ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 22, 1996 TAG: 9607220035
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: READERS' FORUM
Fare wars won't get her on board
THE FACT that Orville and Wilbur Wright and I share common maternal ancestors has always resulted in quite a bit of ribbing in regard to my aversion for flying.
Now, with the recent escalation of ``close calls'' and outright disasters, even air-fare price wars couldn't entice me to fly, as imperative as it is that I travel to take care of very urgent matters and as limited as my time is!
After what I've learned from those behind the scenes, my faith in air-travel safety is zilch.
SUE CAMPBELL WALKER
GLASGOW
Safe, yes; and it can get safer
AIR TRAVEL has improved immensely from earlier days when pilots flew from low-frequency beacons to other beacons and landed on grass runways. Safety can continue to improve.
Passengers concerned about the safety of an airline can inquire with travel agents that specialize in airline travel. Concerned citizens should be aware that safety comes, in part, from having runways that are long enough for ``full load'' aircraft operation and alternative airports. Low-fare airlines cannot operate from an airport at a full load unless it has a long enough runway.
We as citizens should be concerned that our tax dollars go to improve commercial airports and to establish new airports. We should also consider that safety with air travel in our area can be increased with a new location, or with a regional airport between Roanoke and Danville. Concerned travel agents, dedicated to their profession and helping the public save money by giving good advice, can encourage safety.
HAROLD WILLIAMS JR.
MARTINSVILLE
Flying is still safest way to go
AIR TRAVEL is still one of the safest means of transportation.
One of the more interesting disclosures of late is the revelation of problems in the Federal Aviation Administration. But growing consciousness and reporting of safety flaws in air travel is good for the industry, and will make it yet safer.
JOE MORROW JR.
ROANOKE
Faith in highways over flyways
IT HAS been said that air travel is safer than highway travel, a point perhaps promoted by the airline industry and blindly repeated by customers.
But consider that, when one enters a plane, one puts blind faith in all those who have had a connection to that plane: the designer; the workers who assemble the plane; those who test it after final assembly; those who service it, including those responsible for closing the doors; the pilots and co-pilots; air controllers; the ground crew; the weather; a terrorist who may be on the plane, and on and on. One has absolutely no control over one's life once seated on a plane.
When one drives out of one's driveway, one is responsible for one's own life. One may decide to drive safely; not to drive drunk or sleepy; not to drive inattentively (eating, talking with head turned to passenger, etc.); not to break the speed limit (the posted speed limit is maximum, not minimum); to be constantly aware of all automobiles in one's view, ready to make a quick decision to try to avoid a crash; not to tailgate, the most neglected safety precaution.
Observe a line of traffic proceeding with each automobile within a few feet of the one in front and the one in back, traveling 70 to 80 miles per hour. If a mistake is made anywhere ahead in that line of traffic, each autombile crashes into the one in front, causing a pileup, which travelers appear to accept as an unavoidable occurrence. Many persons each year die from these pileups, which are avoidable by each driver.
Having made a decision to drive safely, then the driver has some chance on the highway to avoid death or injury. Then he or she can hope that the other drivers will do the same. On a plane, all the passenger has is blind faith. On the highway, the driver has better odds - those that the driver gives herself or himself.
I prefer not to accept blind faith in anything except when there is no alternative.
CAROLYN P. WHITE
BLACKSBURG
Inattentiveness fosters anxiety
MY PROBLEM is deafness. The ticket agents manage to help me understand information satisfactorily.
On boarding planes, the gate attendants hardly help. The destination-departures are announced, but I cannot hear what they say. Usually my ticket designates ``deaf,'' yet doesn't get the staff's attention.
I usually emphasize to the agents about my deafness and the need for assistance to get on the correct plane. Some have been very helpful; some have not.
I do not use sign language. I read lips quite well. The fears brought on by worrying how to get into the right place can sure make you nervous!
JANE L. BARNES
NEW CASTLE
LENGTH: Medium: 100 linesby CNB