Four photos on Wizz Air flying into Tirana, capital of Albana. Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
(NB no h in Wizz air.)
As Benjamin Franklin, the American ambassador to Britain, once said, and probably said several times, hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Seats next to exits should be reserved or allocated to able bodied people who can open the door in an emergency. On landing, stay seated until the plane comes to a standstill.
I have been hit on the head by items from overhead lockers. I am more nervous standing up than when seated.
Every pilot, and every lawyer working for an insurance company knows safety rules. Every flight staff trainer knows and conveys this. Does, or should. The passengers will be depending on the staff to act quickly, calmly, decisively, and correctly, in an emergency.
When buying a place ticket, I consider, how cheap is this flight, how safe is this flight. What is the time of day, the number of engines on the plane, and the airline's reputation for safety? A relative of mine died in an air crash, and I read Unsafe at Any Height.
In a car, I try to sit beside the door and not in the middle seat. I have had three road traffic accidents.
I fly regularly. I am no longer nervous But I do try to select my seat.
THE PLANE EXITS
I was twice in planes which had trouble, engine trouble of warning lights. Once, taking off from Heathrow in an Air India flight. We had to wait at the airport many hours for another flight. Then the second leg of my flight, we circled and came to a standstill. The air hostess (as they were called in those days) ran to the pilot's cabin. She came running back in a panic, raced down the aisle and off the plane. Leaving us!
I now sit near an exit, on the aisle. In a train I like to sit near the exit, but mainly so I can watch my luggage, and not have to race a long a long aisle to get off in time when I hear the station name announced, and cannot understand it, and suddenly find I am at the interchange or destination station in Wales.
Flying is safer than driving
This is normally considered true, but sounds ironic. If you drive on corniche roads, corniche is French for ledge, with a sheer drop on one side, the number of times you brace yourself, and stare anxiously at the scenery, on one journey, can exceed the number of times you brace yourself in an aircraft during turbulence. However, some people find that dangerous roads do not make flying seem safer. Any kind of alarm makes them more tense in all situations.
Howeve, even if you are totally stress-free, and stoical, it may be despite, or because, of the fact that you have taken every care to maximize your chances of coming out of an accident safely.
Yes, but whether you are driving or on the road, many precautions can save lives. That is why we have a highway code, and driving tests, and the UK's car MOT, and road safety campaigns. That is why airlines have safety briefings. Ensure you are not one of the few, rare casualties, but one of the survivors.
Fear of Flying
I used to be afraid of flying. I liked photography. I sat in the window seat. After we took off, I felt nervous looking down.
Now I sit in the aisle seat. This has more than one advantage. Quick exit in emergency. Quick exit to toilet. Quick way to stop a passing flight attendant. Eyes on the long aisle beat claustrophobia. Inside plane activity distracts from the sight of the far off ground.
Preparation On Boarding
If you want a photo from the window, ask the passenger in the window seat to take it.
Listen to the exit and emergency instructions. That helps others. And may stop them obstructing your exit.
Check you can find your inflatable floatation device.
Check you know which way to pull the lever on the emergency exit.
Keep your phone and credit cards and passport on you. That way you don't delay in any emergency. You don't leave the plane and leave your passport behind in the seat back pocket. You have a phone to call for help, and contact family to say you are safe. You have credit cards to buy food, a ticket home, clothes, a hotel to stay overnight, the airline number to call for help or another flight, to tell them where you are, to ask for a message to be sent to your family, and the taxi waiting for you at the destination airport.
Wear flat shoes, not heels, which damage the slide as you descend and slow your running away on land.
In your pocket have a small file of drinking water, a chocolate bar or vitamin tablets.
Thongs (underpants) in your pocket, spare socks, a small pen and paper to write a help me note, or location details.
HOTEL EXITS
Note the exit. Note the number of doors between your bedroom and the exit.
RESTAURANTS
Note the exit. Ask, if there is a back exit for an emergency.
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