Crossing the Atlantic ocean?

Question

Ok.. I've crossed the Atlantic ocean over 6 times and I wasn't really that worried... That was when I was young. But now for some reason I'm too scared for crossing, it BUT I HAVE TO. It must be because of all the airplane accidents documentary show I always watch.

I have a flight from the mid east to NYC, It's a 13 hour flight.

What will happen if something goes wrong? How is airplane safety? How do planes fly for over 12 hours without losing fuel or overheating?

Any other info would help

Please, I need to know.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Most likely you will be flying in a French airbus, or American-built 747 "Jumbo Jet"  Both / either are good, solidly built aircraft with a history of high milage and safety.  The pilots of these aircraft most likely have military training having flown huge cargo or multi-engine aircraft for hundreds of thousands of miles and thousands of flight-hours.  

Your biggest decision is going to be, how are you going to keep yourself occupied?  Books, personal DVD players, laptop with DVD or CD player.   Your music player will probably run out of battery power if you listen to it throughout the flight.  ;c)

Overheating, well, flying at 30,000 feet at about 560 miles per hour is more likely the outside temperature is going to be well below freezing.

Most large aircraft can fly continuously for 12 hours.  Look at your ticket and if so, it will say, "nonstop to New York."  If not, there will probably be a stop off at a Netherlands or British airport to refuel.  

But a 747 or other trans-Atlantic flight, these aircraft can have fuel supplies to last the trip and allow for delays in landing.  Right now, there are no storms developing over the Atlantic, and the weather is pretty calm over the East coast of the USA right now.  

Some of the terms will be meaningless to you, but here is a website to show the specifications of a Boeing 747.  And yes, 45,000 gallons of fuel is used.  Each aircraft mentioned has a range just shy of 8,000 miles.  

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/747fami...

A 747 can fly with three engines, but ANY mishap is extremely rare and you are more likely to get run over by a New York taxi driver.  

By the way, if you want to catch a show on Broadway, and don't mind sitting for three hours waiting for a cancellation, you might get lucky.  I saw Phantom of the Opera and got Row 5-E.  The chandelier flew right over my head.  Oh, and you have to have a New York hot dog or deli sandwich!

Answer 2

1. Don't watch documentaries about airplane accidents.

2. You're more likely to be run over by a streetcar on the way to the airport than you are to be in an accident during the flight.

3. Airplane safety is excellent, when it comes to commercial airlines and airliners.

4. Aircraft engines can run for 60 DAYS continuously, and they do so regularly in tests; twelve hours is nothing.  They have no tendency to overheat—it's pretty cold at 30,000 feet in the air.  Large airplanes have enough fuel to fly half-way around the world, so they can certainly get across the Atlantic.

Answer 3

Oh my god i was just like you and then i had to get over it by getting on a plane.

I reassured myself that you are more likely to die in a car crash or be knocked down by a bus than a plane.

Also an ex air hostess told me that a plane can fly over the Atlantic on one engine....whether this is true or not i found it helpful and reassuring!

Answer 4

Stop watching tv. Planes can fly for very long times and they are designed not to overheat.