Fear of Flying
Discussion
surveyor said:
...Specifically she is afraid of crashing. My logic cannot compute,..
I think a Fear of Flying is one of the more rational phobias. As above, there's a level of not knowing what is going on, and the fact that there are not many 'small' aircraft accidents.I'd gladly never get on an aeroplane again, but that would mean not going anywhere interesting so I make an effort to put up with it. Drink and an aisle seat help
Going on a course can't make things worse so nothing to lose other than the cost of admission. Also I'm sure your doctor would issue some tablets to calm the nerves.
I was on a plane once that had an incident and I was terrified for my next couple of flights.
I looked into the fear of flying courses, but decided instead to book a couple of flying lessons. Nothing major- only a little cesna on a nice day- but it worked, and I have had no issues since, despite very heavy and constant business travel in the years since. I do however, still have a list of aircraft and airlines that I will not fly on, and another list that I will only fly on if no alternative.. and my guilty pleasure is watching aircrash investigation - sounds strange perhaps, but it gives you an understanding of certain things.
The flying lesson thing also worked for the wife when she was spooked by something rather more serious, and again, she is perfectly happy now some years later.
She says it is because she can now visualize what is going on, what the pilot is doing and what the noises are etc,
Flying in premium cabins can also help as you tend to be more relaxed and with more personal space/ less claustrophobia.
I looked into the fear of flying courses, but decided instead to book a couple of flying lessons. Nothing major- only a little cesna on a nice day- but it worked, and I have had no issues since, despite very heavy and constant business travel in the years since. I do however, still have a list of aircraft and airlines that I will not fly on, and another list that I will only fly on if no alternative.. and my guilty pleasure is watching aircrash investigation - sounds strange perhaps, but it gives you an understanding of certain things.
The flying lesson thing also worked for the wife when she was spooked by something rather more serious, and again, she is perfectly happy now some years later.
She says it is because she can now visualize what is going on, what the pilot is doing and what the noises are etc,
Flying in premium cabins can also help as you tend to be more relaxed and with more personal space/ less claustrophobia.
Seti said:
Surprisingly I found watching Air Crash Investigators (a lot) helped. It helps you understand the dynamics of flight, what happens when and that it actually takes quite a lot to cause a plane to crash.
I'm banned from watching Air Crash Investigations! It does not help her apparently.
I used to live in Leeds, and landing at Leeds Bradford airport was sometimes quite hairy. I remember one time, the plane had a *lot* of roll due to wind on the approach which was nervy, but wasn't so bad. Then pilot stabilised it and had to come it at such an angle that I, at a window seat, could nearly see down the runway. He then banged it down - put me off for a while. Was all about the boats and trains for a year or two after that!
As I get older and travel more with work, I grow to loathe flying more and more with each flight.
It's not so much fear of flying (I quite enjoy taking off and knowing I'm in the air) as much as the sense of dread of going to the airport, the ballache, the security, the remembering to take the Swiss army knife out your pocket, the people, the noise, the cramped plane, the uncomfortable seats etc etc.
I just loathe it.
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing. Id have positively welcomed it the last time I was on Ryanair.
Not sure if it's the best solution really.
It's not so much fear of flying (I quite enjoy taking off and knowing I'm in the air) as much as the sense of dread of going to the airport, the ballache, the security, the remembering to take the Swiss army knife out your pocket, the people, the noise, the cramped plane, the uncomfortable seats etc etc.
I just loathe it.
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing. Id have positively welcomed it the last time I was on Ryanair.
Not sure if it's the best solution really.
vinnie01 said:
In a plane if there is a problem you're buggered
Bit of a sweeping statement!!!!!The severity of the problem is directly proportional to the problem itself....
There are thousands of parts to an aircraft and I can guarantee you, most planes have a problem.... But not all problems leave you buggered!
Conditioning pack, brake sensor, generator, FWSOV, Bleed Air, all problems that an aircraft can safely fly with without any issue.
Just like a car can drive with a broken radio.
I think the generic problem is 'not being, or seeing who's in control' and not knowing what the various noises are.
Still, we all have a fear of something and flying can be scary
Disastrous said:
As I get older and travel more with work, I grow to loathe flying more and more with each flight.
It's not so much fear of flying (I quite enjoy taking off and knowing I'm in the air) as much as the sense of dread of going to the airport, the ballache, the security, the remembering to take the Swiss army knife out your pocket, the people, the noise, the cramped plane, the uncomfortable seats etc etc.
I just loathe it.
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing. Id have positively welcomed it the last time I was on Ryanair.
Not sure if it's the best solution really.
Pretty much sums up how I feel. Although I don't drink, in case I need to get out in a hurry as it fills with black acrid smoke. Having an imagination doesn't help at all – there's so much that go wrong on an aeroplane.It's not so much fear of flying (I quite enjoy taking off and knowing I'm in the air) as much as the sense of dread of going to the airport, the ballache, the security, the remembering to take the Swiss army knife out your pocket, the people, the noise, the cramped plane, the uncomfortable seats etc etc.
