REASSURE ME PLEASE!

[ALSA]

Hi,

any pilots here from uk who can tell me what its like flying? i am going on my first flight to canaries from bristol and apparently its a long flight. i have never been on a plane before and i am totally s***i*g myself PLEASE PLEASE let me know what it feels like up in the air!

Thanking you all.

[Craig.]

ALSA welcome. First of all, Your flying from my home airport its avery simple airport which is the first key to relaxing before a flight. Flying itself is nothing to be afraid of, describing what it feels like is not really possible as each person percieves it differantly. I promise you though you will have one hell of a good time on take off and landing is great fun to. My perception of being in the air, its like being in a car really, if your in a window seat its a little better as you can tell your in the air, but when its smooth flight its pretty difficult to tell your going over 500mph at 32,000 feet.
Have a great time

[Hagar]

Hi Alsa & welcome. I assume you must have some interest in flying or you wouldn't be here. I think it would help if you ask what you're scared of. I know many people have a fear of flying. It's hard for me to imagine as I've never suffered from this myself & couldn't wait to get up in the air. It was everything I always thought it would be & I have loved it ever since.

Travelling on an airliner is not much different to being on a bus or train. In fact there's far less risk involved. If anything, a long flight is a boring but necessary part of the journey. I treat it as part of the holiday. This will be a new experience for you. Rather than worry about it you might as well look forward to it & enjoy it.

[Scottler]

In all honesty, flying in a plane is a very surreal experience, no matter how many times I do it.

As for the physical sensation, I would describe it as sitting in a chair and looking out a window at something which isn't moving.  You're at a distance from the ground that the motion is very subtle, and unless you stare out the window like me, you're probably not even going to notice you're moving.

Then throw in the semi-quiet roar of the engines, and you've got flying.

Now, for turbulence, which is what makes most newbies replace their pants:

Sit in a chair at home.  Close your eyes.  Tell someone to every once in a while gently kick the back of the chair.  That's what turbulence feels like.  Sometimes it's a little bumpier than others, but in general it's very minor.

And remember, flying is safer than driving.  The only reason you hear about every little plane crash is because people like sensationalized news events.

If you heard every report of a car accident in this or any other country, you'd never get in a car.

So relax, enjoy it, and remember it.  Flying is the most beautiful thing in the world.

[ALSA]

Thanks guys!! i am not sure what exactly i am afraid of i think its just stupid things like the engines cutting out and the gear failing but i feel a bit better about it now. Thanks again              

[Craig.]

well engines are reliable and would be very unlikely to fail, and since planes can fly on one engine if nessicary,you'll still be fine. Its not that long of a flight really less worrying, and more enjoying:)

[ALSA]

Cheers again.

Craig i took a look at your photos on myaviation.net the yeovilton ones are they in the fleet air arm mueseum or at an airfeild? I wanna go to see some planes but i went to bristol to watch yesterday and wasnt allowed to park anywhere. Know of any good a/p where i can watch without hassle?????

Cheers,

Sam

[Craig.]

Hi Sam
My Yeovilton photos were taken at the air day last year. I havent gotten any photos from inside the museum yet as its to busy on the day, and the last time i went i didnt have a camera. The museum is well worth a visit has one of the original concordes and tons of maritime aircraft and a replica aircraft carrier exhibit.
Bristol airport, parking if your not to worried about paying for it, a few hours doesnt cost much in the short stay car park. There are some spotting places at the other end of the runway but i have yet to be able to find out how to get to them.

[Nexus]

ALSA here are some things you can think about.
It's very probable that during the flight the aircraft will encounter turbulence and which feel like  a VERY bumpy ride. The human instinct feels that it is unsafe,but it is not. An aircraft flies just as good in calm air as it would in turbulent air. It wont tear the wings off
Flying in turbulence can be looked upon as riding on a strong motorboat in a storm. The waves will throw the boat around quite a bit, but it sure still floats  :)

When you have boarded the aircraft the most 'dramatic' thing event before actual take off is when the engines starts. Air condition will stop working and the lights in the cabin may go out for a few seconds. This is completely normal, engines need the air pressure to start up (pneumatics) and the lights goes out becuase the pilots switch power sources.

