Ok, Did Anyone See Dateline Last Night!?!

[cindala]

The whole show was spent on flying, and they had several segments, one that showed film from 5 years ago. But the segment that got to me was the last one where they interviewed about 6 or 7 flight attendants.

Basically what they said is that it is not any safer to fly now than it was before September 11th. They said that the changes in security at the airports are cosmetic, to give the illusion of greater safety to get the public back to flying. They also said that their pilots were not given any directives from the airlines on how to handle any hostile or terrorist threats on the planes, so basically they are on their own.

I know the networks are always out for ratings, but these were real airline employees saying that it is not any safer to fly now than before, and they do not feel safe. This is more or less what my gut has been telling me anyway, but this just confirmed it.

 

[Chuck S]

Not any safer? Does that mean that overall flying is still the safest way to travel?

I'm so tired of the media hype. I don't know if ratings or sensationalism is most important to them, but they seem to be prolonging the terror. Whatever happened to responsible news reprters like Walter Cronkite?

 

[flyingcircus]

This is a touchy subject, and I am not sure that this will be taken the right way but here it goes. I am a flight attendant for one of those airlines, and I don't feel the way these f/a's feel. It is interesting to me that they were interviewed, as when I got hired 15 1/2 years ago, I had to sign saying I would not talk to the press, unless approval was given. If you noticed one of the f/a's mentioned that she was being furloughed in a month, which to me states there might have been different agenda going on. Also, one of the f/a's was the head of AFA- union of flight attendants- she has being going to congress and lobbying for f/a's rights.

Now, I am a member of AFA, and as you know unions and airlines are always at each other. Unfortunately, I think this may be a case of this. I just attended a union meeting of approx. 500 f/a's, and I am telling you we don't feel this way. Yes, I do believe that security is the #1 concern- there CAN NEVER be enough security. People have their own ideas about what should be done. Some of it is practible, and some is not! Right now there are many security practices in place that are being tested out, to see if they will work.

It is your own choice to fly- but please hear this:
Does anyone REALLY believe that thousands of pilots and flight attendants would be up in the air right now, if they didn't trust our security??? We are not stupid- we value our lives. It would not be worth any amount of money for us to get on a plane if we did not think it is safe!

 

[cindala]

They did mention that flying is still safer than any other means of transportation, but that was after everything else they reported. (And who was listening after you had the begeebees scared out of you!) Not any safer referred to I think, the conditions that allowed Sept. 11 to happen still exist and have not been adequately addressed.


Btw, I agree with you about Walter Cronkite.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

flyingcircus,
THANK YOU!!!!! Personally, I think they had an axe to grind and grind they did. I do not believe for a moment that the pilots and FAs would still fly if they were in least bit concerned.
IMHO, this is just another way to keep this horror fresh in our minds. We should remember, yes, but, be battered with this day after day is not good psycologically. That fact has been mentioned many times. If they want to cover something, how about the number for depression from the constant barage of coverage and conversation about this horrible event.
Thanks for keeping us in the air, flying circus, we do appreciate it.

 

[Esmerelda]

well....I just got back from Orlando...flew Delta.

The Indy airport had armed guards in it walking around at 5am....our bags were xrayed and we went thru 2 detectors...I was then padded down...and an infrared light of some sort was scanned over my body. It seemed a much bigger deal than any other time I have flown so I don't know. I felt totally safe in flight, but then flying has never bothered me.

The original flight was a direct flight. Our pilot came out and talked to the plane before take off and said.."If I didn't think my job was safe, I wouldn't be standing here right now..I have 2 and a 4 year old childrn that are counting on me being home and I will".... (he even seeked my kids out in the gate area and invited them up to see the cockpit )

I KNOW that flying is the safest form of travel...I work in an emergency room and I see tons of auto accidents each year. I know that flying is much safer than an auto from 14 years of experience.

Its sad that the media (as the last poster stated) keeps on bringing these thoughts up to people. You cannot let fear take over your life or you will never have a life.

live everyday to its fullest.....

 

[villainwdw]

I was afraid to fly before...and am afraid now....but I will still fly...I will just take alot of xanax!!it still will not stop me from flying...but Logan I do have aproblem with!!

 

[B3LM]

Flyingcircus, I'm so glad to have read your post. Before I even read it, I was thinking that these 6 flight attendants probably had an ax to grind with the airline. In today's world, you really have to take what you read and hear "with a grain of salt". I really feel that programs such as Dateline are out for "ratings". I used to watch those programs, but I just got so tired of hearing them tell such "horror" stories, and IMO, just trying to scare us.

Beth

 

[wdwnut]

thank you flyingcircus for the reassurances. yes, i'm still a bit nervous to fly; but we certainly will fly.

 

[Alice Sr.]

Thank you so much for your inside information. I was thinking the whole time, there are employees that would not put their personal, or their passengers life in jeopardy if this report was completely true. It is pretty sad how irresponsible the media has become, they are more "Inqurierish" all the time. They remind me of cockroaches, but instead of fighting over a piece of food they fight over a piece of new info, whether it's true or not, just to make themselves stand out.

Oops, this is pretty harsh, but I guess I'll indulge myself this once. Again, thanks for your insight.

Alice

 

[Laurajean1014]

flyingcircus,

Great post! I'm not afraid of flying now or in the past. I truly believe that it is a very rare chance that anything bad could happen. So why worry about what will not come or what you cannot control? Worry and guilt are two useless emotions...........

Anyhow, thanks for your concise words and putting this situation in perspective!

See ya on the boards............ L

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I had no second thoughts to fly after the September 11 tragedy, until I saw dateline last night. I'm looking forward to the flight a lot less now. When the flight crew doesn't feel safe, that is when the real problems occur.

 

[Disnydad]

I have not had much faith in Dateline since they blew up that pickup truck and then told us it was an auto accident that did it.

 

[flyingcircus]

CaliforniaDreaming,

Please keep in mind that these were 6 flights attendants interviewed out of how many thousands!!! Also, goodness knows how this report was edited.

Like I said before, do you REALLY think crews would be flying if we didn't think it was safe???

I live in Littleton Colorado, where the Columbine tragedies occured. I have dealt with the media, and yes unfortunately, I have seen how they can twist a story. They are at you, wearing you down, hoping for a moment when they can see you at your weakest. I do not mean to cut them down, but that is their job. To get a story.

I won't lie to you. After the WTC crashes happened I was scared, terrified. But we in the airline industry will do our best NOT to let this happen again. On the news you hear of what the government is doing, FAA, the airlines etc.. Let me reassure you, that each time you set foot on a plane, your crew has determined as a crew what they would do. This is in ADDITION to whatever we are told by the authorities. We will not let this happen again, and we cannot. In memory of all the lives lost.