I go out every year at least once, or more.

I will still prefer to fly, despite these aircraft incidents. I think flying is less unsafe than driving on highways, more so in my country where the driving habits of most people are not acceptable. Some risk is involved in almost activities that we do.

Admittedly, humans are rational human beings. They sub-consciously take decisions on the basis of cost-benefit analysis. I will vote for flying than driving anywhere.

Thanks Prof Debi. We wait and see how many of our friends agree with your views. I have 1 good friend who must drive, because she only feels safe when she is in charge.

Dear Miranda, I'm presenting abroad my researches, or participate in workshops, study visits not so often as I would like to. Recently I went to France. I prefer planes, or trains for longer travels, than cars. However I prefer cars for holidays travels abroad. It was funny, when my French friends insisted my to fly with Lufthansa, not with Air France. Finally I flew with Swiss Airlines and Lufthansa, flying back to Warsaw. They, as French, truly preferred as safe German "flying technology". It is really hard not to agree with them.

Dear Miranda, I´m still flying. The first reason is: no better possibilty to visit other continents. The second reason is: I know statistics and the frequence of such aeroplane accidents. The car or tram is worse.

So go on, if you take regard to all threatening dangers, you can stop your life.

I prefer to fly.

Statistically, driving is much riskier than flying.

Airline passengers have a very remote chance of being in an airplane accident; 1 in 2 million.

Car accidents kill about 50,000 people a year.

Dear Miranda,

My research on Spanish and comparative European literature by its very nature requires travel abroad both to gather and present my findings. Since I live an ocean away from Europe, I must fly. Since retirement in 2002, the frequency of these flights has drastically diminished from 6 yearly trips abroad to one. Nonetheless, the longest flight I ever made to present a paper was a 15-hour trip on Qantas from Los Angeles, California to Melbourne, Australia in 2012. I would not have given that journey up for the world! The convention at the U. Melbourne was memorable and Australia itself deserves its reputation as beautiful.

Thanks Rolando for the numerical data of my cited statistics. Your travelling habits are exactly like mine.

Every year I fly abroad to present my papers. In spite of the recent aircraft 'incidents', I still prefer to fly, because flying is the safer way of travel. I have heard that aviation companies are working on ten sigma, not only six sigma.

Dear Cecilia,

The most congested highways in the U.S. are the roads in and around Washington, D.C. and the Los Angeles Freeway. All the rest are traffic-free by comparison.

I go to conferences 1-4 times a year. Mostly I fly - it is more comfortable, if distance is over 2000 km. And, no chances to drive to some other continents.

as for the risk: if your fate is to kill yourself while driving, airplain did not matter:) Drive fast, be happy, die young

If I go to conferences, I always travel by train. This solution is quite safe and cheap, but I think that a maximum distance shouldn't be greater than 700/800 km. I usually try to choose conferences within a radius of 600 km. The only way for greater distances are airplane flights.

I also go to scientific meetings a few times a year. Will I choose to drive or fly; it depends on how far the meeting place is. However, sometimes one does not have much choice but to fly! I don't mind it any way!

@Rolando, please excuse my typing fault with your name. Sorry!

No mode of transportation is 100% safe. By seeing accidents we cannot stop using any mode. Aviation is the fastest mode of transportation now a days and to save your time you have to use it (if price doesn't matters).

I will always prefer flight because it will save my time and also exhaustion is less in airways in comparison to roadways.

Death is ultimate truth of life, we cannot stop our work due to its fear.

Regards,

Nitish

Dear Miranda: Indeed, the risks of motor vehicle accidents are far more than airplane crashes. On the average I fly one to two times a year for research.

If I asked to choose between fly or drive, I will choose fly.

At the present stage I go twice/thrice an year abroad for presenting my work.

Mode of travel depends on the destination but mostly via flight. But we cannot stop by thinking about the risk in travel. According to my belief, our destiny is already decided, so as per Linas comment, be happy and go and catch (conquer) as much as you can...

