Flight ordeal - Turbulence.

TopQuark

Yes it's horrible but I have forced myself not to let these experiences stop me flying. I live overseas and I'd rarely see my family and most of my friends if I refused to fly.

I had one recent experience a few months back when it was very windy and we were coming into land in Geneva (my home airport). The approach almost always follows lake Geneva with the Alps on one side and the Jura mountains on the opposite side. It was very turbulent and the plane kept making those kind of horrible downward lunges that put your stomach in your mouth. The landing gear was lowered but the pilot aborted and we went back up to try again. We didn't get as close to the ground this time before the second approach was also aborted due to the winds and turbulence. By this point people has started to cry and I was questioning whether we would make it down safely. We of course did, but the whole thing was unpleasant.

The only other scary incident I had was in 2006 on Philippine Airlines when my plane to Singapore was the last one out of Manila before the airport was closed due to Typhoon Milenyo making landfall. We should never have taken off; there was lightening all around us, it went dark and the emergency lighting came on, the plane was being buffeted from every angle and it seriously crossed my mind that we might not make it out alive. I remember returning some 4/5 days later to Manila (I lived in Phils at the time) to see the extent of the devastation from the Typhoon, from the plane.

Georgiegirl256

Molly41 wrote: »

Yep me too - yummy diazepam mixed with some anti sickness meds and Im away with fairies for hours. Poor hubby has no conversation and has to get me on and off the plane - he has resorted to a wheelchair on several occasions!

Both stupid and dangerous. What if there was an emergency? You're putting not only yourself in danger but others too.

tesuhoha

When I've flown in the past I've had little mantras to reassure me, like you are more likely to be killed by a donkey than in a plane crash but do you really expect to be killed by a donkey? Also when on a plane you are in one of the safest places in the world. You are much more likely to be killed driving to the airport than on the flight.

I read an article by a pilot who was retired. He had flown hundreds of thousands of hours and he said he had never in his whole career had an incident with a plane. Every pilot goes through extensive training and has constant retraining even to be allowed to fly commercial aircraft.

One thing I find reassuring is looking air radar. If you look on there any day and see how many planes there are in the air at any one time over Europe or over America for instance and then realise that every single plane has made it safely that day and every day. That is reassuring.

Gloomendoom

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Both stupid and dangerous. What if there was an emergency? You're putting not only yourself in danger but others too.

Exactly what I thought. Irresponsible in the extreme.

busiscoming2

hazyjo wrote: »

One plane I was on had engine failure - another had major hydraulic problems - both were sent back to Gatwick after we took off, and we were followed up the runway by the 'blues and twos'. Also been on another which didn't quite get to take-off, but we all got booted off (oh and another they pulled out of service when we'd all checked through and were as far as the gate waiting to board!


Several years ago, I managed to have three cancelled flights in the space of 6 months (one was Jamaica too!). Two were in the para above.


I am VERY unlucky when I fly.


The second time the plane was sent back after take-off (with the hydraulic probs, etc), things were literally falling off the ceiling as we landed. This was after hours and hours of delays due to plane problems. When we did eventually fly the next morning (all spent the night in the airport waiting for news of when we'd go), I cried on take-off as I was so scared. I was on my own (meeting a friend in Greece) which was even worse!


I actually cry, or nearly cry, on most flights now too. Once I'm up, I'm fine, but I seriously believe something horrendous will take off on take-off (and sometimes landing) and get very emotional about it.


But I have taken control - I won't let my fear rule my life. We're flying in Feb (thankfully me & you aren't on the same flight lol) and I'm already very nervous - especially after saying I'd never fly in winter again).


Your doctor may help. They can prescribe things just for the journey to calm you down - and courses for phobias can help.


Remember, around 95% of plane crashes have survivors! (Sorry if any info repeated, not read all replies.)


Jx
PS have also had some pretty bad turbulence, and circled runway. I was also a passenger in around 7 car crashes (at least 2 write-offs). I'm surprised anyone still travels with me...

Let me know all your future flight details, just to make sure I'm not booked on the same one! :rotfl:

Kira000

If your OH is really bothered by the thought of you not flying, perhaps he would be willing to pay for you to do this course. I think it is about £300, and it has about 98% success rate.
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/special-assistance/flying-with-confidence

aileth

Sounds awful, OP.

I haven't really had any turbulence issues over and above a normal 'juddering' on big planes.

The worst was when we went to the Maldives and had to get a little island hopper sea plane to our island. Neither of the pilots we wearing shoes, one had stains on his 'pilot' uniform. Take off only happened after numerous attempts. Then when in the sky, one of them turned around (there was about six of us in the plane) and said, whoops, we're going to have to fly through a storm, then they both burst out laughing. Literally flew right into a tropical storm and the plane was dropping so violently that I'm pretty sure my stomach is still somewhere in the Maldivian sky. The kicker was when one of them tapped a dial, muttered something to the other and then they both burst out laughing.

cazziebo

aileth wrote: »

Sounds awful, OP.

I haven't really had any turbulence issues over and above a normal 'juddering' on big planes.

The worst was when we went to the Maldives and had to get a little island hopper sea plane to our island. Neither of the pilots we wearing shoes, one had stains on his 'pilot' uniform. Take off only happened after numerous attempts. Then when in the sky, one of them turned around (there was about six of us in the plane) and said, whoops, we're going to have to fly through a storm, then they both burst out laughing. Literally flew right into a tropical storm and the plane was dropping so violently that I'm pretty sure my stomach is still somewhere in the Maldivian sky. The kicker was when one of them tapped a dial, muttered something to the other and then they both burst out laughing.

That made me lol! Must have been horrible at the time but you've written it in such a funny way - like a comedy script! :rotfl:

I once had to have an emergency landing due to an engine fire and had to jump out of the emergency chute. We landed on an airstrip. The crew handled it all so well that there was very little panic.

aileth

We laugh about it now, but I'm pretty sure my dad actually wet himself at the time.