Blast from the past keeps fear of flying grounded

Your readership might be able to illuminate something that occurred to me recently. I was on a plane and half paying attention to the safety demonstration.

When the flight crew reached the part about the air masks descending, I noticed the anachronistic image of the gent wearing the mask. Here was a 1950s-style head and shoulders illustration of what can only be described as a ‘chap’: A David Niven-type cove with Brylcreemed hair and correctly knotted Windsor tie, calmly using a mask.

It was a British Airways flight, but I think others use the same design as it had a ring of unconscious recognition. My theory is that this throw-back is deliberate. It provides a reassuring sense of the ‘old world’ of aviation, and implies that these masks haven’t been needed for at least 50 years. But are they up to the rigours of

modern aviation safety technology? Any views?

Robert Mighall

Consultant

Citigate Lloyd Northover

London W1T