An absolute fear of flying.. again!

An absolute fear of flying.. again!

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Discussion

King Herald

23,501 posts

217 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
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davepoth said:
Legacywr said:
The trouble is that this isn't a phobia, it's a rational fear!
No it's not. You are far more likely to die in a car crash on the way to the airport than in a plane crash. And you aren't afraid of being the passenger in a car are you?
I've flown internationally every five weeks for the last 15 years or more, quite often over 10,000 miles per trip. And I've never even had a hint of a warning anything is going to go wrong. The most excitement I've ever had is a little turbulence.

You'd think I have mega Gold Platinum Titanium Frequent flyer cards up the ying yang, but I pop around so many different airlines I've not even got a Gold yet. frown

Next Wednesday 4 am start: Manila - Tokyo - Houston - New Orleans. And the scariest part of the trip will be getting stuck in a crappy seat.

996 sps

6,165 posts

217 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
quotequote all
King Herald said:
I've flown internationally every five weeks for the last 15 years or more, quite often over 10,000 miles per trip. And I've never even had a hint of a warning anything is going to go wrong. The most excitement I've ever had is a little turbulence.

You'd think I have mega Gold Platinum Titanium Frequent flyer cards up the ying yang, but I pop around so many different airlines I've not even got a Gold yet. frown

Next Wednesday 4 am start: Manila - Tokyo - Houston - New Orleans. And the scariest part of the trip will be getting stuck in a crappy seat.
Lucky you I flew to Kenya in 1997, me and a few friends we all 70's rig as fancy dress, just after take off the smoke alarm went off at the back of the plane, the plane then began to gradually fill up with smoke, the air hostess was sprinting up and down the plane. My friend decided it would funny to get some final pics as we were all "going to die", then air masks dropped down went to put mine on but the plastic snapped so had to hold it over my mouth.

Co pilot sprinted down the aisle looked in a periscope, ran back Frenchy my mate promptly stood up saying we were all going to die, quite surreal as he had massive kipper tie on with a shirt on with huge collars, then he started taking pictures of himself with oxygen mask on.

The plane let all the fuel out, could see the fuel coming out of the ends of the wings from my window.

The air hostess then told Frenchy to stop taking pictures "It's not the time or the place".

The plane turnt back we landed at Heathrow, the hostess's wound down the landing gear as we'd loss hydraulic power, the ambulances and fire engines were speeding alongside us as we landed fireman and paramedics came on the planes.

We got off and all walked around Heathrow in 70's rig until we got another plane, at that point in my life we couldn't stop laughing once we had landed.

996 sps

6,165 posts

217 months

Saturday 29th October 2011
quotequote all
King Herald said:
I've flown internationally every five weeks for the last 15 years or more, quite often over 10,000 miles per trip. And I've never even had a hint of a warning anything is going to go wrong. The most excitement I've ever had is a little turbulence.

You'd think I have mega Gold Platinum Titanium Frequent flyer cards up the ying yang, but I pop around so many different airlines I've not even got a Gold yet. frown

Next Wednesday 4 am start: Manila - Tokyo - Houston - New Orleans. And the scariest part of the trip will be getting stuck in a crappy seat.
Lucky you I flew to Kenya in 1997, me and a few friends we all wore 70's rig as fancy dress, just after take off the smoke alarm went off at the back of the plane, the plane then began to gradually fill up with smoke, the air hostess was sprinting up and down the plane. My friend decided it would be funny to get some final pics as we were all "going to die", then air masks dropped down went to put mine on but the plastic snapped so had to hold it over my mouth.

Co pilot sprinted down the aisle looked in a periscope, ran back Frenchy my mate promptly stood up saying we were all going to die, quite surreal as he had massive kipper tie on with a shirt on with huge collars, then he started taking pictures of himself with oxygen mask on.

The plane let all the fuel out, could see the fuel coming out of the ends of the wings from my window.

The air hostess then told Frenchy to stop taking pictures "It's not the time or the place".

The plane turnt back we landed at Heathrow, the hostess's wound down the landing gear as we'd loss hydraulic power, the ambulances and fire engines were speeding alongside us as we landed fireman and paramedics came on the plane.

We got off and all walked around Heathrow in 70's rig until we got another plane, at that point in my life we couldn't stop laughing once we had landed.


