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Hi Capt Lim,
My name is Dan. I am from Pittsburgh and will be flying on Saturday on an ERJ-145 from Pittsburgh to D.C. Then, from there to Myrtle Beach on another (Canada Air) ERJ-145. I have been on bigger airplanes before like the B757, 747, 737, A320, etc but I haven*t been on them since the two flights that I had a few years back.
One was flying in the last part of a thunderstorm and there was bad turbulence. Another was when we flew into a blizzard back from San Juan and it was like all hell broke loose. Going down there was pretty bumpy too and we seemed to be in clouds the entire time through a big storm system. There were people freaking out because there was ice on the wings and I was even gripping and praying we would make it.
People were just not aware of the turbulence and it felt like we were going up and down a few hundred feet at a time.
After we stopped, I talked to the pilot and he said he had 5 kids and he wouldn't fly unless it was safe. That made me deal with it better but to be honest, I wanted to get off before I talked to him.
I used to fly Microsoft Flight simulator a lot as a kid and actually thought about being a pilot at one time (my vision is really bad so it's a bit too late now, I'm 22). That is a great game but it doesn*t let you feel turbulence and the bumpy landings, etc.
Anyway I read your book, which I got on my laptop. I felt better after reading it. I am still afraid though because I feel more comfortable on a bigger plane. I read something where the ERJ-145 is made in China now, obviously that doesn't make me feel better about it.
It's amazing how before those two bad flights, I didn't really mind flying. I don't know why I am afraid still even after reading the book. I mean, I will understand what's going on better now and I will breathe slower but it doesn't dump the fear entirely. I guess flying 20,000 ft or higher just make anyone feels a bit nervous because it feels like you're trapped.
I am sure you've gotten emails like this but in your experience of being on a smaller regional jet, was the turbulence really bad?
Thanks for your time.
Dan
Hi Dan,
I have just read in the papers yesterday where Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula said publicly, following last week's plane crash in Sao Paulo, "I'm scared of flying in an airplane. I confess this in public because it's not shameful to admit we*re afraid."
He went on to say that, "Every time the doors shut on an airplane, I surrender my fate to God because I am in the hands of a pilot who is a human being, a flight controller who says when I can stop and go. I am at the mercy of an ultra modern machine and the weather, which man is not able to control"
Yes, President Lula is an honest fearful flyer just like any other. One of the bulwarks to such fears is knowledge - as I have elaborated in many of my other replies.
In your case, you are worried about flying on the smaller ERJ 145 plane again. I have received a lot of emails on similar topic. I also wrote about flying in turbulence and its effect of the size of the planes below:
1. Does smaller planes wobble more in turbulence?
2. Is there's a safer way to travel than flying on tiny planes?
Well, the severity of the turbulence varies on each flight ? it is like a toss of a dime. Some can be mild whilst others can be horrific! Generally, smaller planes get tossed around more than bigger ones? it is just like comparing a smaller boat and an ocean liner.
You mentioned that the smaller plane (ERJ-145) didn't make you feel better because it was made in China. You shouldn't be, as planes today are not made solely in a particular country. Remember, even the most modern super jumbo jet ? the Airbus A380 could not have been built without close coordination with suppliers from around the world. China is one of the countries that supply some of the aircraft parts. So there is quality control imposed on the Chinese airplane manufacturer.
Your turbulent experiences on the smaller planes were certainly uncomfortable but they were not a safety issue otherwise the captain would not have said what he had said to you!
Have more safe and smooth flights! :-)
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