[munitalP]

A couple of weeks ago I had the experience of a hysterical woman sitting next to me who’s level of terror rose exponentially the closer to the ground we got – she was sure we were going to crash.

The flight was memorable in a number of areas, 1 it was the flight that Mrs munitalP gained complementary Gold from Qantas, and 2, it was the flight that bought the worst out in me, I wanted to open a door and throw that woman from the moving plane (only joking - I felt sorry for her)

Newcastle to Melbourne in a Dash 8 is one of the more ordinary flights in Australia. It’s slow (especially with strong head winds), noisy (Dash 8) and boring. This particular day a few weeks ago predominately featured the slow part. Strong head winds lead for a somewhat bumpy flight with no cabin service, outside we were only just above the clouds and general misery was setting in with the lady next to me – she must have reread the same page in her book 10 times before I truly did feel sorry and start chatting with her.

As we descended into Melbourne and lined up with the N/S runway, our ground speed dropped away to what seemed to be nothing. My neighbor probably needed a valium about now to calm her down. Her fear literally oozed from her (the poor thing) and I kept chatting with her. At about 1000M, we had an uninterrupted view of the ground as we had passed below the cloud cover and that’s when the fun and games really started!

Doris (an assumed name) clutched at my arm and asked me if we should be traveling so slow. I tried in vain over the next 60 seconds or so to give her a quick aviation lesson regarding the difference between airspeed and ground speed which she just could not comprehend.

This did keep her occupied for a few more seconds then at the point where the boundary fence at Tullamarine was crossed, she let out a scream “Oh my God, the planes crashing…”. It seemed that even the turbo props went silent for a moment then touch down. We had arrived safe and sound on a blustery day in Melbourne.

Before the plane had come to a stop, Tanya (FA) had come over to Doris and was comforting her even as the seatbelt signs were extinguished.

The moral to the story? There is none, even a heartless mongrel like myself (at least I am frequently called a heartless mongrel) did feel sorry for Doris, respect for the FA not just rolling her eyes and ignoring her and advice for Qantas – add some info about airspeed vs. ground speed into the in-flight magazine for the likes of Doris...

Doris, I hope your flight home was less evenful than the flight down and I hope the Grand kids were happy to see you!

Happy landings all

[serfty]

A Dash8 no less? These days, I have absolutely no hope of ever getting mrs serfty to board any prop plan in general, at least these days she will board a Jet. This has not always been the case.

My first flights with mrs serfty were very similar to the OP's experience. She was absolutely terrified of flying. It's hard to imagine, but consider sobs, real tears and genuine distress. It took several flights before she would even go to the Lav (consider MEL-DPS ). Qantas FA's were always exceptional in providing care/advice to her, often in the manner described by the op.

Before that I found it impossible to understand how much fear some have of flying.

She is still nervous these days, unwilling to look down out of windows and gets quite tense in the hours before and during flights. Her book is the bible which she refers to constantly in flight and what a change it has made.

[JohnK]

I have always had a fear of heights and in a way this includes flying. I get very tense before a flight but a few beers or champagne helps to calm me.

[Alanslegal]

last time I went on a Cessna plane (seats only 8 pax?) I was shi**ming myself all flight (30minutes) we were started hitting light turbulence? and the plane was just bumping, going sideways?, up and down, left and right.....made me really think I should have drawn up a Will and how my parents would cope without me

[Poguemahone]

I am a Frequent Dash 8 flyer!

The Qantas Club Dragons are constantly opening row 1 for me so I can get my leg stretching seat 1D, ofcourse that is if the plane is not full.

If it is full be prepared to stare and some poor bastard sitting opposite you for an hour!

Anyway I don't mind the little bug smasher as if the s.it hits the fan it is alot easier to get a docile high wing 50 seats into a paddock then somthing that has to cross the airport fence at 200K +

anyway the Virgin regionals will give the smash 8's a run for there money! mmm interesting that Virg have chosen the perfect aircraft for Rex pilots to defect too.. I wonder if Virgin were thinking that .. To think a ready made workforce living in the major rural centres of Australia waiting for the chance to jump into a mini 737..

REX IS DOOMED

Pog out!