Do you do anything to prepare for a plane crash?

[harvyk]

I don't do anything specifically. I'll usually at least take note of the nearest exit / count the number of rows between me and the exit (usually the answer is zero).
I also usually keep my passport on me although that's more because I don't want to be in limbo without a passport if it got lost during the flight.
Things like shoes off are not usually a problem as I can count on one hand the number of times I've taken shoes off during a flight.

Personally I don't know how I would act during an emergency evac (and just as I wrote those words the fire alarm went off in the office , I don't think Mr Ewing is anywhere around), knowing me I would take the whole process very seriously, and I could see myself shouting at anyone who did try and take luggage off.

 

[Ewing]

Personally I don't know how I would act during an emergency evac (and just as I wrote those words the fire alarm went off in the office , I don't think Mr Ewing is anywhere around), knowing me I would take the whole process very seriously, and I could see myself shouting at anyone who did try and take luggage off.

Well, I know how I handle a building evac. I've done enough of them recently

(if you have me on Facebook, you'll know what I mean)

But no, I don't know how I'd handle an aircraft evac. I'd like to think I'd be calm - I've been through some pretty crazy turbulence where people were freaking out around me and I've been as cool as a cucumber

 

[Boris spatsky]

Common sense really. Long pants and long sleeve shirt (for fire mainly), lace up shoes that are always on below 10,000ft, and being sober for takeoff and landing. Also having a plan of attack to get to an exit depending on my seat (not just where it is, but how to get to it - over seats? Or aisle? Etc).

 

[JohnK]

Don't ever wear singlet, short and thongs at any time.

I hope I never have to experience a crash. Always buckle up when seated and I do have a reason for wallet, phone and passport to leave my person in any cabin.

 

[simongr]

I don't consciously do anything to prepare myself for a crash more than I would when getting in my car, crossing the six lane highway to get to the train, eating blow fish, wearing a tie at a wedding or any of the other myriad of day to day activities that are more likely to kill us than air travel. Also I have been of the belief until yesterday that any incident in the air (including just as we leave or return to the ground) is pretty much likely to result in a catastrophic and untimely end to my existence.

Colour me astonished that that is not the case. This article provides some insight into the topic:

Big Question: What are the odds of surviving a plane crash? : Discovery Channel

I still wont do anything special to prepare for a crash - not sure why there is a belief that you should have your passport handy - I tend to have it handy on landing given I have been filling in the immigration card.

I really do not think about plane crashes or the associated risks when I fly.

 

[docjames]

- Select the right airline to fly
- Try and be seated in/near exit row or with a few rows between me and the exit. If not in / near an exit (row), avoid window (in Y).
- Long Pants, usually a long sleeve shirt (sometime a polo shirt with a jacket), closed shoes (always on for takeoff/landing)
- Stay awake for takeoff (not matter how tired or late the flight is)
- Watch safety demo / read card / locate nearest exit (may be behind you....), check life jacket is actually under seat
- Wallet, phone, id, credit cards etc in pockets for takeoff and landing - make life easier if we evac and then everything held on board / burns to the ground
- everything else is expendable and can be left in overhead locker

 

[harvyk]

Also I have been of the belief until yesterday that any incident in the air (including just as we leave or return to the ground) is pretty much likely to result in a catastrophic and untimely end to my existence.

Actually a largish number of aircraft accidents are survivable. I do believe it's pretty rare for an aircraft to crash with the loss of everyone on board. If it was not survivable then I suspect that they wouldn't bother with safety briefings at the start of the flight.

 

[Ewing]

- Stay awake for takeoff (not matter how tired or late the flight is)

I've failed on this one.

Heck, one flight from BNE-SYD I fell asleep during taxi in BNE and woke up when we pulled up at the gate in SYD. I didn't realise we'd actually gone anywhere until people got up and started collecting their things.

Quickest flight ever! :mrgreen:

 

[sjd]

After seeing the lovely Velcro like material, design to slow you down on descent, on the escape slides of the 747 at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, I have worn long pants on every flight since. As well as fire protection those pants will stop the skin being flayed from your legs and backside.

 

[simongr]

- Stay awake for takeoff (not matter how tired or late the flight is)

I've failed on this one.

Heck, one flight from BNE-SYD I fell asleep during taxi in BNE and woke up when we pulled up at the gate in SYD. I didn't realise we'd actually gone anywhere until people got up and started collecting their things.

Quickest flight ever! :mrgreen:

Int'l I am rarely awake on take off. I tend to stay awake for the briefing but am then asleep for the remainder of the taxi, take off until the pre-dinner drinks are served.

I too have slept through an entire domestic flight - and I had even upgraded to J...

 

[awilcockson]

Well sounds like I'm screwed, anyone who has flown with me knows that I'm usually asleep before the safety briefing starts and don't wake up until the wheels touch down

 

[Skyring]

Well sounds like I'm screwed, anyone who has flown with me knows that I'm usually asleep before the safety briefing starts and don't wake up until the wheels touch down

On that note, it's a bit like contraception. An immaculate safety record doesn't mean that you can continue to operate without protection.

After all, all this safety stuff is only useful if there's a crash or some serious turbulence or depressurisation. I've flown hundreds of times without any of that, but I still put on my seatbelt every time, even if it's never been more than an embuggerance in my actual experience.

And, realistically, doesn't this just underscore how safe modern air travel is compared to just about everything else? I think we've got a higher chance of being struck by lightning or eaten by shark.

You've got to be really really lucky to be killed in aircrash.

 

[harvyk]

- Stay awake for takeoff (not matter how tired or late the flight is)

Failed that one, I don't remember what the flight was before hand, but I do remember a MEL-CBR flight (the last leg of a long journey) where I boarded, fell asleep, woke up briefly for the safety announcement, woke up again briefly for me to say no to anything from the trolley, and then finally woke up again in CBR... By far the fastest flight I've ever been on, it was also the very first flight I've been on where I've been able to sleep.

 

[Rox]

Well sounds like I'm screwed, anyone who has flown with me knows that I'm usually asleep before the safety briefing starts and don't wake up until the wheels touch down

Looking on the bright side...
Being as relaxed as that, in the unlikely event of a very hard landing/turbulence, you might be less likely to fracture something! (Assuming you were securely strapped in)

 

[OATEK]

I always take note of the exits, keep my shoes on during take-off/landing. On international flights I will have passport, money and a CC in my pouch around my neck. Otherwise, not a lot you can do except rely on the pilots, and I guess that is something that keeps me flying with a restricted number of airlines.

I remember my Dad recounting a flight DAR-ADD-AUH back in the 80s on Air Tanzania I think, or Ethiopian, and there were no seat belts! A wag had said, oh aren't they the airline with outside toilets! When queried about the lack of seat belts, the FA shrugged and said "Insha'Allah". Thankfully the flight was uneventful, with two perfectly smooth landings.