(no subject)

[rm]

This is a fantastic article:

http://nymag.com/news/features/53788/

It really captures of the competing narratives and realities of modern flight (and the general conflicts we have culturally when it comes to risk vs. reliability).

That said, if you have any fear about commercial air travel, this might not be the article for you. It doesn't tell horror stories or anything like that, but finding out just how computerized it all is strikes me as pretty disturbing.

Comments

[marzipan-pig.livejournal.com]

My larger anxieties when flying came about during a time when my project at work had a lot of small problems and communication breakdowns and I realized, EVERY FLIGHT is like that, and I have no way of knowing where major mistakes are happening, or minor mistakes that could add up to major ones.

[heron61.livejournal.com]

Wow! Also, I hadn't known that the pilot had pulled off something no one had ever done before - managing that, while knowing that no one else has done this is pretty much the definition of heroism.

finding out just how computerized it all is strikes me as pretty disturbing.

As long as the pilot can over-ride bad computer decisions, I actually find that level of automation comforting.

As for flying, my own fears are far more pedestrian & unrelated. My one problem with flying is that such a wonder has been made so remarkably uncomfortable.

[only-sound.livejournal.com]

Have you read, or tried to read this?

http://community.livejournal.com/jack_and_ellis/24703.html

I'm not sure how much you go in for original fiction steampunk, but it's got Australia and flying and epicness and stories and it's by Copperbadge, and so if you get 37 hours (even in very small chunks) I would highly recommend checking it out.