h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to Survive a Plane Crash - A38047971
Author: Badger, of the New World - U10642803

"How to Survive a Plane Crash"

Important stuff, especially for those traveling in the cheap, as that bush planes you're going to fly on probably hasn't been serviced in the last decade.

Submitted for Peer Review, let me know what you think!

I've seen studies that show that people who pay attention to the safety briefing every single time they fly are much more likely to survive in an emergency than people who think they've seen it all before and so ignore it. Apparently the simple reinforcing of how to unbuckle your seatbelt (some studies show that in a panic, people try to unbuckle it like a car seatbelt and so remain stuck in their seats), and where the nearest exit is, can really help your chances. You might want to dig around for the actual studies though, one of which was on 'Should I Worry About Flying?', the Richard Hammond TV programme.

Thought this was gonna be a 1-liner ""How to Survive a Plane Crash"" text ""Don't get on an airplane that lands to early"" but this is good I mean really good. Just gotta read it before you get on board<erm.

Good entry Reads well, useful information.

Footnote 6. could possibly mention that when a door does go...
Inadvertent rupture/opening at the aft midspan latch of the forward cargo door inflight on Boeing 747s has caused the fatal accidents of Air India Flight 182, Pan Am Flight 103, UAL Flight 811, and TWA 800 and possibly for the aft cargo door of China Airlines Flight 611.

This information and more came from here>>>http://www.montereypeninsulaairport.com/Page2.html

Don't know if it's of any use but survivors of this crash were helped and as a result of the efforts of onlookers several lives were saved as people were pulled from the plane etc...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiS7aUwkJYs

So among other things you might wish for as you go down is that people are watching and on hand to help.

You might want to mention a few things I've seen on Mythbusters (because I get all my facts from daytime TV).

Despite the myth that the "brace" position is designed to kill you outright, it does actually work - reducing the g-forces at work on your body, preventing your neck from whiplashing and dispersing the shock into your seat. The best seat to have in a crash is the flight attendant's rear-facing seat, as this is the most effective at dispersing energy.

Nobody in the history of the world has ever been "talked down" - ie landed a plane thanks to instructions from the ground. However, in an emergency, it is feasible that you can be told the correct way to set up the autopilot for a landing that doesn't involve you burying the plane in a field.

Other than that, a great entry! Nice one!

Very good - Bit of humour and some facts.

I apologise for the sticking space bar in the last post.

As an FYI update, I'll be getting to this article in a week or two.

Any updates on this one?

Yoo hoo?

I hope Badger hasn't not taken the advice given

Pity, this one seems to have Elvised, too...

UPDATED!!!

Finally set aside other obligations to tend to this article.

Comments?

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Well done - I had a good read of your entry yesterday and decided that it would be ideal for the guide .

I recommended it, and are pleased that it has been accepted.

All the best.

Nigel

Good entry, which I missed first time around.

I'm sure these will be picked up by the Eds, but a few nit-picks:

>>you will find your self<< - you will find 'yourself'.
>>that you aircraft will<< - that 'your' aircraft will.
>>catastrophe had befallen it<< - As using the present tense - catastrophe 'has' befallen it.
>> with you aboard<< - with you 'on board'.
>>As it is likely you will not survive 3, 'so' you might as well keep your head -Lose 'so'.
>>qualm your stomach<< - 'calm' your stomach.
>>which is likely churning with anxiety<< - which is likely 'to be' churning with anxiety.
>>likely on the path<< - likely 'to be' on the path.
>>cash out that large life insurance policy << - Not sure here? 'cash in'?
>>Leap out the door and chock your survival up<< - Leap out 'of' the door and 'clock' your survival up.
>>if you abandoned 'ship' at 30,000-ft.<< - 'the plane'? and 'ft' in italics?
>>most certainly fatal<< - 'almost' certainly fatal.
>>deadly meeting with tera firma<< - deadly meeting with 'terra firma'

Picky, but previously missed...

Now where is my ticket for the White Star Line. I don't trust these over-sized cigar tubes???

MMF


>>fiber<< - 'fibre'? (very picky!)

Thanks MazinMadFiddler . I pointed out in the comments box when I recommended this one that there was some punctuation/spelling issues, for the Eds to sort .

I was going to put them down in the Peer Review comments, but forgot .

Thanks for that .

Nigel .

P.S. I'm glad that I don't fly - it sounds scary if anything goes wrong .

Yeah... I was rereading this yesterday, before it was picked, and found a few of the more obvious typos, only to realize once I returned for editing that the entry had moved on!

A few notes:
I can't figure out why I used 'qualm' instead of 'calm'
Definitely "cash in" that life insurance policy...
'Fibre' is grammar class blasphemy on this side of the pond.
I tend to italicize units in all my writings, just a personal habit.

Of course, I'm sure the Editors have their own picks... but I needed to mention fiber, at least!

EGEs are all in British English, but I'm sure the subed will sort you out.

So it's WD and congrats on a gr8(oops) great entry