Flying anxiety
 

After 3407, when deadheading on planes, I tend to have a little more anxiety due to lack of control. Anyone else have this?

Yeah, a little bit. I always feel better once I feel some power come back in while on an approach. Makes me think that somebody up front is probably paying attention to airspeed. However, I am usually asleep anyway so I guess I don't feel that much anxiety.

I was the same way even before 3407. What can I say.... I have control issues. :D

My wife would argue that ALL pilots have control issues, thats why they put up with so much just to sit in the pointy end....:D

It happens to many of us to varying degrees. I know after OH5191, I was commuting home and had a very strange feeling sitting in the cabin...it was the realization that you have no control in back and are completely relying on the people upfront.

In a way I think it is a good thing (the feeling, not the accident), as it made me more aware of the responsibility placed upon us upfront.

Im glad its not just me... I hate sitting in the back anymore.

I don't have any worries whatsoever when riding in the back. Flying is BY FAR THE SAFEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I read that an average of 120 people are killed on the roads every day in the U.S. I'm more worried riding the van to and from the hotel while the driver is usually on the cell phone, speeding and tailgating in the rain. Driving is WAAAYYYYY MORE DANGEROUS than flying.

I felt this way even before the Colgan accident. At least sitting up front you know exactly what it going on and are in control of the situation.

Yeah, that thought flutters into my mind every now and then - and an (apparent) display of terminal stupidity like 3407 is enough to make it happen a bit more often. We all know that flying is "BY FAR THE SAFEST MODE OF TRANSPORTATION", but it always feels just that much safer when my butt's in the front seat.

Can't say it's ever affected my travel plans, though.

It is all about control...I know it is much safer than driving to and from the airport, but I'm in the drivers seat and control my fate in the car.

The anxiety that I felt went away after a couple legs commuting after the accident.