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Bloomberg

Fear of Flying? Not Me. I Swear!

I'm convinced about the safety of commercial air travel — considering the frequency of flights, numbers of passengers transported, the trillions of aggregate miles planes fly each year. You're more likely to be killed riding a bicycle — and, as it is, I tend to fall off bicycles. But all the statistical reassurances can dissipate once you settle into your seat and take in — once again — the aircraft safety procedures. By now, it should be like standing for the national anthem at a ball game, but alas it's not. Your imagination can spin in all directions, toward contingencies both serious and silly. What if I pull on the tube for the oxygen mask and rip it out instead? Should I then grab the mask from my seatmate because I need to tend to myself first? And why is that passenger in stiletto heels? The escape slide will tear! Excuse me, I don't want to panic anyone, but may I have a practice session with the inflatable vest? I just want to be certain my head will fit through it. Why can't it button instead…