Comments on: Fear of flying vs. fear of firing http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/fear-of-flying-vs-fear-of-firing/ The last honest travel site Sun, 12 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Capt Tom Bunn LCSW http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/fear-of-flying-vs-fear-of-firing/comment-page-1/#comment-3499 Capt Tom Bunn LCSW Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:35:14 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=4890#comment-3499 The traveling public needs to understand that the FAA is primarily a political organization, and only secondarily (if that) a safety organization. We airline pilots are sometimes shocked when the FAA actually does something that enhances safety instead of simply enhancing its public relations. Pilot fatigue is a serious problem and the NTSB has repeatedly asked the FAA to take action. The FAA has responded that it is not the FAA's job. To respond to what Jack said, it is not unusual to have 2 to 4 hours sleep between flights. Most of us are good enough at what we do to be able to function safely on a routine flight even with little sleep, but when things get challenging, that lack of sleep gets in the way of effectively thinking through the situation; bad judgment can result. Though there are real problems that the FAA is not taking action on, airline flying is still reasonably safe. Most of us can fly without anxiety knowing the chance of an accident one in three-million to five-million flights. But there are also a lot of people who have trouble with the idea of one accident in a hundred-million flights. I work with people who seem to find no way to deal with flying because it safety is not absolute. Yet, on the ground, where they have their hands on the wheel, they are OK. But when they are not in control, they can't manage emotionally without absolute safety, which -- of course -- does not exist either place. If you, or if you know someone who needs help dealing with flight anxiety, please let them know they can get a good understanding of the problem and how it can be complete cured (that wasn't always possible, but now it is) by seeing the video at http://www.fearofflying.com/video_hs.shtml Your truly, Capt Tom Bunn LCSW President, SOAR Inc. email: tom@fearofflying.com The traveling public needs to understand that the FAA is primarily a political organization, and only secondarily (if that) a safety organization. We airline pilots are sometimes shocked when the FAA actually does something that enhances safety instead of simply enhancing its public relations.

Pilot fatigue is a serious problem and the NTSB has repeatedly asked the FAA to take action. The FAA has responded that it is not the FAA’s job. To respond to what Jack said, it is not unusual to have 2 to 4 hours sleep between flights. Most of us are good enough at what we do to be able to function safely on a routine flight even with little sleep, but when things get challenging, that lack of sleep gets in the way of effectively thinking through the situation; bad judgment can result.

Though there are real problems that the FAA is not taking action on, airline flying is still reasonably safe. Most of us can fly without anxiety knowing the chance of an accident one in three-million to five-million flights. But there are also a lot of people who have trouble with the idea of one accident in a hundred-million flights. I work with people who seem to find no way to deal with flying because it safety is not absolute. Yet, on the ground, where they have their hands on the wheel, they are OK. But when they are not in control, they can’t manage emotionally without absolute safety, which — of course — does not exist either place.

If you, or if you know someone who needs help dealing with flight anxiety, please let them know they can get a good understanding of the problem and how it can be complete cured (that wasn’t always possible, but now it is) by seeing the video at http://www.fearofflying.com/video_hs.shtml

Your truly,

Capt Tom Bunn LCSW
President, SOAR Inc.
email: tom@fearofflying.com

]]> By: Mike http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/fear-of-flying-vs-fear-of-firing/comment-page-1/#comment-3479 Mike Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:57:06 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=4890#comment-3479 I agree! The crash of Comair 191 in Kentucky where the regional jet took off from the wrong runway might have been avoided if there had been better air traffic control on duty at the time. I think there was a single controller on duty who had worked long hours. I agree! The crash of Comair 191 in Kentucky where the regional jet took off from the wrong runway might have been avoided if there had been better air traffic control on duty at the time. I think there was a single controller on duty who had worked long hours.

]]> By: Jack http://www.consumertraveler.com/today/fear-of-flying-vs-fear-of-firing/comment-page-1/#comment-3472 Jack Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:30:52 +0000 http://www.tripso.com/?p=4890#comment-3472 If the pilots and crew were getting behind the stick with only 2-4 hours of sleep between shifts no one would want to fly on that plane. Seems to me it should be the same rules for the controllers. If the pilots and crew were getting behind the stick with only 2-4 hours of sleep between shifts no one would want to fly on that plane.

Seems to me it should be the same rules for the controllers.

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