There are times when we must put total trust in someone else, which for many of us can be very unsettling. Totally relying on someone else is not something we have to do very often, but when we must pass over total responsibility many of us suffer anxiety.
I have relatives who would rather suffer in pain than go into hospital for a procedure to remedy their problem. I have heard of people who are obsessed about cleaning themselves and their immediate environment due to their fear of the possibility of infections due to bacteria.
In this piece I’d like to focus on air travel, which for many is an extremely stressful experience once they overcome their fears and board the aircraft. I remember an instance some years ago when a work colleague boarded a plane but was so stressed out he had to return to the terminal. On his return to the terminal he was held in temporary custody until the aircraft arrived at its destination due to the concerns of the security people.
I’m currently following the Boeing story about the two 737 aircraft that crashed in SE Asia and in East Africa with almost 350 people tragically losing their lives. After some debate about the aircraft it now seems highly likely that in both cases the crashes were down to issues with the aircraft.
Very soon after the second crash all the aircraft of this type have been grounded until Boeing can assure the authorities that changes introduced will result in the aircraft meeting required safety standards. Not sure when this will take place, but I’m sure that Boeing is working flat to solve the problems and assure the travelling public that the new 737 is an aircraft they can fly in with complete confidence.
I’m not a nervous flyer, but to be honest, I will have reservations getting on one of these aircraft when the current restrictions end, and they take to the skies again. I’m sure for some time to come many nervous fliers will be checking the aircraft type when booking to avoid flying on this aircraft.
There has been over the years many examples of consumers losing trust in companies due to issues such as this one. As I write this piece Hyundai and Kia are recalling more than half a million cars in the USA after discovering a flaw that could lead to an engine fire. I still remember the typhoid outbreak in Aberdeen Scotland in 1964 with over 400 people having to be admitted into the city hospital and quarantined. Eventually the cause of the outbreak was traced to tinned corned beef from South America made by the Fray Bentos company.
According to the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) in 2017 there were almost 37 million flights globally. They further state there were a total of 10 fatal airliner accidents resulting in 44 occupant fatalities and 35 persons on the ground. This made 2017 the safest year ever, both by the number of fatal accidents as well as in terms of fatalities.
Hopefully we’ll soon regain our trust in the Boeing corporation and get us back in the skies without too many worries.