AskthePilot

Salon.com'smostpopularcolumnisttellswhyairlinetravelisstillthesafestwaytogetfromheretothere-andlotsofotherflightfacts.Evenfrequentfliers,probablydon'thaveacluehowtheirplanegetsfromNewYorktoLosAngelesin5hours.Andmanypeopleprobablythinkflyingismoredangerousnowthanever-eventhoughit'sstillthesafestmeansoftransportation.InAskthePilot,PatrickSmith-acommercialairlinepilotandauthorofSalon.com'spopularcolumn-explainsinfrankandveryfunnylanguagewhatfearsaregroundedinrealityandwhichonesareairborneurbanmyths.Hestacksupthefacts,anecdotes,andadvicetoeveryflyingquestionimaginable:*Justhowsafeitistofly?*Whatisthesafestairline?*Doairlinesreducecabinoxygenflowtosavefuelandkeeppassengersdocile?*Canturbulencecauseacrash?*What'swindshear-andcanitreallyripthewingsoffaplane?*Howdoesaplanegetofftheground?*Whydoestheplanesometimesbump,jig,andturnatahighangleduringclimbout?*Hasanyoneeversurvivedawaterlandingbydonningavestorusingaraft?*Whyaretraytablesstowedbeforelanding?Frequentflierorneuroticaerophobe,thisistheonebookthatwillwisepeopleup-andcalmfliersdown.