I just loathe it.
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing. Id have positively welcomed it the last time I was on Ryanair.
Not sure if it's the best solution really.
Disastrous said:
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing.
Have you considered a career as a Cabin Service Director?eharding said:
Disastrous said:
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing.
Have you considered a career as a Cabin Service Director?Disastrous said:
eharding said:
Disastrous said:
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing.
Have you considered a career as a Cabin Service Director?I have to fly a lot for work, never bothered me at first but over the years I like it less and less.
Been on a plane trying to land at night in fog in the Andes, made endless attempts to put it down and finally diverted. Not good seeing lights appear in touching distance out of the fog on the mountainside above you, then disappear into the fog again..
Another time one of the door emergency slides deployed with a bang inside the aircraft as we began to take off...
One time I was stuck in the window seat in the economy section of a EWR-BHX flight jammed in and couldn't move, had a mild panic attack and it took weeks before I could fly calmly again.. not so much fear of flying as fear of being confined in a small place next to a fat b
d..
My tips: no alcohol (being hungover and dehydrated doesn't do much to imprve things!), plenty of water, Bose noise cancelling headphones and an ipod, and most vitally, select your seat online as soon as you can and if not flying business class make it a bulkhead or emergency exit aisle.
That said, went on a looong charter flight (normally would be a nightmare) in a Dreamliner and it was amazingly good. Something to do with more air pressure and oxygen.
Been on a plane trying to land at night in fog in the Andes, made endless attempts to put it down and finally diverted. Not good seeing lights appear in touching distance out of the fog on the mountainside above you, then disappear into the fog again..
Another time one of the door emergency slides deployed with a bang inside the aircraft as we began to take off...
One time I was stuck in the window seat in the economy section of a EWR-BHX flight jammed in and couldn't move, had a mild panic attack and it took weeks before I could fly calmly again.. not so much fear of flying as fear of being confined in a small place next to a fat b
d..My tips: no alcohol (being hungover and dehydrated doesn't do much to imprve things!), plenty of water, Bose noise cancelling headphones and an ipod, and most vitally, select your seat online as soon as you can and if not flying business class make it a bulkhead or emergency exit aisle.
That said, went on a looong charter flight (normally would be a nightmare) in a Dreamliner and it was amazingly good. Something to do with more air pressure and oxygen.
Just man up 
It's totally rational to panic and worry, the trick is just living with it.
I think I'd be totally fine in a dinky twin prop with a pilot you can just chat to etc, but a big airliner where you are disconnected from any control isn't reassuring for those who prefer some control or feeling of control.
But the only solution is either drugs, or face your fear and come out stronger each time (or very very possibly dead in a terrible air crash)
As someone else above said, get a few bottles of water. Nothing worse than panic attack and a dry throat
It's totally rational to panic and worry, the trick is just living with it.
I think I'd be totally fine in a dinky twin prop with a pilot you can just chat to etc, but a big airliner where you are disconnected from any control isn't reassuring for those who prefer some control or feeling of control.
But the only solution is either drugs, or face your fear and come out stronger each time (or very very possibly dead in a terrible air crash)
As someone else above said, get a few bottles of water. Nothing worse than panic attack and a dry throat
Disastrous said:
As I get older and travel more with work, I grow to loathe flying more and more with each flight.
It's not so much fear of flying (I quite enjoy taking off and knowing I'm in the air) as much as the sense of dread of going to the airport, the ballache, the security, the remembering to take the Swiss army knife out your pocket, the people, the noise, the cramped plane, the uncomfortable seats etc etc.
I just loathe it.
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing. Id have positively welcomed it the last time I was on Ryanair.
Not sure if it's the best solution really.
It's not so much fear of flying (I quite enjoy taking off and knowing I'm in the air) as much as the sense of dread of going to the airport, the ballache, the security, the remembering to take the Swiss army knife out your pocket, the people, the noise, the cramped plane, the uncomfortable seats etc etc.
I just loathe it.
Anyway, my point is maybe get her to focus on hating everyone else in the vicinity, the level of service etc. I find that by the time I've got on the plane, I'm angry at everyone, surly, drinking heavily and far too ill-tempered to even consider being afraid of crashing. Id have positively welcomed it the last time I was on Ryanair.
Not sure if it's the best solution really.
trueThe entire process is just orrible. With flying thrown in which is usually boring as hell too.
Short domestic flights from lba to other small airports is nicer than the big hubs. Quick in and out of ports, short flights that are not too long for getting bored. More to look at out of the windows etc.
There need to be more monorails or maglev trains around Europe. Good way to spend those euro trillions
Disastrous said:
Ayahuasca said:
EWR-BHX y exit aisle.
Genuine question - do you know every single airport code? It's surely not routine to use them unless amongst pilots/people you're trying to look like a jet setter to?Besides unless you know every single one its pointless, no?
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