Edited by 996 sps on Saturday 29th October 15:03

Bing o

15,184 posts

220 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
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I used to be scared of flying. In the end, I just got on with it. Still never 100% happy, but I know and hope its safe. (and a damn sight safer than some of the boat and car trips I've done in Asia)!

And as for the poster who smokes but was worried about airline safety - lol!

grumbledoak

31,559 posts

234 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
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Matey, you've got a phobia. Accept it as that. But push past it (he says, squashing all the spiders trying to come in for the winter!)

The acceleration as they take off is nowhere near a rollercoaster. It is generally very safe, and if it isn't you are going to die. But you are going to do that anyway. You've just got to take the risk. No pills are going to change all this.

One of the scariest flying incidents I've had was me flying the plane while the pilot got over his hangover. He was green, but we needed him for the landing.

Magic919

14,126 posts

202 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
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Legacywr said:
I don't mean to be offensive by this, but if you don't know what I mean, then you don't know what I mean!

I would like to hear from people who couldn't, under any circumstances fly, but have then managed to!
Surely they'd be called lightweights, as they clearly didn't have a proper fear in the first place.

croyde

23,018 posts

231 months

Sunday 30th October 2011
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A lot of people do a trial flying lesson for less than £100 and find it helps.

I thought I was scared of flying until I once got bumped up to first class, then I realised that I have a fear of flying Economy.

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

205 months

Monday 31st October 2011
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croyde said:
A lot of people do a trial flying lesson for less than £100 and find it helps.

I thought I was scared of flying until I once got bumped up to first class, then I realised that I have a fear of flying Economy.
flying into a mountain at 500mph or 12 hours in KLM cattle class i'll take the mountain thanks

boobles

15,241 posts

216 months

Monday 31st October 2011
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I had a fear of flying until one day I just booked a flight up to Scotland on my own & just did it.
The fact that I was on my own made it easier because I didn't have anyone to turn to if in doubt.
I had also informed the airline that I was nervous & they were tremendous & even allowed me on to the plane before everyone else for me to get used to the surroundings etc. I am still nervous of flying (especially turbulence) but I fly approx 10 times a year.



Before my first flight I couldn't even look at aircraft flying over without fealing sick & I use to think that people were mental for flying.

Edited by boobles on Monday 31st October 14:21

swiftpete

1,894 posts

194 months

Monday 31st October 2011
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I don't like flying and have been scared before on planes. I still do it without hesitation though as all you have to remember is that if you crash you'll be dead instantly so what's the problem? Just get on the plane, whether you're scared or not it'll still take off and get there anyway.

King Herald

23,501 posts

217 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
croyde said:
A lot of people do a trial flying lesson for less than £100 and find it helps.

I thought I was scared of flying until I once got bumped up to first class, then I realised that I have a fear of flying Economy.
flying into a mountain at 500mph or 12 hours in KLM cattle class i'll take the mountain thanks
One of my nightmares: centre seat, centre row, rear row, no recline, between two fat/smelly drunks. yikes

I try desperately hard to book a seat on-line before I fly, or I endure endless sleepless nights worrying about it.

A few months ago I did Houston to Singapore, via Moscow, 22 hours with an hour or so out for fuel in Moscow. I was dreading it, as I could not book a seat in advance for some reason, but in the end the 75% plane was empty and I had a whole row on both legs, laid down, stretched out, the works. thumbup

croyde

23,018 posts

231 months

Monday 31st October 2011
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swiftpete said:
I don't like flying and have been scared before on planes. I still do it without hesitation though as all you have to remember is that if you crash you'll be dead instantly so what's the problem? Just get on the plane, whether you're scared or not it'll still take off and get there anyway.
Dead instantly, granted but knowing that's about to happen, whether it's a few minutes or an hour before, has to be the horrifying bit.

Still it's safer than driving and we all do that.

The Nur

9,168 posts

186 months

Monday 31st October 2011
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Don't you get the idea that if you were to die on a plane, that your last moments would be the most thrilling you would ever experience?

Like some sort of ethereal high where you realize that nothing matters any more?

