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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Kind of. I'm an airline safety director. I post frequently about child restraint systems on airplanes and how important I think it is, and I get people arguing about how it doesn't matter at all. I don't mind when people say you're safer flying than driving (true) but I do mind when people trot out outdated stats or guidance or try to say that if you go down, you're going to all die anyway (the overwhelming majority of aviation accidents have survivors - little known fact...). Just generally speaking, the other thing people want to talk to me about is how expensive airfares have gotten, when they're the steal of the century compared to what they were 20 / 30 years ago. But, everyone has an opinion on traveling... [/quote]

I'd love to know more about airline safety. Like: What's the best way to survive a crash? And what's the biggest misconception about flying and safety that you wish people understood better?[/quote]

I'm pressed for time, but maybe at some point I'll do a DCUM ask me anything. I'm a spokesperson for my organization so I would need to carefully remain anonymous! :)

Anyway, a lot of survivability data was in the documentary "curiosity plane crash" on the discovery channel. A lot of it was sensationalized but still factually based. For example, sitting within 5 rows of an exit greatly increases your chances. Sitting toward the back of the airplane (but not the tail) is also better than the front (sorry first class denizens, you may be more comfortable, but you're not safer, unless the impact is minimal and there's just a "getting out" situation, in which case that is safer due to exit proximity.

If you're in a crash, use every means of getting to the exits. Climb over the seats if needed so that you're not jamming the aisle. Move efficiently. DO NOT TAKE YOUR SHIT! Look at the Asiana airlines crash for that - so many people coming off with purses, bags, etc. Not only does this slow YOU down, it slows others down by making it harder to move efficiently.

Finally, pay attention during the safety brief, even if you fly constantly. I remember flying once with my boss, 16 years ago. He had been a navy fighter pilot, had actually been shot down (survived, obviously!), piloted for a commercial airline for 20 years, most of them as a captain, and rose through the ranks. He at the time still maintained his commercial pilot's rating, As always, he sat down, placed his reading material down, and listened closely to the flight attendant's presentation, and picked up the brochure when she referred to it, and made a note of looking to see where the exits were as she referred to them. A fellow traveler leaned over to him, and said "first time flying?" His response was a classic: "no, I just think this is important, and so should you!"

I try to keep those words in mind when I'm busy, have my earbuds in and a laptop (or magazine!) out, on my 10th flight in a month, in an aircraft I've flown in so many times I could draw the safety brochure myself, I still look, still remind myself, still take 1 minute to think about my personal emergency plan and an emergency plan for my kids. And I'm the opposite of a fearful flyer!

The other thing I will never do is sit in my seat without my belt loosely belted. I have to say I was surprised the first few times I flew with fellow safety directors who did not follow the same protocol. Because flying is so safe, it does seem a bit silly to sit there with your belt fastened. But, clear air turbulence does happen. Thank god it's rare (because not only is it dangerous, it freaks people the F out!) but it's a really big source of injuries. Same thing for my kids, generally I want them in their CRS (or seats) with the straps loosely fastened. Obviously, this doesn't mean we don't get up and stretch our legs! And when my kids were really small we did feel we had to balance safety with sanity - so kids were on laps a lot (though we always had a CRS in case of turbulence). I remember one particularly bouncy flight when my son was small. He was frightened and the last thing I wanted to do was peel him out of my arms and put him in his car seat, but I did. (I kept my belt loose and was able to lean over and hug / reassure him). But anyway....  with more time I'd try to write more! Happy trails all.

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