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I fly quite frequently, 320 flights so far based on my diary. The MAX accidents back then obviously made me a bit uncomfortable. Until a week ago, I had't actu

by kmarc 3y ago

I fly quite frequently, 320 flights so far based on my diary. The MAX accidents back then obviously made me a bit uncomfortable. Until a week ago, I had't actually flown with a MAX; but on January 1st, I took an Air Mexico flight which happened to be one. I wasn't scared (in the sense I know about myself when I'm scared), but rather curious, so, funnily enough, I came to HN and searched for the MAX articles from back then, because I expected that I'd find insights, good technical conversations and in-deep articles about the topic. On the other hand, I do have one fear. On longer flights, the large aircrafts that have three batches of seats per row, I prefer an aisle seat in the middle: there is a lower chance that I'm gonna be the one woken up when the middle seater has to go to the bathroom. On a smaller aircraft (that usually fly for less than 3h, so I don't have to use the bathroom myself) I always prefer a window seat (1) My nightmare is that once the window breaks, or a panel (that you can see the sealing points of) gets ripped off. This only ever happened a couple times, so I very well know there is practically zero chance that this would happen to me. And now this, in the news, coincidentally. (1) and I always check which side that window seat should be so I have the better view(2), like more mountains etc (2) but honestly, I usually don't have a good view, since I prefer a seat oat the middle of the wings' height so that my ride is less bumpy.

belter 3y ago
"Which Airlines Fly The Most Boeing 737 MAX?" - https://simpleflying.com/boeing-737-max-airlines/ https://simpleflying.com/boeing-737-max-airlines/ "Boeing 737 MAX 9 Production List" - https://www.planespotters.net/aircraft/production/boeing-737-max-9 https://www.planespotters.net/aircraft/production/boeing-737... The need for this post, shows the pathetic of the situation.
phil21 3y ago
This is somewhat amusing, and at risk of a "me too" low value post... When I started regularly flying, I would actually search NTSB reports for the airframe in question in the airport lounge. I don't really know why exactly, but I think the engineering related discussion and the dryness of those accident reports were quite comforting - reading about those crashes really drove home how safe air transport really is. I'm sure I raised a few eyebrows though for anyone glancing at my screen. I also have the semi-irrational fear of where I sit. However mine is in relation to the engine nacelle - I don't want to be within 4 or 5 rows from where the fan blades are in case they explode into the cabin. Same with prop aircraft - I highly prefer to not be seated in the aisle next to the prop. So, there are at least two of us out there!
- sq_ 3y ago
  I do the same thing with the nacelle! I haven’t researched enough to be certain, but it seems like shielding yourself from being hurt by an uncontained engine failure is probably the only thing that an individual can affect by their own choices on a modern commercial jet. Most other accident types seem to be either not tied to any specific area of the plane or so large/non-survivable that there’s nothing a passenger can do. It’s silly since the odds of literally anything happening are so low, but it makes some part of my brain happier so I do it.
asylteltine 3y ago
Well you can feel better knowing that planes are designed to have tear off strips so if a piece ever rips off it only tears to a maximum small area and shouldn’t keep tearing. At least that’s how Boeing designed it…
- cjbprime 3y ago
  Sudden decompression at high speed and altitude is dangerous to both humans and airframes, regardless of "tear off strips". A common pattern in explosive decompression accidents is that e.g. the cargo door opens and then the cabin floor caves in and severs vital control surface cables.
  - asylteltine 3y ago
    That happened exactly twice though. That’s certainly not common at all and yes the tear off strips are supposed to minimize that damage either way
- kmarc 3y ago
  Looking at similar events, like the infamous Aloha Airlines' case, I'm not sure how much better I should feel knowing sabout this stuff. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243 Also, many passengers don't keep their seat belts closed during flight, which scares me too

by kmarc 3y ago

belter 3y ago

"Which Airlines Fly The Most Boeing 737 MAX?" - https://simpleflying.com/boeing-737-max-airlines/ https://simpleflying.com/boeing-737-max-airlines/ "Boeing 737 MAX 9 Production List" - https://www.planespotters.net/aircraft/production/boeing-737-max-9 https://www.planespotters.net/aircraft/production/boeing-737... The need for this post, shows the pathetic of the situation.

phil21 3y ago

This is somewhat amusing, and at risk of a "me too" low value post... When I started regularly flying, I would actually search NTSB reports for the airframe in question in the airport lounge. I don't really know why exactly, but I think the engineering related discussion and the dryness of those accident reports were quite comforting - reading about those crashes really drove home how safe air transport really is. I'm sure I raised a few eyebrows though for anyone glancing at my screen. I also have the semi-irrational fear of where I sit. However mine is in relation to the engine nacelle - I don't want to be within 4 or 5 rows from where the fan blades are in case they explode into the cabin. Same with prop aircraft - I highly prefer to not be seated in the aisle next to the prop. So, there are at least two of us out there!

sq_ 3y ago
I do the same thing with the nacelle! I haven’t researched enough to be certain, but it seems like shielding yourself from being hurt by an uncontained engine failure is probably the only thing that an individual can affect by their own choices on a modern commercial jet. Most other accident types seem to be either not tied to any specific area of the plane or so large/non-survivable that there’s nothing a passenger can do. It’s silly since the odds of literally anything happening are so low, but it makes some part of my brain happier so I do it.

asylteltine 3y ago

Well you can feel better knowing that planes are designed to have tear off strips so if a piece ever rips off it only tears to a maximum small area and shouldn’t keep tearing. At least that’s how Boeing designed it…

cjbprime 3y ago
Sudden decompression at high speed and altitude is dangerous to both humans and airframes, regardless of "tear off strips". A common pattern in explosive decompression accidents is that e.g. the cargo door opens and then the cabin floor caves in and severs vital control surface cables.
- asylteltine 3y ago
  That happened exactly twice though. That’s certainly not common at all and yes the tear off strips are supposed to minimize that damage either way
kmarc 3y ago
Looking at similar events, like the infamous Aloha Airlines' case, I'm not sure how much better I should feel knowing sabout this stuff. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloha_Airlines_Flight_243 Also, many passengers don't keep their seat belts closed during flight, which scares me too