I've obviously never experienced such a thing, as I clearly wouldn't be posting this, but that is my approximation of the situation.

croyde

23,018 posts

231 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
The Nur said:
Don't you get the idea that if you were to die on a plane, that your last moments would be the most thrilling you would ever experience?

Like some sort of ethereal high where you realize that nothing matters any more?

I've obviously never experienced such a thing, as I clearly wouldn't be posting this, but that is my approximation of the situation.
Like to think that but I knew the 2 girls that survived the airliner that crashed into the sea after being hijacked and running out of fuel.

They said that on board it was horrific with people screaming and shatting themselves, when they knew that the captain was trying to land the plane on the sea. A lot panicked and inflated their life vests and thus drowned as they were unable to get out of the aircraft once underwater.


OP don't read the spoiler.

The Nur

9,168 posts

186 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
I like my version more...

Tyre Tread

10,539 posts

217 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
I know I will get shot down for this but bhere goes:

Try a Hypnotherapist.

Yes I have a vested interest because I am a Hypnotherapist but I have had good sucess with curing phobias and in particular flying in one session. I can provide testimonials and, subject to their consent, you can talk to the client's I treated.

I am not trying to drum up business as I only work part time on Hypnotherapy now (People stop spending on their health as soon as money gets tight) but please don't be frightened of Hypnotherapy as it really can completely rid you of phobias.

Fatman2

1,464 posts

170 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
Legacywr said:
Oh, and I am involved in the manufacture of parts for the aviation industry, so I do know the way a plane operates!
Clearly you don't, unless the parts you make are so shoddy that they are a risk to the planes they're fitted on.

I'm a stress engineer in the aircraft industry and generally they are so well engineered that something really extraordinary has to happen for a plane to drop out of the sky.

I've analysed entire wing structures for uncontained engine failures, such as the Rolls Royce/Quantas failure a while ago. Even though a part of the engine ripped through the wing like hot knife through butter the structure was still able to land safely.

Of course I'm not going to tell you about the sorts of scenarios that would make a wing fold in half in a second as that would make you st your pants biggrin

To be honest I have an irrational fear of flying but it is manageable and I still get on a plane regularly and am able to relax. I guess for me it's a case of knowing too much and plane failures being my life! But in reality planes are pretty bloody rock solid......most of the time wink

swiftpete

1,894 posts

194 months

Monday 31st October 2011
quotequote all
croyde said:
Like to think that but I knew the 2 girls that survived the airliner that crashed into the sea after being hijacked and running out of fuel.

They said that on board it was horrific with people screaming and shatting themselves, when they knew that the captain was trying to land the plane on the sea. A lot panicked and inflated their life vests and thus drowned as they were unable to get out of the aircraft once underwater.


OP don't read the spoiler.
I'm pretty sure the hostesses tell you at the start to not inflate it while on the plane. I wondered if the hostesses would all get shafted on the way down as the passengers would know there was not much time left so an orgy would instantly break out. I guess that's not how it works in real life though.

King Herald

23,501 posts

217 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
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Fatman2 said:
....
I'm a stress engineer in the aircraft industry and generally they are so well engineered that something really extraordinary has to happen for a plane to drop out of the sky...........Of course I'm not going to tell you about the sorts of scenarios that would make a wing fold in half in a second as that would make you st your pants biggrin
I've heard from people 'in the know' that there is literally nothing that can happen in the sky that will rip the wings off a plane, short of hitting a tornado, or Mach 2, or the ground.

Please don't tell me otherwise. bow

Fatman2

1,464 posts

170 months

Tuesday 1st November 2011
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King Herald said:
Fatman2 said:
....
I'm a stress engineer in the aircraft industry and generally they are so well engineered that something really extraordinary has to happen for a plane to drop out of the sky...........Of course I'm not going to tell you about the sorts of scenarios that would make a wing fold in half in a second as that would make you st your pants biggrin
I've heard from people 'in the know' that there is literally nothing that can happen in the sky that will rip the wings off a plane, short of hitting a tornado, or Mach 2, or the ground.

Please don't tell me otherwise. bow
LOL I was just winding him up with that comment but the rest of my email is true.

To be honest, stress men are paranoid by nature (our business is failure - or trying to prevent it!) so I'd never say never but it would generally have to be a freak of nature that would cause a failure of that severity.