Flying...

[Shekwan]

I love flying. I want to become an airline pilot. Don't know how majoring in chem in college is going to do that for me though...

Make bomb using chemistry skills -> Take bomb on plane -> Threaten pilot and take control -> Now its your airline!

 

[Narz]

Got any advice?

Sit back & enjoy the ride.

Drink lots of water. Srsly, don't be embarrassed to ask for way more than other fliers. "If everyone did it" they'd run out but everyone won't.

 

[JerichoHill]

I'll do that.

Okay, I'm flying very early tomorrow morning! DC -> Charlotte -> St. Maarten w/US Airways. Then a puddle jump to St. Eustatius w/ Winair. Flying back June 7th!

 

[MobBoss]

I'll do that.

Okay, I'm flying very early tomorrow morning! DC -> Charlotte -> St. Maarten w/US Airways. Then a puddle jump to St. Eustatius w/ Winair. Flying back June 7th!

As a guy who has had to take some long flights in his life here are my recommendations.

Wear comfy clothes and shoes. Take some gum to chew to help alleviate ear pressure. If you get a chance mid flight, take your shoes off and massage your feet on the foot rail under the seat in front of you - it helps relax you. If you are reading a good book take it, but also think about taking an ipod/mp3 with headphones - sometimes you can get a seat near a kid who doesnt like flying. Try to get a window seat, or...if you drink a lot and have a small bladder - get an aisle seat. Dont get packed into the middle of a bunch of people or they will always be bugging you. And if you drink, then have a good one in flight (if they offer it) it doesnt hurt.

Hope that helps.

 

[Brighteye]

I can't really help with the fear, but the headaches and discomfort can be alleviated best by drinking. Alcohol helps, but plenty of water is absolutely a good thing too.
A light book is wonderful: there's a reason that airport novels have thrived despite being relatively poor literature.

 

[JerichoHill]

Mobby,

I've got noise canceling headphones, a Nintendo DS, and 3 good books. I've got aisle seats on the flights there as I'm tall. For coping, I have Xanak, so I should be just fine! I will remember the feet massaging trick, thanks!

 

[Zelig]

Don't take the seat in front of the emergency exit that doesn't recline for long flights.

I learned this the hard way.

 

[Colonel]

I don't fly that often but I have been on every range of commercial airliners, and more recently I was on a twin engine Cessna for a sky diving event. But I can calm your nerves a bit as I am an air traffic controller, on an average day very few planes experience any sort of difficulty, with the exception of military aircraft. Your biggest issue with smaller puddle jumper aircraft is if there is bad weather, Usually those aircraft go out VFR(visual) and will run into a bit of trouble when the weather goes bad.

 

[emzie]

That you understand what a flying fear is about (lack of control) is the biggest step towards being comfortable you could make.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

I've only flown once, and it was in a small, single engine, 4 person plane. My Sunday School teacher in 9th grade (or thereabouts) took a bunch of us up flying around Stone Mountain one Saturday. If I hadn't had some family thing to do later that day he would have let me fly it for a while, but I wasn't lucky enough to be in the front seat in the first group and had to go before the second.

The Sunday School teacher the year before that worked for Delta took us to use the flight simulators once. Unfortunately I didn't get to land that, since the guys who went before me seemed to enjoy crashing them way too much.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The biggest problem with small planes is that the bumpy rides can make you feel sick to your stomach. That's why they put barf bags in the seat pockets. If you feel sick, turn on the over head fan and point it at your face. The fresh air will ease the nausea. Think about your impending vacation.

 

[Huayna Capac357]

I love flying, everything about it. The only problem is takeoff and landing.

 

[raketooy]

I've always liked flying. Maybe it is just because I have flown a lot since very little, because my family travels a lot and you basically have to fly if you want to get anywhere beyond Sweden, Estonia or Russia from here.

 

[Ramius75]

Honestly, that's a good idea even if I hate flying. I might do that.

its less bumpy when ur in the pilot seat also... try to imagine ur flying the plane.. it helps..

 

[Mise]

I don't mind flying, it's airports that I hate. Specifically, I hate the fact that nothing is ever on time, and everyone is stressed out, tired, and rude.

 

[BSmith1068]

If you dont hate flying, ask the pilot of the puddle jumper ahead of time if you can sit in the co-pilot's seat.

This is actually a really good idea. It will help alleviate the sense of lack of control. Not only are you facing forward with a nice window to look out of (you can see where you are going), but you have a set of controls right in front of you. Not that you would know how to use them, but still they are there. You will also be really distracted by watching (and listening if he gives you a headset) the pilot and all the instruments. Angle for this if it is allowed!

Whatever you do, don't look down. Don't look out the window unless you're sure that the wings are intact. (Ask a fellow passenger for confirmation of this)

I would actually give the opposite advice. Look out the window as much as you can. Enjoy the scenery. Take it all in. It will help you forget that you are stuck inside a metal tube and you won’t feel as trapped.

I'll do that.

Okay, I'm flying very early tomorrow morning! DC -> Charlotte -> St. Maarten w/US Airways. Then a puddle jump to St. Eustatius w/ Winair. Flying back June 7th!

Damn. That means my post is useless as you are already on the plane!

EDIT: I love flying, actually, and I would be looking forward to your last leg of the trip. Flying in one of these guys is "real flying" in my opinion! I would love to hear what you thought of it when you get back...

 

[Masada]

Largest per capita usage of small planes in the world apparently where I live. I don't mind the double props... I categorically refuse to get in single prop aircraft.

 

[really]

A colleague was on a flight on a 70 seat plane - there were only three passengers but they were all sitting in the same row in the center of the plane. he asked the stewardess why - she said it was to keep the plane balanced.

 

[IglooDame]

This is actually a really good idea. It will help alleviate the sense of lack of control. Not only are you facing forward with a nice window to look out of (you can see where you are going), but you have a set of controls right in front of you. Not that you would know how to use them, but still they are there. You will also be really distracted by watching (and listening if he gives you a headset) the pilot and all the instruments. Angle for this if it is allowed!

That reminds me - some airlines' audio headsets (ordinarily used for listening to the in-flight movie or music 'channels') include a traffic control channel. This is really really frikkin awesome for people like us that want to drive or at least know what's going on; if you can't get a ride in the cockpit then see if this channel is available.

A colleague was on a flight on a 70 seat plane - there were only three passengers but they were all sitting in the same row in the center of the plane. he asked the stewardess why - she said it was to keep the plane balanced.

That makes no sense at all - the weight of three passengers is not going to be significant to an aircraft of that size. Maybe they were going for a mile-high menage-a-trois and the stewardess didn't want to embarass them?

 

[Mise]

Maybe they were just friends!