Fear of Flying? GET ON THE PLANE!

I know people who look at the Flight as “part of the vacation experience “ (that’s me!).  I know people who just don’t particularly like to fly because of inconvenience, but do anyway.  I know people who will NOT fly under any circumstances.   All are different, but have one thing in common….they all have some level of “fear of flying”.  The only difference between them is how much their personal desire to travel will over shadow the fear.

Even I admit that every time I see a plane or fly one, I say the same thing…”That is amazing that that tin can with all that weight and those flimsy wings can actually fly for hours and hours!”  It can actually freak me out!  Personally, I will make no bones about it…do what you have to do,  take a valium or have a drink…but get on that plane!  A whole world of adventure and opportunity is out there for you to explore.  So let’s break it down and figure out a way to “Get on that Plane”!

When most people are asked about why they are afraid to fly, they talk about the lack of control that they feel when riding in a plane.  Add to that the fear of turbulence, heights, claustrophobia, the strange noises they hear and the basic lack of understanding how planes fly.  In total, it is actually ignorance & irrational thoughts that make us afraid. If you think about flying logically, statistics show it is 30 times safer then driving in your car!  Your chances of being involved in an airline accident are about 1 in 11 million.  Compare that to your chances of being killed in an auto accident – 1 in 5000!  You are more likely to get killed DRIVING TO the airport than flying to your destination!

Logically, aircraft today is designed and maintained meticulously.  Take into account the incredible # of flights daily and the # of fatalities and the airlines have a stellar record!  If we all had a lesson in Aviation and understood more “How” planes fly, most of our fears would be erased.  I mean, think about it…”Why do pilots and flight attendants work on planes everyday? They understand them!  If they were so risky, why on earth would they work on them? (We know it isn’t because they are getting paid millions!) It is because they have knowledge and trust in aviation.

But let’s think on a personal level…

With the prevalence and need for airline travel in todays modern world, it is almost archaic for someone to say “I wont fly”.  It is almost as ridiculous as hearing some one say “I will never go on the internet!”

There are so many great reasons to FLY….

Family lives in different parts of the country (if not world!)

Your children want to go to Disney!

Your job requires that you be in 2 cities in one week.

How do you explain to your children that you are afraid of flying?  Or do they just accept that they will never take a family vacation to an island, visit Disney, see the Grand Canyon, take a historical trip to Europe.  Sure, you might say that you could drive there…but you can’t drive over an ocean!  Are you really prepared to go through life without ever playing with your child on a beach on an island.  For me, there is nothing more precious than experiencing the wonders of the world with your kids and leaving them with those memories.  I will never forget when my parents took me to Jamaica when I was 11.  The amazement has imprinted in my mind forever.

How do you tell your boss that you cannot attend that sales meeting across the country?  Do you just forgo a promotion because of your irrational fear?

How do you face life knowing that you will never see your grandchildren who live 3000 miles away?  Are you really going to let fear stop you!

Now let’s try to think about this logically.   You need to have trust in the Pilot and crew.  Don’t you think they have a families they want to get home to?  Their intention is to tuck their kids in at night and kiss their spouse.  Remember the statistics!  Let’s talk about the danger of driving a car?!!  But you still get in one of those every day.

I say, take the responsibility to learn the simple principles of Aviation, seek out the safety records of your airlines and research studies on risks.  Educate yourself, because “Knowledge is Power”, power to conquer your fears!  And if all else fails…take that valium or have that cocktail….BUT JUST GET ON THAT PLANE!!!  SEE THE WORLD!

Plan that trip you have always dreamed about Today!

How Planes Fly – simple video

Air vs. Auto statistics

A beautiful thing!

Does the TSA really want to “Touch His Junk”?!

 

Fly Safe...

POP QUIZ…

Question :

Where was John Tyner when he said “If you touch my junk, I will have you arrested”!

A. – At the Collingswood Flea Market

B. – At the Jones’ yard sale in my neighborhood.

C. – At the Airports’ TSA security line.

If you guessed “C” then you guessed right (and that means you aren’t living under a rock!).

OMG!  This is all I have heard about today!  Like this is something new?  Just last month my husband got the “Pat Down”  at the Airport & I have seen hundreds of other people experience this…yet today, this is the hottest news to talk about?!  I thought this was old news!

So here is what happened:

This John Tyner was at the Airport, going through TSA security checkpoints and he refused to go through the new body scanner that they are using.  As protocol has it, if you refuse to go through the scanner, your option is to get a “pat down” (as seen on cop shows since the Dragnet days!).  Well, this John Tyner wasn’t happy about that! So as the TSA agent was giving an explanation of how he would be “Patting him down” he said “If you touch my junk I will have you arrested”.  The TSA Agent informed him that he needed to call a supervisor since he made that statement (OF COURSE!  that statements says “I am going to sue you and have your job”, so he had to protect himself!).

Long story short…John Tyner never went on his trip. TSA is pretty straight forward – If you don’t go through security, you don’t get on the plane!  I personally like that rule.  But apparently there are many people who disagree with me.  Here is my case…

I fly often and have been very inconvenienced at the TSA security.  I too have bitched & moaned about the time delay (it’s just human nature to complain). And through it all…I am so happy that they are there doing their jobs.  I gladly take my shoes, belt, sweater &  bracelets off.  I gladly pull out my laptop, ziploc filled with liquid items & electronics.  I gladly step aside to be searched more thoroughly when it is requested of me.  I actually get excited, because to me it means that they are doing their jobs!

They are not there to get their “Jollys”.  TSA is there to protect the people, the planes & America from another tragedy.  I say “Thank You” and I gladly oblige.  The day I stop believing this, is the day I stop flying.

John Tyners’ first problem is that he didnt want to go through the Body Scanner.  Me?  I kinda agree with that.  Not because I am worried about someone seeing an image of my body…but because I am not convinced that the radiation is safe.  (Although, I think people wearing burkas or other large garments that could hide so much should HAVE TO be scanned.  That is just common sense!  Cut the “I don’t want to profile and hurt anyones feelings” crap, because this is about safety, and safety supersedes political correctness!)

So I would agree to be patted down.  I have nothing to hide.  I sacrifice a little inconvenience for the safety of all.  I am getting on a plane with many other people, and that is a privilege, not a right.  And everyone else on that plane deserves to have the comfort that I am not hiding anything.  I personally don’t want to get on a plane & worry about someone having circumvented TSA!

John Tyner needs to get over himself and start thinking about the collective good for Airline travel and that is preventing terrorists from attacking us again!  Does he really think that TSA agent wanted to touch his junk?!

I remember when everyone was freaking out that their pocketbooks and carry-ons were being scanned.  I remember when everyone was freaking out about having to take off their shoes!  I remember when people were freaking out about not bringing liquid or sharp instruments through security…and now this is the new thing.  TSA security keeps evolving & changing due to threats and concerns that we (the general public are not even aware of.  As Americans, we need to kinda “go with the flow” as it is a learning process for all of us, and totally for our own good!

Sure, could the process be improved?  Yes.  Is it flawless? No. Are there always a few bad eggs in ANY job place, that abuse authority and should be fired? YES. But I believe that the TSA is doing the best they can to keep America & Americans safe.

So if the TSA agent accidentally touched this guys junk, I say “Who freaking cares!”

It is simple to me…If you want to fly, you have to follow the rules…or don’t get on my plane!

Just my opinion…..What’s yours?