It's not un-common to sense the smell of smoke in the cabin during the taxiing, however it's not your aircraft that's on fire, you're just smelling the exhausts from an aircraft infront of you  :)
You may hear some sounds coming from the wings, it's just the sound of the flaps getting extended.

Time for takeoff, the aircraft taxi to the runway...it may stop for awhile. Engines are revving up, and the jet starts moving. The sound is unique it will be a total new experience for you, bumps from the runway will make the aircraft shake quite a bit and it feel like the pilot is pushing it to the limit...but alas that's not true aswell.

As the pilot rotates the aircraft upwards it may feel like you're flying with a 45 degree angle, but it's just around 15 degrees infact, the landing gear will make some thumps when they retract. Suddenly without explanation the noise from the engines will decrease and the plane appears to slow down and fall from the sky. It may not happen on your flight but it may very well do. But this is  a normal operation.
See, the pilots reduce the engine effect and level off abit to comply with noise abatement restrictions. The aircraft is not slowing down it's going faster and it's still going upwards but not as much. The aircraft don't need all the engine power anymore, but it needs to gain some speed before it can continue the climb without the addition lift generated by the flaps

The aircraft now has enough speed and lift so the flaps aren't needed, so you'll hear the same flap sound again  :)

As the aircraft approaches the Canaries the flaps are again extended (in increments), if you sit at the wings you can see the large metal high lift devices, aswell as the spoilers. Gear is extended so that will again generate some noise. This is where the trip is likely going to be as most shaky, but no needs to worry mate.

Even the most experienced passenger can get a scare when the aircraft lands and suddenly take offs again. These manouvers are called Go-arounds are are more common than you think. The pilot may have elected to do that because of sudden wind change etc.

But I can guarantee you that your trip will be trouble free, there's no safer travel than flying, and I really hope you enjoy your trip!

Take care  :)

[Craig.]

See, the pilots reduce the engine effect and level off abit to comply with noise abatement restrictions.

At Bristol HA thats a good one, LOL the only aircraft that even slightly attempt that are the A320's all the rest even when flying over my house just keep going, and thats only 13 miles out if that.

[ozzy72]

Warning ALSA, flying is addictive
Prepare to grin like a maniac and want to do it all over again
Have a great flight, and we'll expect to hear all about your exciting experiences when you get back

Ozzy

[Nexus]

At Bristol HA thats a good one, LOL the only aircraft that even slightly attempt that are the A320's all the rest even when flying over my house just keep going, and thats only 13 miles out if that.

" d. The Noise Preferential Routings specified below are compatible
with ATC requirements and the tracks are to be flown by all
departing JET aircraft.

Runway 09 Climb straight ahead until passing an altitude of 3000 ft (QNH) before turning right.
Runway 09 Climb straight ahead until passing an altitude of 3000 ft (QNH) and to at least 3 DME before turning left.
Runway 27 Climb straight ahead until passing an altitude of 3000 ft (QNH) befor turning left or right.
Additionally, when departing Runway 09 and requiring to turn left, all other aircraft shall, in order to avoid Felton Village 0.75 nm East North East, climb straight ahead to 1 DME before commencing the left turn.

e. Aircraft making visual approaches to Runway 27 intercept final approach at:  
i. - Not less then 3 DME, from the north
ii. - Not less than 4 DME, from the south

f. Pilots and engineers should restrict the use of Auxiliary Power Units (APU) to the minimum tine necessary.


I guess you don't live at Felton village?  ;D

[Craig.]

hell no i dont:) Those residents are really really annoying. Most of them actually moved in after the airport became busy, and now all they do is bitch and complain, they have really nice houses, but they are also due to location really cheap. I guess aircraft take more than 13 miles to get past 3000 feet round here as they are almost always continuing straight on overhead, a few of the 737's and lighter loaded ERJ's make their left turns overhead though.

[ALSA]

thanks everyone! i will let you all know how it went (if im still alive) *JOKE*

cheers again,
Sam

[xFLAMESx]

Hey Sam, your flight will be fine - unless i'm the pilot - oh wait - the FAA banned me from flying
In that case you will be as safe as houses and just enjoy the flight mate.

Thanx. Carl