The Phobic Flyer Andy Clarke - The Phobic Flyer

Today's topics answered by Peter Cox, who is a 737-800 Captain for a major UK leisure airline are: Is turbulence dangerous? Are thunderstorms dangerous? Can planes get hit by lightning? What happens if an engine fails? Is it safer to fly across the ocean in a 4 engine aircraft instead of 2 engine aircraft? Are jet aircraft safer than propeller aircraft? How much fuel is really onboard?

Today's topics answered by Peter Cox, who is a 737-800 Captain for a major UK leisure airline are: I was on a flight recently (at the end of the season) with only a few passengers on board yet the plane still seemed to take the entire runway to take off and didn’t accelerate very quickly, was there a problem as I was worried it didn’t feel right? Have you ever been scared whilst flying? Over the summer our holiday flight (from Manchester to Teneriefe) seemed to go a weird route out over Ireland first. I am not normally a nervous passenger, but this made me worried something was going on that the pilots didn’t want to tell us about?

Today's topics answered by Peter Cox, who is a 737-800 Captain for a major UK leisure airline are: Dangerous airports, do they really exist? The emergency oxygen, where does it come from and how long does it last? I’ve seen engineers putting silver masking tape on a plane, what is this, is it safe? Can parts of the plane be broken but still be allowed to fly? Why during landing does it sound like the engines are revving up and down continuously? What is the shudder/shaking noise when the wheels retract on some aircraft? How does the wing remain capable of keeping the aircraft in the air when it dismantles itself for landing (flaps fully extended and passengers being able to see through the wing)?

How do pilots land in fog when you can't see out the window? Why do my ears pop and is it dangerous to my health? I would love to travel with my son who has Aspergers syndrome, but I'm really worried how he would cope with the airport and flight. What support, if any, is there for people with disabilities?

Today's topics answered by Peter Cox, who is a 737-800 Captain for a major UK leisure airline are: Planes land themselves every time, so what do the pilots do, are they needed? Is there a safest seat to sit on a plane? What are ATC Slot Delays, and can pilots really make up delayed time in flight?

Today's topics answered by Peter Cox, who is a 737-800 Captain for a major UK leisure airline are: Is the air recirculated on a plane, where does the air come from? Am I more likely to get ill on a plane from the air? How dirty are planes? Should I drink the water/tea/coffee on a plane? Do the pilots eat the same food? Do the pilots sleep during flight? What happens if one pilot/both pilots are taken ill?