My last travel was to United States in the mid of Feb 2014, my next travel is in May 11-14, 2014 to Cyprus. Any of you buddies are there, happy to meet.

http://www.desline.com/congress/Cyprus2014/home.shtml

Dear Miranda

Most often do conferences in Brazil and when they are not in the state where I live, I travel by plane because the journey is quick, and allows me participate in a timely manner that does not interfere with my other professional activities

Dear Miranda. Living in an Archipelago - Azores - I have to travel constantly by plane either to mainland Europe, N America or between the islands. I also travel a lot to S America, Asia and Africa and, of course, these have to be made by flights. Inside Europe I always try to get the train since its cheaper and a very nice and comfortable way to travel. Car is an option also when for instance in remote places like savanahs, deserts, etc...or for shorter distances in Iberia, some states in USA/eastern Canada, in between small European countries (e.g. driving from Vienna to Budapest, Prague or Zagreb is common) or in specific areas of S and Central Amrica were its more safer not only because of traffic but also for criminality (which can be very dangerous when travelling by car). Here in the Azores, sailling is also quite common, mainly in summertime, not only for leisure but also for scientific cruises (marine biology in my case).

After many many years of constant travels - often quite long and to very remote places - I never experienced anything similar to an accident except for a minor problem with a helicopter in S Angola.

Still, the only way I'm sometimes affraid of travel is by far the car since trafic is really dangerous and roads are the "graveyard" of travels all over the world.

The safest way to travel is indeed by aircraft and, perhaps secondly, by boats and vessels.

All the best and thanks for another important topic you shared with all of us,

JP

Dear friends (Debi, Beata, Hanno, Kamal, Mahfuz,Cecilia, Mohammed, Nitish, Ziad, Aieman, Shafig, Lijo, Nelson O, Nelson E, Joao etc etc), thanks to all of you for your views. It's true that we can't avoid flying, we need to fly. But life is uncertain and may be short, so let us live each day well :)

I use aeroplanes, helicopters, walk, climb, drive 170 km to work and back every day , ride a motorbike and horses and use ships. In 3 hours I am flying to Cape Town, on Wednesday I get on board the SA Agulhas II en route to Marion Island in the roaring forties. I have had some near-misses...the worst while cycling, but life is too short to hide in a cupboard.

Thanks Ludwig, Mohammed et al.

@Ludwig, your transportation modes are a great variety :)) Thanks again, feel free to post.

@MY

Thanks for sharing the question.

Earlier I used to fly almost 7-10 times a year to attend meetings to present my views and conferences to present my work. Now, when I am retired, I am not fussy about the mode of travel. Because, it all depends on the availability of funds/facility with my trip sponsors (Air/train/bus/taxi/my own car/motor bike) 3-5 times now. Some times, I bear (if, I can afford to) the expenses for my travel for the cause of education/sharing my experiences with the new generation.

Wow! Incredible travel experiences @Ludwig!

Thanks Lijo et al.

@Prof Ravi, thanks for doing this: 'bear (if, I can afford to) the expenses for my travel for the cause of education/sharing my experiences with the new generation'.

Many of my friends do that, some of us do not have a grant; but we still do research. Some do have a grant, but they are so relaxed and do the minimum.

Depending on the time, place or budget, the mode is decided. I personally prefer flying as it is time saving and comfortable, if budget permits. If traveling abroad, flying is the only natural choice, while withing the country...depends as mentioned above.

Thanks K. Singh. Actually I do just the same, but I don't like driving for more than 3 hours...

Risk is involve everywhere.... One cannot say that Driving is safer then flying or vice versa.

Its all about matter of time and once the time has reached to its end then Home is also not safe...

Thanks @Shafig and Pradeep, you are very practical :)

Oh boy (@Miranda, I mean you also) - in most cases I pay myself for the conference.

@Linas, so Prof Ravi, you and I often pay for our conferences. Only my last conference fee was paid by my college, but I paid for the flight. One good thing is that we have 1 good air company (Airasia). The slogan is 'Now everyone can fly'. It uses the blue ocean strategy, making flights cheap enough for the 80 % of the population who otherwise have to take a train or coach :-))

But I am quiet sure that majority of the conference attendees are not paying from their pocket.

Yes, @Lijo, I think you are right.

At the last conference, after presenting my second paper at 11 am, I had to get ready, missed lunch, and took a cab to the airport. I got back about 3 pm, and went to the office to work.

