irrational fear of flying

[bcm119]

I vaguely recall Saab2000 once saying that flying into LGA was a bit like threading a needle because of how complex the NY airspace is. Being a nervous flyer, that always stuck with me. My rational reason for not flying into LGA is there's no direct flights from SFO, at least on my preferred airline, Alaska. The other airport I would think twice about is Burbank. It requires a pretty steep descent due to surrounding mountains, and the runway is relatively short, iirc. Years ago, a SWA 737 skidded off the runway and narrowly missed a gas station.

[Saab2000]

I vaguely recall Saab2000 once saying that flying into LGA was a bit like threading a needle because of how complex the NY airspace is. Being a nervous flyer, that always stuck with me. My rational reason for not flying into LGA is there's no direct flights from SFO, at least on my preferred airline, Alaska. The other airport I would think twice about is Burbank. It requires a pretty steep descent due to surrounding mountains, and the runway is relatively short, iirc. Years ago, a SWA 737 skidded off the runway and narrowly missed a gas station.

It is indeed crowded airspace but that’s more the problem of the controllers than the pilots. It can be problematic when weather pops up and pilots need something a controller may not be able to grant. It’s not a place to be nervous about though. LGA lies kind of between Newark and JFK and maybe this is what I referenced. Definitely bring your A game when flying in New York though. Same as in the LA Basin. Lots of airports and chatter on the radio.

Burbank is definitely a challenging airport. Short runways and crowded airspace and then terrain. Not my favorite California airport. I was in Fresno the other day. That was beautiful! Green all around due to the winter rains and the mountains to the east made flying in a real treat.

[72gmc]

I was in Fresno the other day. That was beautiful! Green all around due to the winter rains and the mountains to the east made flying in a real treat.

The 4ish-hour drive from Santa Cruz to Sant Barbara was also beautiful and green the other week. You have to be lucky with the weather window.

[bcm119]

It is indeed crowded airspace but that’s more the problem of the controllers than the pilots. It can be problematic when weather pops up and pilots need something a controller may not be able to grant. It’s not a place to be nervous about though. LGA lies kind of between Newark and JFK and maybe this is what I referenced. Definitely bring your A game when flying in New York though. Same as in the LA Basin. Lots of airports and chatter on the radio.

Burbank is definitely a challenging airport. Short runways and crowded airspace and then terrain. Not my favorite California airport. I was in Fresno the other day. That was beautiful! Green all around due to the winter rains and the mountains to the east made flying in a real treat.

Fresno and 'beautiful' are normally not seen in the same sentence, but this year is indeed a visual treat almost everywhere in California. Everything is brilliant green, and a record snow pack in the southern Sierra probably looks pretty nice from the air too.

[vertical_doug]

If only there were a connection to Midtown the way there's the Elizabeth Line/ Gatwick Express in London. Seems so 20th century that cars and buses remain the only way to get into town.

Back when I attended grad school in the city, it was basically 45-55 minutes one way on the M60, despite the two locations being separated by 10 miles. I bet I could putter along faster on a Citybike...

Whatever the faults one may find with IAD, DCA, PHL, and EWR, at least for each, there's a direct rail link downtown.

Still all these pales in comparison to Belgium and the Netherlands. 25 minute train ride from BRU and AMS to respective town centers...

The funny thing is no one can seem to agree on how much the Elizabeth Line cost and how much over budget it was. It started somewhere as an idea in 2002, but did not start breaking ground till 2009. Original project was £15 b for 2017ish. Ended up 2022 and depending on who you ask, £19b or £25b.....

The really funny thing is this will be tiny compared to the real albatross flying now called HS2.

[j44ke]

Truck wrecked our plane at CDG so we got a new one. 2 hour delay. Cest la vie.

[rwsaunders]

Truck wrecked our plane at CDG so we got a new one. 2 hour delay. Cest la vie.

Better than a plane wrecking your truck…

[taz]

Better than a plane wrecking your truck…

Yeah - a plane hit my mom's car... But it was the '60s so things were a little looser then (ATL airport).

- taz

[rwsaunders]

[echappist]

Lindbergh terminal in MSP?

[j44ke]

Better than a plane wrecking your truck…

Yeah - a plane hit my mom's car... But it was the '60s so things were a little looser then (ATL airport).

- taz

The plane had already been towed, but the truck was being unloaded quickly. Refrigerated box truck. Sounds like it clipped the wing of the plane.

[rwsaunders]

Everything that you wanted to know about turbulence and weren’t afraid to ask…informative videos from the WJS.

https://www.wsj.com/video/series/tra...9-397B2DB1C8D4

[bigbill]

Today my son did a one mile survival swim in his flight suit and boots. Since he has his recreational license and a naval pilot evaluation, he will go straight to the T-6 when the time comes.

[rwsaunders]

[Mabouya]

dtw ?

[Tom]

Kind of hope that one was leaving, not coming in.

[rwsaunders]

dtw ?

Spot on Louis..the Motor City.

[rwsaunders]

Are any of our VSalon pilots worried about the 5G altimeter refit deadline?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-65465512

[bigbill]

The FAA reports to the Secretary of Transportation and the FCC reports to Congress. If the US wants to be competitive, the nation needs 5G. IMO, the nation also needs an administration to coordinate the rollout of new technologies and the potential impact to existing ones. Our national infrastructure requires a massive investment to ensure we can build more solar, wind, and nuclear power plants. Part of the infrastructure plan has to be a hardwired network for communication and control of resources.

I am generally against expanded government, but while profit driven private industries can introduce new technologies, there needs to be an oversight to make sure the new tech plays well with others.

[rwsaunders]

Bees gathering on winglet of a 737 delay a flight from IAH…

https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/sta...13099932135449