Originally Posted by
Flubber2012
About 10-15 years ago, I was on a CRJ200, seated at the window next to an obese woman. Unfortunately, the $^&%$^ GA took about 20 minutes to drive the JetWay up. I had a near panic attack. It had never happened before or again but having that [conforming Moderator edit to original post] next to me in that little tube, I felt trapped.
I can't even begin to imagine what that must have been like! I can happily say I've never had to experience it (yet)
Originally Posted by
realjd
I've never been uncomfortable as in "OMG We're Going To Crash" on a CRJ but I am often uncomfortable as in "Who The @#*$ Designed These Torture Seats". I don't have this problem with Embraer jets. They're small but the seats are at least comfortable.
That said, FC seat 1A on the CRJ700 and CRJ900 is an excellent seat if you can manage it.
I didn't have a the feeling that we were going to crash, just very uncomfortable! I can't compare it to how I've felt on any other flight!
Originally Posted by
brendog
As someone who spends entirely way too much time on E145s and CRJ200s and who is 190cm (6'3"ish) with a bad back, I'm definitely physically uncomfortable on jungle jets, but I've never felt unsafe. Commercial planes in developed nations are so infinitesimally likely to crash that I don't even think about it. The drive to and from the airport is another thing entirely...
Again, that's exactly how I felt! I didn't feel unsafe, but I did want to get off that plane as soon as was humanly possible!
Originally Posted by
Laylla
I do. I feel uncomfortable on regional jets. Mostly because of this crash:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Midwest_Flight_5481
There were two causes cited by the FAA. The first one was about the elevator cable adjustment being done wrong during routine maintenance. The second was about the plane being 580 lbs heavier than they thought due to passenger size being higher than the averages used to estimate passenger weight.
So when you board a plane, you have no idea about mechanical problems. But you can look around and see who is on the plane. The FAA estimate of weight per passenger is 170 lbs. When I get on board and it's mostly men, which it frequently is on the CHS - IAD United commuters, I just get a bad feeling. Most men weigh over 170. And a lot of women weigh over 170 also. I try to convince myself that business travellers travel light and likely have less luggage...
One thing to remember about past incidents/accidents, is that the industry always learns from them!
There was an Air Crash Investigation programme shown on National Geographic in the UK about this flight and if I remember correctly, following the crash and subsequent investigation the NTSB advised the FAA that passenger weight estimates should be adjusted upwards to prevent this from happening again. As a result, it's not something that I would worry about!