Can someone make me feel a bit better about flying?
Discussion
OP - I had a very similar thing. Having flown all my life; I didn't fly between the ages of 18 and 25 and built up a real phobia.
Mine wasn't mechanical; it was claustrophobia.
My tips would be:
1. Go to the Doctor and he'll prescribe you something (I had diazepam; good stuff)
2. Use it. I tried not to on my first flight when I should have.
3. Sit in an aisle. I find this helps
4. Distract yourself. Read a book/magazine. Watch a film. Do Sudoku. Whatever to keep your mind occupied on something else. The last thing you want to do is sit there staring at the headrest in front of you; thinking.
5. Try a small flight first. Mine was Luton to Glasgow and back. This sets you up for longer stuff.
6. Take someone understanding, who will reassure you.
Remember; if you enjoyed flying before that enjoyment is still there. You just need to re-discover it
Mine wasn't mechanical; it was claustrophobia.
My tips would be:
1. Go to the Doctor and he'll prescribe you something (I had diazepam; good stuff)
2. Use it. I tried not to on my first flight when I should have.
3. Sit in an aisle. I find this helps
4. Distract yourself. Read a book/magazine. Watch a film. Do Sudoku. Whatever to keep your mind occupied on something else. The last thing you want to do is sit there staring at the headrest in front of you; thinking.
5. Try a small flight first. Mine was Luton to Glasgow and back. This sets you up for longer stuff.
6. Take someone understanding, who will reassure you.
Remember; if you enjoyed flying before that enjoyment is still there. You just need to re-discover it
Robb F said:
Are the wings supposed to bend that much?
I once noticed that when we were sitting in the airport, the wings drooped down (because the plane was holding the wings up)... then when we were in the air, the wings were raised - because the only thing stopping us hitting the ground were two saggy wings. HTH.
VoziKaoFangio said:
Although driving is obviously more dangerous than flying, I think it's the lack of control and the extreme unlikeliness of survival in any accident that makes people more nervous of the less dangerous mode of transport of the two.
I am sure none of this has helped the OP.
:-)
That's pretty much my issue with it.!I am sure none of this has helped the OP.
:-)
Some good replies though in true PH fashion!
The hard facts about safety are what makes me feel better.. Problem is the fiancé (will be wife then!) isn't too happy about flying either. So I'm here trying to put a brave face on it all!
We're flying out with Delta and back with KLM - I've heard or them both so they should be no corners cut I'd imagine.. On 767's too.
I've been watching You Tube vids of the planes which strangely helped until the linked vids were all crosswind landings and all that. Bloody hell.
OP. The only problem with flying is when the aircraft suddenly stops flying....
Also, those grinding noises you hear just after take-off are not normal at all
And the pilot never reduces the throttle input about 3/4 of the way into the climb. If you feel the plane start to slow slightly, that is way, way beyond normal.
In all seriousness, I have flown many hundreds of thousands of miles over the past 5 years and only once had a slightly worrying (to me) experience when we landed at HK in a storm.
It really is the safest possible form of transport
Also, those grinding noises you hear just after take-off are not normal at all
And the pilot never reduces the throttle input about 3/4 of the way into the climb. If you feel the plane start to slow slightly, that is way, way beyond normal.
In all seriousness, I have flown many hundreds of thousands of miles over the past 5 years and only once had a slightly worrying (to me) experience when we landed at HK in a storm.
It really is the safest possible form of transport
philmots said:
The hard facts about safety are what makes me feel better.. Problem is the fiancé (will be wife then!) isn't too happy about flying either. So I'm here trying to put a brave face on it all!
A quick google suggests around 1.5 billion people travel by air each year, and a 10 year average of 777 deaths per year. Which means a 5.18x10-7 chance of dying. (Which is very small).I'm reeeeally sure those wings aren't supposed to bend that much though.
OP. Have a read up about BA Flight 9 to give you an idea of how, even when things go totally wrong, the pilot is able to regain and retain control and continue the aircraft to safe harbour.
Really, don't be afraid of flying. It's quite an un-natural experience, but billions of miles are flown by millions of people every year with absolutely no incident whatsoever.
Really, don't be afraid of flying. It's quite an un-natural experience, but billions of miles are flown by millions of people every year with absolutely no incident whatsoever.
Robb F said:
A quick google suggests around 1.5 billion people travel by air each year, and a 10 year average of 777 deaths per year. Which means a 5.18x10-7 chance of dying. (Which is very small).
The vast majority of those deaths occur in developing countries, particularly in Africa and the outer reaches of the former Soviet Union where standards of training & maintenance are nowhere near those of Europe, N America and developed Asian nations.Bradgate said:
Robb F said:
A quick google suggests around 1.5 billion people travel by air each year, and a 10 year average of 777 deaths per year. Which means a 5.18x10-7 chance of dying. (Which is very small).
The vast majority of those deaths occur in developing countries, particularly in Africa and the outer reaches of the former Soviet Union where standards of training & maintenance are nowhere near those of Europe, N America and developed Asian nations.
philmots said:
...all I can think of is the wing dropping off lol...
So if anyone can make me feel better..?2. Go to your doctor. Chances are it's just a mild case of the jitters (or at least was before everyone here offered their 'help') that they will be able to give you something mild to keep on top of. They may even recommend something over-the-counter that's sufficient.
3. Chances are you'll be fine when you actually get on the plane and wonder what you were worrying about.
Mark. said:
Sit at the back, planes never reverse in to mountains...
Actually they do - in a CFIT (Controlled Flight Into Terrain) situation it's often the tail that hits first, shortly after "Oh ****!" has been recoded on the cockpit voice recorder and the pilots have pulled the nose up to try and avoid said terrain.There was a large meta-analysis of accident records a few years ago that looked at survival rates vs seat position and found that it didn't make any difference where you sat - unless you knew how the plane was going to crash before it did it.
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