Fear of Flying

cjc3001

I would just like to add that after four years of refusing to get within 20 miles of an airport, I flew to NY two years ago, and haven't looked back since!

Now planning a trip to Australia or West Coast America in September, and sure I'll probably be a gibbering wreck for a few days before I go, but I'm SO glad I took that flight - you WILL get your wings back!

Tozer

Its a funny old thing isn't it? The rational part of you says nothing will happen but I guess everyone is a touch tense being locked in a metal tube and subjected to massive forces and speed.

I learnt to fly with the Royal Air Force and am very comfortable flyer. But it is unsettling hurtling down a runway at 176 mph.

But it is also incredibly clever and conducted by very clever people at the sharp end of the aircraft. And the aircraft itself is built by very, very clever people.

Here's the thing. Landings are, generally, a piece of cake. The aircraft can do it itself but best to have the 2 talented chaps up front do it instead. Take off is easy. Once the flaps go up and the engines reduce in power for the cruise, the aircraft is actually at its happiest. Fuel permitting, it could stay there all day bombing along at 35000 feet. That is exactly what it was designed to do.

Take a spot of Dutch courage. Sit back, relax and have a ball. It is part of the holiday! Enjoy!

across

Beaker99 that is the best thing ive read in ages!!!i actually love flying so in june when i go on my holidays i cant wait to think about all the things youve said in your post its brilliant thanks so much!! i take my two little girls onboard so cant afford to get scared anyway for their sake i get round it by telling them its like being at the funfair and when it goes really fast up the runway we all get really exctied and laugh outloud same when its landing!!! for me the best feeling in the world is when we are low enough to make out buildings and cars!!!! i love that bit and i love the feeling of being above the world looking down it makes you really appreciate what a beautiful planet we live in and how lucky we are to have family and friends down there who we'll be giving a cuddle to when we land! personally i am always on a high when i get home because of that reason to see the world from a different perspective and to see fluffy clouds and different rays in the sky it is heaven!
the only thing i hate about flying and yep there is something that bothers me it is having to put up with everybody else in such a close proximity!!i like my personal space bubble to be very large(even though im very slim!!!) i cant stand people moaning,being sick and recling their chair on me and i cant stand the toilets!!!!!!!!!i cant stand people taking their shoes off near me and getting bare feet out i find it bad mannered when everyone is in tight area and food is being served!!!!!!i cant stand the way people bring very large sportbags onboard and take up whole cupboard so i cant fit anything small in!!and i cant stand the way people push n shove to get off!!!!!!(hate to see them in an emergancy!)
apart from that i love to fly i just wish i could go private like the queen!!!!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:i am always under the idea that if it does blow up on the runway i went with a big bang and i would be having an adrenaline rush and a laugh!!!

WiseInvestor_2

Beaker99 wrote: »

a Jumbo is licensed to fly on 3 engines, meaning if they get an engine shut down they (sometimes) continue to final destination – it’s that small a deal. (as was they case on one BA flight once, but I think they got in trouble)

The Pilots shut down 1 of the 4 engines shortly after Take-off from Los Angeles. As you say, being a "small deal" they carried on to England.

The US authorities subsequently declared BA's jumbo "unairworthy" and attempted to levy a fine. Boeing (a US company!) then waded into the argument to explain that the Jumbo was designed and certified to continue with an engine(s) shutdown. Indeed, it was/is a major selling point for the airlines. The authorities then backtracked and it all went quiet.

The UK authority (the CAA) backed BA from the start.

quickstepqueen

Thanks Beaker99 for your info. When I last flew I was with my partner who is ex RAF and he explained it all to me. This time however, I am flying alone, my first time, and first long haul flight, and your post has just calmed me so much. I've been worrying about every little thing this time and it just reminded of what to expect on the plane, the noises and smells etc. Very reassuring. Thankyou.

gingernut352000

HI my wife had a terible fear of flying. Have had to have bags off loaded off planes a couple of times. Its not money saving but she did the Virgin fear of flying course a few years ago cast Circa £240 all day thing with a flight. there were 85 people on her course and only 1 didn't do the flight. Since then she has flown 6 times, played her saxaphone in a concert and ride escalators like a child at the play ground ( another thing she would never get on before) She still is a happy flier but is happy to get on and do it.

Cant say how much I recomend it

Adrian

busiscoming2

Firstly Beaker 99 what a lot of wonderful information, I too shall be listening more on my next flight! Thank you.
OP - I understand your fear, I think it is 'normal' to be afraid. It is difficult not being in control and not really understanding what is going on. I love take off and landing the best, I liken it to fairground rides, only much more fun! Once we get near landing I always think 'well, at least I could jump from here', daft I know but it helps! Once I get on the plane I look at the cabin crew and think to myself, 'they are young (usually) and aren't on here to die'. Then I am ok.

Pssst

Its a big sky,aeroplane engines are inherently simple devices,plane drivers are well trained and there are very few of them up there and the best one of all...your going to die anyway so what does it matter when??

There is nothing to fear but fear itself.

solarstone

IClaudius wrote: »

what about trying hypnotherapy?

Funny you say that. I have a friend who's a hypnotherapist who treated someone petrified of flying. Through hypnotherapy he found the person had an experience as a child where they were knocked on the floor with a dog standing over them. The person, years later feared flying because they found the inside of the plane subconsciously reminded them of the dog standing over them years earlier.

Bizarre, irrational, call it what you will, but once the hypnotherapist dealt with the dog in childhood incident, the person was cured and could fly at will.

gracie83

Thank you for this post! It has really helped calm me down.

I keep watching you tube videos of take off and landings from BHX and paphos airport and you can hear the reactions of the people and you can hear the noises the planes make such as the reduction of engine power about 40 seconds after takeoff which always terrified me in the past! I know that I am taking more of a risk going on the bus to work everyday but it is always the thought of if the bus crashes I can get out an emergancy exit - I have no parachute to get out of a plane! Oddly one of the most best programs I watch is Aircrash Investigations as other than the crashes which are pilot error most of the accidents are so flucky (ie bad repair job done 20 odd years ago) that you can see the odds of being affected are just so very very low.

And yes the point the pilot does not want to crash either is a very good on!

What always scares me the most is when you can feel the plane start to head back down to earth after a long flight. You look at the plane location map and you see you are still over mid France and you think we will be down too early but I have never landed in the channel yet!

Sorry rambling must be more nervous than I thought! 2 days till the flight!