- 40% of the general population report some fear of flying at some point in their life.
- Statistically if a person flew on an aeroplane everyday of their life, on average it would take them nineteen thousand years before they would succumb to a fatal accident!
- The cost and duration of training pilots with a major airline is comparable to training a medical doctor.
- Back up systems have been provided for virtually every system on the aeroplane so that if one system failed, another would take its place.
- Commercial aircraft average twelve hours of maintenance on the ground for every hour spent in the air.
- Air traffic controllers train rigorously for four years.
- Standard industry policy is to avoid all thunderstorms by at least twenty nautical miles.
- Turbulence is measured in terms of gravitational “g forces”. Those moments of turbulence when you wonder if the wings will drop off are 0.4g. – such force is considered “severe” and is rarely experienced during commercial flights. But regulations require aircraft to be able to fly without problems through at least two g’s. Today’s manufacturers build planes that are tested to withstand 6 or 7 g’s of force, Mother Nature won’t be creating any turbulence to match that.
Common Fears
Turbulence
Turbulence is no big deal, even though it can feel to some the scariest part of flying, however turbulence is no cause for alarm.
Turbulence is safe and part of everyday life, like going on a boat and encountering a few waves or driving over potholes in the road, it can be irritating, but perfectly safe.
The most common cause of turbulence is turbulent air in the atmosphere.
Another type is thermal turbulence, it's created by hot rising air, usually from cumulus clouds or thunderstorms.
Mechanical turbulence is caused by landscape, mountains or tall buildings as they can distort the wind flow in the sky above.
Aeroplanes can also create turbulence, the wings create wake turbulence, this can affect planes flying behind one another on approach
Noises
Whether it's the bing bongs or the noises of the aircraft and engines themselves they each have reasons that can be explained.
Chimes are often a way for us in the flight deck to communicate with the cabin crew & vice versa, noises from the aircraft itself can be the landing gear being extended or retracted as well as the flaps. Whereas you can expect noises from the engines just the same as you would from driving your car.
Heights
Airplanes operate best at their cruise altitudes, the engines also operate best in these conditions where the air is colder and thinner meaning we are able to burn less fuel and fly faster, this also has its benefits as we are above the weather and clouds that are around the lower atmosphere thus giving a smoother ride, were also able to take advantage of jet streams which allow us to get you to your destination earlier