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.

You are a professional pilot and know the plane is flown by a professional pilot and YOU feel UNSAFE in the back of the plane? Wow. Maybe you fear they are taking some of the same shortcuts you are.

Just think how the pax must feel.

Curious... How many of you actually wear your seatbelt in the hotel van?

I recall a moment of clarity two winters ago after shooting an approach to mins into a small midwest airport. Midnight, blowing snow, icy ramps, etc. On the van ride to the hotel I noticed that no one else wore their seatbelt. I couldn't help but to be struck by the irony.

I just had my first anxiety attack a while back. I was on an airbus(scarebus?) down low, it started banking to the right and I would say at about 20 degrees it snapped in the opposite direction to the left. What made it kind of scary was the rate of roll, I even had to do a balance check with my foot because I was kind of seated crooked.

Actually no you don't. You can be doing everything right, and some jackass feels like being a jackass and could slam into you. Nothing you can do about it.

yeah we are all PROFESSIONAL pilots , just some are better than others!

I try to always always meet the crew whether DH, Nonrev, or JSing. I like to know how they are doing before I ride. But with seat loads lately I am usualy in the JS with them up front complaining about work rules and pay with them lol

My thoughts exactly. It can be the bumpiest ride ever, but if I'm up front it doesn't bother me. If I'm just a passenger, I hate it.

Same here...... and it has not changed in the 26 years we have been together!!

a deadhead to atl in a rj(700 or 900 can't remember) this one evening had me pretty worried seating in the back. on the base, the pf threw out the spoilers and flaps, fine he/she is trying to correct for something. but on final with thrust being somewhere around idle all the flaps came down and felt like we were going to stall pretty freaking soon. all of a sudden, the pf pushed the levers pretty far forward. we were flying this way almost to the threshold. for the life of me can't figure out if they forgot the spoilers were out or something i can't figure out.

It amazes me how we've become a society of fear. It seems like everyone is scared of everything. Take your seat, relax, and enjoy your flight. I'm much more worried about catching a cold from another pax than what the guys/gals are doing up front.

A-freakin'-men! Take a chill-pill :)

Oh and I'm surprised there hasn't been some crusty fart on here calling all y'all "backseat Captains" LoL ;)

Why are you worried about the cold? Just sit there and not worry about it, you get better in a few days anyway.

See how ridiculous you sound?

A briefing for nervous passengers and anxious jumpseaters: "If it's your time to go, it's your time to go. Doesn't matter if your in the back of the plane, in the van going to the hotel, or just sitting at home watching television. The only exception to that rule is: If it's my time to go, it's your time to go too." :D

When I go I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my uncle. Not screaming like his passengers.

I love flying in the back - best naps ever!

Seriously though, I have captain anxiety - every time the captain is flying I wonder if this is the one who's gonna kill me! :D

Exactly. Can not let unrationalized fear get in the way of logic.

You are safer in that plane than just about anywhere outside of your mommy's belly.

I take offense to the crusty fart comment! I am an OLD CRUSTY FART!:D

Best brief by a CA while I was jumpseating.....If you see something wrong, sit down, shut up....and die like a man :)