Over the last two years, I have observed that most people are just scared of the idea of taking a ride in a small airplane. I have heard accounts of people not being able to sleep the night before, and canceling on me the day of (by coming up with a fake excuse or leaving a voice mail, text etc.), to even just plain refusing to go up. I was a little annoyed at this and have simply stopped asking people to go along flying. I feel like by refusing to go up, they disrespect not only the pilot, but aviation in general. People also have made comments like, boy you must have a death wish or just because the plane has only one engine the chances of survival are grim etc. We as pilots are doing something that requires a great deal of discipline, practice, and constant learning, and it is beyond us to explain all we have to go through to make safe flights. I feel like these people view us as daredevils and would rather watch us "risk our own lives" rather than being a part of it.
Having said that I have flown with a few individuals who absolutely love the idea of a small plane and have been totally relaxed throughout the flight. Maybe I am just not surrounded by more people like this or am I right in saying that "most" people are indeed afraid of taking a flight in a small airplane?