Flight ordeal - Turbulence.

lostinrates

I used to flat a lot as a kid. Weekly for a while when living with my parents, then less when at school, but as an unaccompanied minor often. I've been on some hair arising flights both for weather and turbulence, and once a 'political' situation ( but I had a parent there that time). Couple of unscheduled stops or re sited landing places.

I loved it all. Such adventure.....

Izadora

suki1964 wrote: »

Yep, we had such bad turbulence one year flying to Turkey that only half the plane ever got given their breakfast as the cabin crew were also forced to sit and strap themselves in

And funnily enough it was that flight that stopped my fear of flying

I'm not nervous of flying, so it's hard for me to understand how terrifying you find it, but I think that's probably the best way to look at it - it was the worst flight (out of many) that you've ever experienced but the pilot still got you there safely.

bagpussbear

OP I sympathise. We had a vile flight back from Egypt last year, took off in a storm(!) and it wasn't smooth throughout, but we went through a very very bad bout of turbulence, lasting about 2 hours on approach to England. We didn't get close to the water like you did, which I can imagine would have been terrifying, but I never realised flights could be so awful, or that a plane could be thrown around so badly.

My husband said he won't ever get on a flight again, so I do understand where you are coming from.

It is possible to travel the world by other methods, train and boats and I wonder if you need to sit with your other half and explain that it's developed into an extreme phobia, and perhaps you could do a holiday that was a non-flight.

This year we travelled to Milan, Rome, Zermatt (Switzerland) and Paris and all by train. And it's much nicer as you can see all the scenery from the comfort of the ground, lol!

If you are interested, google 'man in seat 61' and the first website that will come up is fantastic for looking at different ways to explore Europe etc.

Obviously though, this won't cure your fear, but gives you an idea to holiday without a plane for your next holiday, maybe take the pressure off for a bit.

I have also heard of people doing valium for trips, but it does rely on them having a fully sober partner to travel with of course.

SanguineSteve

I tried valium to knock me out for a sleeper-bus ride in Vietnam. I didn't sleep, my body was relaxed but I was still terrified getting thrown around my little plastic coffin.

Anyway, statistically speaking OP, everyone get's one bad flight. You could look at it that now you've had it, your next trips will be fine.

Mojisola

tracie_80 wrote: »

We had an holiday planned for January 2015 but I can't go, I'm too scared, just the thought of being on a plane causes me to shake.

If you take action now, you can get some help with the anxiety and still go on holiday and have a happy husband.

Dysnomia

Hello,


Long haul cabin crew here! I completely understand issues with turbulence: at least with a rollercoaster, you can see what's coming!


I agree with the suggestion about using the crew as a gauge to severity - turbulence feels more severe when you are sitting down I think anyway.


Also, as a general rule, the bigger the plane, the less severe the turbulence. In even slightly high winds the back of an A319 (120-ish seats) can be terrible. In an A380 (469 seats at my airline) you wouldn't even feel it. Some planes, like the 777-300, flex more than others, so turbulence can be much worse in the back of the plane than in the front.


The term the pilot used was probably Clear Air Turbulence - this is quite common and difficult to predict. There can also be bumps when crossing jetstreams. What you experienced was quite rare, it has happened probably 7 or 8 times in my flying career altogether. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!


Also I should mention, and I'm not plugging anything here, that BA do a "fear of flying" course with pilots and safety trainers. I've heard very good things.


Dys.


P.S in the grand scheme of things, turbulence is pretty low on my list of things to worry about. It's way down below someone keeling over and dying on the flight (happens on my airline about once a month) and me forgetting where I parked my car at the airport because I've been away for a week.

Dysnomia

Oh, and whatever you do, don't go for the sleeping pills before takeoff. If we come to secure the cabin for takeoff and can't wake you up, you will be taken off the plane by paramedics. It's pretty common.


Dys.

supermassive

Flying back from Australia, back of the plane, scared of flying anyway... severe turbulence for 16 hours. Almost constant. We were served our in-flight meals during a mild turbulence and asked to put the lid on our food if we experienced severe turbulence again. The food never got eaten at all.

We dropped and dropped to the point where we were told we may need to land at a nearby air field for a few hours, but 'not to worry'.

I have never been so at ease with my own death. It was sort of peaceful.

So I can empathise.

tubbee2

Yes, I flew to a conference in Venice 20 odd years ago, plane was hit by lightning, aircraft fell like a brick then was pulled up by pilots then hit turbulence amid a biblical thunderstorm. Elderly nun sitting next to me was praying and rattling through her rosary, half the passengers were using their sick bags the other half preparing to .. you get the picture. We landed eventually and when the conference finished I took the train back to the UK and didn't fly again for about 15 years until I had the 'terrified flyers' course at the local airport which I'm glad to say has cured me. I still don't like flying but I no longer turn into a gibbering wreck at the prospect.

See if your local airport offers these courses - not cheap but worth it

artbaron

My grandmother traveled a lot, many years ago when planes were simpler and nastier affairs, and she told the story of a flight over France that suddenly dropped thousands of feet, throwing things all over the cabin and causing people to bang their heads on the ceiling. After the plane had been hurled around and shaken violently for five minutes it all subsided and the captain's voice came cheerily over the intercom, saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm happy to report that I have now regained control of the plane."