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Published On: Jan 19, 2009 02:43 PM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Jan 19, 2009 02:43 PM
PBS Television series "Chasing the Skies"
To celebrate the Centenary of the
Wright brothers' flight at Kittyhawk, PBS aired a 4-part series looking at the
history of aviation.
I have always been a fan of aviation
documentaries, so I am often in a situation where I have purchased or recorded
tapes and DVDs and show clients various highlights.
Some of these have been views from the flightdeck ("From the pilots' view"), to documentaries about certain aircraft e.g. 777, 747, 767 etc) or airlines.
On cable networks, one can often see specials devoted to air crashes and investigations. Non-fearful flyers and aviation enthusiasts watch these despite their capacity to generate more fear in fearful flyers. My viewing usually sees me walk away more convinced how flying is safe, because I know that in the aftermath of an incident, a multitude of authorities are finding ways to put the lessons learnt into practice.
Fearful fliers usually operate with a filter mechanism such that incident reinforce the fear/apprehension system, rather than the factual knowledge system, and so watch transfixed, like drivers on a freeway slowing down to watch the aftermath of a car accident.
The "Chasing the Skies" series is based on the book
"Turbulent Skies: The History of Commercial
Aviation", by T.A. Heppenheimer. Its four
episodes examine aviation history in this
way:
Episode 1: Heroes and Daredevils
The First to Fly; The French Hero; The American Bird Woman; Weapons of Destruction; Barnstormers
No Experience Necessary; Lucky Lindy; The First Passenger; The Freedom of a Bird
Episode 2: The Visionaries
Wind, Sand & Stars; Pioneers: Pan Am; Scandal; The Birth of the Modern Airliner; The Last Frontier; Fear of Flying
Episode 3: Into the Jet Age
The Millionaire Maverick; The Airlines Go to War; The Birth of the Jet Engine; The Rise & Fall of the Comet
Welcome to the Jet Age; An Airborne Fantasy World; The Plane of the Future
Episode 4: All Aboard
The 747; Deregulation & the Love Airline; The New Breed; The Death of Giants; The Battle of the Titans
Overcrowded Skies; The Art of Flying
The website contains a lot of information worthwhile looking at too, as well as offering some brief video clips in RealPlayer format. including some inventive footage of the new Airbus A380.
On another page, titled "Did you know" it has some interesting tidbit of aviation memories. One stood out for me about how flight attendants were first introduced by United Airlines, and they were originally nurses. But there was one extra tidbit of knowledge I didn't know:
The first stewardesses on planes were actually young nurses brought on by United Airlines in 1930 who were specifically enlisted to encourage men to shed their fear of flying.
My strong suggestion for fearful flyers wishing to shed their fears is to take an interest in aviation, and get to know its heroes and challenges and how it really portrays a great capacity for humankind to control its destiny.
I can't think of many more inventions of the 20th century that have had such a profound effect in such a short time. Perhaps computers will be the next invention we will think of that way, in terms of how it brings people together. But nothing will replace face to face contact with others, which aviation allows us to do with ease and economy.
Some of these have been views from the flightdeck ("From the pilots' view"), to documentaries about certain aircraft e.g. 777, 747, 767 etc) or airlines.
On cable networks, one can often see specials devoted to air crashes and investigations. Non-fearful flyers and aviation enthusiasts watch these despite their capacity to generate more fear in fearful flyers. My viewing usually sees me walk away more convinced how flying is safe, because I know that in the aftermath of an incident, a multitude of authorities are finding ways to put the lessons learnt into practice.
Fearful fliers usually operate with a filter mechanism such that incident reinforce the fear/apprehension system, rather than the factual knowledge system, and so watch transfixed, like drivers on a freeway slowing down to watch the aftermath of a car accident.
The "Chasing the Skies" series is based on the book
"Turbulent Skies: The History of Commercial
Aviation", by T.A. Heppenheimer. Its four
episodes examine aviation history in this
way:Episode 1: Heroes and Daredevils
The First to Fly; The French Hero; The American Bird Woman; Weapons of Destruction; Barnstormers
No Experience Necessary; Lucky Lindy; The First Passenger; The Freedom of a Bird
Episode 2: The Visionaries
Wind, Sand & Stars; Pioneers: Pan Am; Scandal; The Birth of the Modern Airliner; The Last Frontier; Fear of Flying
Episode 3: Into the Jet Age
The Millionaire Maverick; The Airlines Go to War; The Birth of the Jet Engine; The Rise & Fall of the Comet
Welcome to the Jet Age; An Airborne Fantasy World; The Plane of the Future
Episode 4: All Aboard
The 747; Deregulation & the Love Airline; The New Breed; The Death of Giants; The Battle of the Titans
Overcrowded Skies; The Art of Flying
The website contains a lot of information worthwhile looking at too, as well as offering some brief video clips in RealPlayer format. including some inventive footage of the new Airbus A380.
On another page, titled "Did you know" it has some interesting tidbit of aviation memories. One stood out for me about how flight attendants were first introduced by United Airlines, and they were originally nurses. But there was one extra tidbit of knowledge I didn't know:
The first stewardesses on planes were actually young nurses brought on by United Airlines in 1930 who were specifically enlisted to encourage men to shed their fear of flying.
My strong suggestion for fearful flyers wishing to shed their fears is to take an interest in aviation, and get to know its heroes and challenges and how it really portrays a great capacity for humankind to control its destiny.
I can't think of many more inventions of the 20th century that have had such a profound effect in such a short time. Perhaps computers will be the next invention we will think of that way, in terms of how it brings people together. But nothing will replace face to face contact with others, which aviation allows us to do with ease and economy.
Posted: Wednesday - July 14, 2004 at 04:20 PM |