Aug 24, 2009

Plane crash statistics or when is the safest stage during a flight?


Hi y'all,
Those of us who are afraid to fly nurture ourselves with any kind of information, regardless if it's the truth or not.

Every now and then I like to look at the facts heads on.

Some of you who have written to me, state they are most fearful when the plane is on "cruise" mode, at 33,000 feet, some of you are terrified of the landing or take off.

So lets settle this once and for all -
If we look at the graph above (extracted from a Boeing presentation on the Boeing website - "Statistical Summary of Commercial Jet Airplane Accidents - 1959-2008),
it's obvious the crucial moments during a flight are the take off and initial climb, as well as the final approach and the landing.
By 5%, the taking off process is more dangerous then the landing process.(30% as opposed to 25%)

So, those of you who are mostly afraid on the cruise stage of the flight - You can calm down as, statistically, you have less to worry about...(16% opposed to 25% and 30%).

I am happy to report that the safest stage of the flight is "taxi/load/unload/parked/toe....an impressive 0% causalities.....or perhaps, just stay at home, dont go out anywhere and perhaps (!) nothing can happen to you.....

As I am one of your own, perhaps this knowledge will help me now shift my fears during the flight...I will "invest" mostly in being afraid on take off, calm down during the cruise phase and get all worked up again during landing...See how that works for me instead of being afraid the whole flight...

I am flying n 2 days...As I wrote a few time, I try not to think of it,until I am on the taxi on my way to the airport.
Today I will be trying a "fear of flying" program for myself and review it for you tomorrow.

Have an AMAZING week!

Karen

2 comments:

  1. Hi Karen,

    As an airline pilot and licensed therapist, I've worked on this problem for twenty-nine years. Some of the insights I've gained by working with people are available in articles at http://www.fearofflying.com/wordpress/

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  2. Indeed, Tom, You are doing great work!!

    ReplyDelete