Something special ... in the way we fly.

• Author: Reis, Tony C.
• Position: Air travel - Latitudes - Column

I am not one of those people who is scared of flying. Quite the opposite. I love flying, and even took a few flying classes. A wonderful experience. The knowledge of flying is extremely helpful to me because I am always "on the road," rather, in the air.

But not all people have had the ultimate experience of flying an airplane. They simply don't know, and don't care either, how the heavier-than-air gets off the ground, and they normally believe that a newsworthy story about an airplane is when it goes down, not when it goes up.

But, they have their reasons, and good ones, for not feeling comfortable in an airplane. In fact, things start to become uncomfortable right at the airport. The reason: a frightening language. Let's check in.

Chances are that you may be booked on Flight 5050. It doesn't take much to think of it as a 50-50 chance of making it. Please, don't panic when, at the counter, the attendant sends you to the "terminal." (It's death, for sure!) After all, they had already asked you for the "expiration date" when you paid for your ticket with your charge card.

At this point, you really don't have that many choices to change your mind, because you are at the "gate." Why a "gate?" Why not "entrance" or "exit?" These are much more friendly words to reach the friendly skies. Any word seems better than gate (. . . to heaven!). Besides, gate may also suggest "gatecrasher." Knock on wood!

Well, by now you have reached the point of no return. "Have a nice flight," say the attendants at the "entrance" or "exit," where they are going to remain safely on earth after you board the airplane. Down the tube you go, if you happen to be in a modern airport. Otherwise, down and up the stairs.

On board, things are a little better. Or are they? The captain comes over the public-address system and tells you to relax and enjoy the flight. "But buckle up while seated because we may run into some sudden turbulence." Now you feel really relaxed!

Before that, you heard all those speeches about safety. I am convinced that flying is the safest means of transportation (just don't check the statistics on survival rates per accident). And airplanes are getting better. And pilots are very well trained and subject to...