Flying... a few things

Chrussell2

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, if its not it'd be great if one of the MODS would move it.

Ok so I've a few things. I don't like flying, in fact I dislike the taking off and landing parts. Especially taking off. Firstly, (and this may sound thick) is it just me or do Ryanair come in for a landing really fast. I've flown with a few airlines and I've had some really smooth landings, but not with Ryanair, we always seem to come speeding in, bouncing all around the place.

Does anyone have any tips for taking off? I literally sh*te the bed when taking off!

Secondly, why do they make you turn off your ipod and open the blinds for take off and landing?

Any contributions would be great.

Thanks!

cocoshovel

Pilots set the landing speed on a number of factors including weight of the aircraft, fuel and weather etc. I think its usually about 130-170 knots, so its not just Ryanair being cheap or dangerous or anything like that. Maybe it just feels that way on the specific aircraft they use (737-800).

Take off can be quiet scary, you shouldn't worry though. What specific things about it are scaring you? All the bumps and clanks or just the whole accelerating and busting into the air part at high speeds?

They make you turn off electronics because some can send out signals that can interfere with the aircrafts computer systems that help it land and navigate. It really isn't that much of a danger. I can imagine even if 20 people were using their phones it wouldn't do anything. Its just a precaution, the aircrafts navigation wires and such are all protected from signals anyway. These signals only really can come off things like phones, laptops with wifi etc. They don't come off camera's or anything, but none the less they will tell you to shut it off just as a precaution, also they can't tell which electronics do or don't send or receive signals so all off is the easiest bet.

Not sure about why they tell you to put up the windows. Its prob the same reason for putting up the tray table and closing overhead bins. Because if the landing is bumpy or just in the rare event of an accident it might actually come loose and bust someone. Those window shutters aren't the most sturdiest things after all.

I know you have probably heard this a million times before, but flying is so much safer than driving in terms the amounts of accidents that occur. Aviation is a very safe business, with hundreds of safety checks and regulations for airlines and aircraft. if it wasn't safe, it wouldn't be flying.

ironclaw

Its unbelievably safe as an industry. I hate roller coasters but I love flying. RyanAir do fly a little harder in my opinion but I wouldn't worry about that. As said above, it can depend on the plane.

If you don't like flying, sit in an aisle seat and bring a book / magazine. Keep your mind off things.

You'll be fine OP!

Chrussell2

I 100% know my fear is pretty irrational and I'm more likely to be involved in a car crash (in fact today I've been on a plane and in a car and I came within inches of a car accident!), but rationality seems to go out the window when I'm sitting on a runway.

I think I just think when the plane is taking off, what if the engines die now and we're in a lull, half way up and then we just drop out of the sky. Perhaps its because I'm not in control. I'm not sure.

magentas

just don't press the red button

Chrussell2

magentas wrote: »

just don't press the red button

I always carry a roll of sticky tape in my carry-on luggage.... just incase I have to climb out onto the wheel!

Fratton Fred

There is a YouTube clip of a Thomson airways Boeing 767 having an engine fail on take off from Manchester airport. Watching it is actually quite good because you hear the pilot and control tower talking and you realise that commercial airlines can take an awful lot before they start crashing.

rossie1977

its not your imagination ryanair really do land rough quite often, i fly with them alot and its amazing to compare them to say easyjet who fly the same type of aircraft but always land smooth

BuffyBot

fly with them alot and its amazing to compare them to say easyjet who fly the same type of aircraft but always land smooth

easyJet don't fly any 737-800's.