No it is not the same as getting on a bus.
Let me start by saying I am making this post as someone who has a fear of flying, but I have good reason too...
I am the kind of plane crash survivor that is usually not talked about too much unless they are hurt or killed....
I was an on the ground bystander to a major plane crash in the 1980's.
Since that incident I have studied as many plane crashes that I can when I hear about them on the news. I compare them to accidents involving other mass travel transportation vehicles. Trains, buses, and cruise ships. Here are my findings...
small planes: I seem to hear about one of these crashing every other week in my area. Usually with fatal results. But I have also heard that parachutes designed to lessen the planes crashing impact have been tested with some good results. Lets hope they can work on all planes.
large commercial planes/airliners: On Jetliners with 200 or so people, if a crash happens and there are survivors I am suprised. Oddly enough, your plane doesn't even have to be off the ground for you to be in great danger. Runway accidents often don't make news if no one was hurt. But in a recent 3 year study of American runway accident s Los Angeles airport had the most with 33. That is almost an accident a month.
Trains: Compaired to planes, train accidents barely even register even when they make the news. Almost all Am Trak accidents that I can recall had less than 10 fatalities, and often the fatalities are train employees. The worst that I know of had a death toll in the 30's or 40's because the train derailed off a bridge traping and drowning people in their cars. Passengers may be able to increase their safety depending on which car they stay in.
buses: I rarely hear about Greyhound bus accidents, and I don't know why that is. Maybe they are so common, like a regular car accident. I do hear of crashes involving tour groups,bands, classes, teams, and so forth with varying degrees of injuries and fatalties. But I don't recall any stories about all passengers on a bus perishing, as with planes.
cruise ships: As far as I know it is unlikely there will be another Titanic. I think all cruise ships are required to have adequate life boat supplies, and of course there is better communication with the mainland now a days. But there seems to be more and more reports of people disapearing on cruises. I think it is important to ....
1. If possible stay away from the deck/railing area, especially late at night when no one is around
2. go on the cruise with a companion, and keep track of eachother
3. limit your drinking
4. be careful in your interactions with other passengers and staff
5. lock your cabin door, don't go to a strangers cabin, don't invite a stranger into yours
6. make arrangements to call a friend or family member every day you are away.
Your heart starts to pound. You start to shake. You begin to sweat. You feel faint ... What is it that scares the heck out of you? It may seem ridiculous and irrational to others, but fears and phobias can keep you from living life to the fullest. Donna is terrified of scary movies, but her husband really wants to watch them together. Get a sneak preview of Dr. Phil's most recent "scary" experience. Will it lighten Donna's view of horror films? Also, how do you get over a fear of costumed characters, cotton, or aliens? Plus, a celebrity's near-death experience turned his whole life around. What are you afraid of? Tell us.
