small aircraft fear

[m5todel]

Hello, I have posted on another thread, but I want to make sure it gets answered:) My husband and I are possibly planning to go to the bahamas. However, this involves taking an 8-15 seater king air 9 from Nassau to the long islands, cape Santa maria area. I am really nervous about the reliability of a small plane and the amount of bumps. I generally get anxiety (sweaty palms, upset stomach, elevated heart beat and at times uncontrollable crying) with the turbluence, taking off and any changes in the speed or altitude (basically everything). I hate the sensation of dropping and fear falling out of the sky. What in the world can I expect from a flight like this in the middle of July? Also we would be flying from San Francisco to Nassau on Continental, what could I expect from that in July? I currently take a downer (Lorazapam) which somewhat calms me. Thanks so much for your help!!!

[MarcoAviator]

I always find it fascinating how size is a matter of subjective perception ...

For you the King Air is small.

For me the King Air is gigantic.

I am used to fly in 4-seaters (Cessna, Piper, etc.) and due to my training I always have to push them above and beyond anything you will ever see an airliner do.

I know that I can beat the crap out of my 4 seater and it will keep on going. I have flown my Piper is some of the nastiest turbulence I have ever encountered in the air ... compared to that, turbulence in a bigger plane is a lot more mellow.

From my seat, in my puny piper, a King Air towers over me. Huge props, gigantic wings, enormous body and the pilots are staring down at me from (what feels like to me) the second floor of my house.

The King Air is small? I don't think so.

I have flown much smaller ... and I am still here.

I am looking into becoming (eventually) an Air Taxi or Charter pilot (basically the same kinda guys that spend their days inside King Airs) and I can tell you that it's a huge pain in the ass.

The training, exams, checkrides, paperwork are overwhelming. The FAA sends inspectors to verify maintenance records and facilities, every six months.

Every six months pilots need to take a checkride to make sure they are up to snuff.

Pilots and airplanes are held to the same standards of the airlines. Even the "rest" requirements are the same (a pilot can't fly for more than 8 hours within 24 or something like that). Same restrictions as the airlines.

I don't actually know if you are flying a charter or an airline that has a fleet of King Airs ... but safety-wise there's no difference whatsoever.

As for turbulence ... the smaller size of a King Air compared to a 767 might make the effects seem a bit more "dramatic" ... but safety wise, they are both built to go through the same air ... safety-wise it won't make a difference.

You'll be as safe on a King Air as you'd be on a 737 (or on a Piper ... with me at the controls ... hehe :D ).

You'll do fine. :thumbsup:

[aerobat]

The King Air has a bathroom!
That makes it a big plane!!! :lol:

I know a number of King Air pilots here, and see these planes coming and going all the time. It's a very reliable aircraft. I have been inside them but have not yet had a chance to "get up" in one. I would not hesitate.

The Texas State Pooling Board has several King Airs; they're used for shuttling legislators and VIPs around. These folks are all alive and well. :)

Barb

[Rebecca]

The King Air has a bathroom!Well, then! I love it already. :love:

Is this a King Air? This pic is from the gallery.

http://www.takingflight.us/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/WalkAround.jpg

[aerobat]

Nope...not a King Air.

It is one of these:

http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?aircraft_genericsearch=Let%20L-410%2F420%20Turbolet&distinct_entry=true


here it is without the lions...

http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=00655186

[m5todel]

Thank you so much for your confidence building replies! It really does help to know it is reliable. Have any of you ever heard of sothern air in the bahamas or know of its reputation, and what is the flying weather like in mid July? Thanks again!!!

[m5todel]

Hi, ok so I looked more at Southern air and they also fly Beech 1900s. What can you tell me about these planes? They have had two accidents so far (ran out of gas and and then also crashed into water four years later and nobody was hurt). EEEEEk this makes me reallly nervous. Can you calm my fears at all?Thanks.

[spiffyone]

If you don't mind our adding to this thread, we are facing an unexpected flight in a small plane soon (to attend the funeral of spiffytoo's cousin) and we are trying to gather some information.

In particular, can anyone vouch that the Saab 340, as flown by Northwest or US Airways, has a restroom? We've been looking at airliners.net but haven't found a conclusive answer. It appears that some models of this plane have a restroom in the rear and others just have an extra seat at the back end of the aisle.

Thanks,
Spiffy 1+2

[LeslieDEN]

If you don't mind our adding to this thread, we are facing an unexpected flight in a small plane soon (to attend the funeral of spiffytoo's cousin) and we are trying to gather some information.

In particular, can anyone vouch that the Saab 340, as flown by Northwest or US Airways, has a restroom? We've been looking at airliners.net but haven't found a conclusive answer. It appears that some models of this plane have a restroom in the rear and others just have an extra seat at the back end of the aisle.
Seatguru.com shows lavs in all Northwest and US Airways configurations of the Saab 340. For what it's worth, I flew on the US Airways version (flown by Colgan Air) LGA-PVD a few months ago. It is very loud but otherwise OK.

Here are the US Airways and Northwest configurations, as shown by seatguru:

http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/US_Airways/US_Airways_SAAB_340.php
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Northwest_Airlines/Northwest_Airlines_SAAB_340_A.php
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Northwest_Airlines/Northwest_Airlines_SAAB_340_B.php

[spiffytoo]

I didn't think to look at seatguru.com. Thanks. :)

[LeslieDEN]

Sure! If you go with the U.S. Airways version, do note that row 3 has no window. I ended up in 3A and it didn't bother me, but the guy in 3F got claustrophobic before takeoff and asked to be moved. Once he had a window seat, he was fine.