaced in order to pump fuel into the plane).

It doesn't give me much confidence in the quality controls of flying, but the fear mindset is much more insidious - and more importantly - in my own personal control. Whenever that mindset kicks in, I joke to myself that life has been good to me, and usually that takes care of things...

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#27

Post by brown9-2 » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:34 PM UTC

I don't understand the confusion that someone who is supposedly rich would fly JetBlue.

They are pretty sweet as far as flying goes.

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#28

Post by lutorm » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:34 PM UTC

jrwoodruff wrote: post #12

gcb wrote: post #3

it's not irrational. it's fear off lack of control for ones live. I do not know how to fly an airplane. I do not know the commander. I do know how to pilot a bike. I ride a bike in heavy traffic at high speeds. Despite the death rate for the bike case is higher, i crap myself on an airplane. because i'm not in control.

So I wonder if taking a few lessons in a cessna 150 would allay this guys fears?

Maybe. But flying in small general-aviation aircraft, the risk of anything happening is a lot higher than with transport aircraft... Seems funny to start doing something riskier in order to be able to do something less risky...

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#29

Post by dejb » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:34 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #9

Ugh, I know exactly how that guy feels. I hate flying with an abiding passion (indeed, I view their 30 day trip as about as much fun as hitting myself in the nuts with a hammer over the course of a month). It is completely and totally irrational, but there's not much to be done about it. Drinking helps, some, but they don't serve drinks during takeoff, which is the worst part (I usually manage to relax a bit after ab…

> about as much fun as hitting myself in the nuts with a hammer over the course of a month

Actually having been hit in the nuts by a cricket bowling machine (I.e. a baseball * 1.3 weight at about 50 miles/hour), I can tell you that every other concern seems petty in comparison for the 20 or so minutes it takes to get ones senses back. But I'm not about to recommend it as therapy.

Re: To fasten your seatbelt, insert the flap into the buckle

#30

Post by lutorm » Fri, Sep 18, 2009, 2:40 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #9

Ugh, I know exactly how that guy feels. I hate flying with an abiding passion (indeed, I view their 30 day trip as about as much fun as hitting myself in the nuts with a hammer over the course of a month). It is completely and totally irrational, but there's not much to be done about it. Drinking helps, some, but they don't serve drinks during takeoff, which is the worst part (I usually manage to relax a bit after ab…

I don't hate "flying". I went halfway to getting a pilot's license just because I've always wanted to learn how to fly (for real, not in simulators).

It's not the flying that makes me hate flying on airliners; it's being locked up in a cramped, uncomfortable, jetlag-inducing space that makes me feel like a pig on a CAFO, where I always emerge to my destination with a splitting headache due to an old neck injury.

I don't generally have claustrophobia, but I'm sure that also has something to do with people's feelings about flying on airliners.