As for basic concern and anxiety in the cabin, many passengers would rather hang on to their ignorance and totally wrong conclusions about aviation. It is very rare that anyone, except for children, or a military pilot, shows any interest in stopping by the cockpit when the flight is over, and this includes the many on-time arrivals.
After riding behind two ladies in a regional jet recently and hearing their ignorant comments about "small planes", I told them that the pilots would be glad to clear up any misunderstandings, which are very common among the flying public. One woman said, "Oh that's ok, we just want to get there". There we go...
All we can do is make normal pa's and not be concerned about the crazy, nonsensical notions that remain in many peoples' heads for their entire lives-and very often, by choice.
Correct, both pilots and rushed passengers don't have time to clear up all basic misunderstandings, but rarely do passengers ask us for the opportunity to clear up even one of them, whether in the cockpit or walking through the airport. I guess it is sort of like the fear of walking in the rain-they would rather hang on to old superstitions from the dark ages about raindrops, than ask a nurse or doctor (oh, it's from a virus, ok....but don't all raindrops have a virus?). Maybe they can't handle realizing how wrong they are. But they take showers and baths, do they not?