Dear Dr Miranda, actually I do not like driving more than 1 hr, thus I prefer flying. I traveled to Langkawi last year by bus to present my research in MAVP conference, we spent around 13 hours in bus, I was really bored, got very tired...........that was a good lesson to me to never take bas for next time. TQ

I have put 7000 miles on the car that I bought in February. I have driven cross-country to attend conferences, and haven't flown since January 2001. Several reasons for that-

(1) I am a traffic engineer, and I see many interesting traffic engineering applications when I drive that I would never see flying.

(2) I used to fly mostly in the winter and would wear heavy coats, boots, etc. Inevitably, I would be pulled out of ,line and searched by security, which is rather humiliating. This was before 9/11 and the ridiculousness that is security (here in the States, at least) now. It is a matter of principle to me- I'd rather not be treated like a common criminal and would rather take that infinitesimally small chance that the one of thousands of flights that I happen to be on is going to end in tragedy (very low chance of hijackings or crashes even before 9/11). So, until the overreactions end, I will not fly.

(3) I have inner ear problems and when I fly, I am usually down and out in bed for at least a day after I land. So, time wise, unless it will take me more than two days to get there, it isn't worth it.

@Michael Schrader, thanks. Very interesting view. I'm sure all of us on this thread will agree. So far, most prefer to fly. In my country, we have beautiful highways and scenery. It's always lush, always green, always warm. I do have some friends who prefer to drive especially when we can car pool. Thanks.

Dear Miranda, i travel every year (when authorized) to present my research abroad; traveling by plane is the most available way. I think it is as well safer than traveling by car; i use it in domestic travels too as my country becomes a champion in car accidents..using trains is more comfortable than cars with the benefit to see and enjoy the countryside

Thanks Fairouz :))

I am happy that you are well connected by train routes.

I don’t think we would ever think about risk while travelling, as risks are everywhere. Normally I chose to travel by car or fly depending upon the distance and convenience. If the travel is under 8hours, say about 600 miles I drive, otherwise fly. Unfortunately the department support for conferences is dwindling each year, and we have to spend more and more from our pocket to attend conferences.

Very rarely, very long distances. Trains, buses are very convenient and we are well connected, throughout India.

By land, car; by water, boat. Flying is for the birds.

@Prof Abdalla, Nageswara, Jaya, Alexandre and Cj; thanks. A great variety of preferred transport, as there are researchers like us, and conditions we are in :))

It depends where is the destination, its connectivity and of course the availability of time. But my travelling plans never affects with tragedy incidence which occur once in a while. All the mode of travelling would be a pleasant only it you pay good amount for it.

@Cj Nev,

try to visit the exciting namib desert from Germany in your short 2 weeks holiday by train, boat or ship or car. Seeing the wonderful world is only for the birds?

Good point Martin. May I share with all of you that the longest air travel I had to made was from the Azores to Dili (East Timor) the first time I went there: Due to constant and successive impredictable situations (like a Murphy's Law documentar) it took my ca. 52h! since I left home until landing in Dili Airport. Flighst were changed, the conexion between Djakarta and Bali -very close to Timor - was cancelled and there were no flights to Darwin so I had to fly to Sidney, then from there to Darwin and finally Dili. Nevertheless, I never felt any fear of plane crashes or accidents. The only thing that really bothers me up to high exhaustion levels are check-ins, passports control, security and luggage recover. Those are the main reasons that led me to reduce my travels per year and to stay more time at home. Just for comparison, I've sailed from the Azores to the Bahamas much faster than that air travel to Dili.

All the best,

JP

Hanno, It's a play on words, FLYING (not "seeing the wonderful world") is for the birds, both figuratively and literally as, in the comfort of your hotel room or uncomfortable plane ride on your short 2 week holiday, this Nature documentary (a breathtaking flight on the wings of birds across six continents and experiences of some of the world's greatest natural spectacles from a bird's-eye view) attests: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1BF52D1F1200DFF4. Seeing the wonderful world is not time-dependent for me.

@Ratan, Hanno, Martin, Joao, Cj: thanks for your views. I like this:

'The last travels were not very pleasant due to various security checks.' and

'The only thing that really bothers me up to high exhaustion levels are check-ins, passports control, security and luggage recover. '

Perhaps our KLIA airport is not strict enough. Recently, on the lost plane, 2 persons used a passport that was bought when they were in another country. I'm still following our news to see what can be recovered to add to our knowledge concerning the plane.