Geniune Fear Of Flying

Put it all into perspective...few years back, my mum's flight was landing late at night with only a single engine working (flight was delayed, didn't have time to re-fuel properly, towards approach engines started shutting down one by one). The pilots managed to land it, but she described the experience as something eerily final when the entire deck was dark with emergency lights the only source of illumination, and nobody making a sound.

And no, she's not been afraid of flying since (or before).
 
OP I completely empathise with your situation. I've not flown for nearly six years after developing aerophobia. To those who don't get it, or even don't 'get' it, it can be completely bewildering why anyone could suffer with it but to those that do suffer from it it can greatly affect your life.

I've missed out on some pretty big things as a result; one of my best friend's stag do in Talinn and a holiday in Greece with a then gf who became an ex shortly after it. The worst of the latter was I had been to see a hypnotist for three sessions of treatment and thought I was 'better' until I had a relapse shortly before the flight :(

I've been looking into self-hypnosis and treatment for wider anxiety as I feel my problem is that no matter how safe the aero industry is from a statistics perspective, there's a whole 'it'd be just my luck....' thing going on in my head...

Thankfully my family and friends and current gf are very understaning about it. It is something I want to overcome but I guess it's just time nad reaching the **** it point...
 
It must have something to do with knowing you're not in control with whatever happens in the plane. Your life is in the pilot's hand.

OP, there's nothing to fear except for:

  • snakes on a plane
  • terrorists on the plane (al qaeeda/taliban)
  • engine failure
  • drunk pilots
  • inexperienced pilots
  • lightning/strong winds
  • oxygen shortage

other than that you've got nothing to worry about. Happy flying.
 
support_bae said:
It must have something to do with knowing you're not in control with whatever happens in the plane. You're life is in the pilot's hand.

OP, there's nothing to fear except for:

  • snakes on a plane lol
  • terrorists on the plane (al qaeeda/taliban)like that's going to happen
  • engine failureplanes can glide and make safe landings
  • drunk pilotsonly if you fly air india :p
  • inexperienced pilotsnot going to happen, there's normally a very experienced pilot accompanying newbies
  • lightning/strong windspffft, planes can land easily in both
  • oxygen shortageerrrrmm, there are oxygen masks

other than that you've got nothing to worry about. Happy flying.
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:D
 
My eldest daughter used to be terrible with flights but not that she wouldn't go through with it.
The day before the flight she would go quiet, on the day she would start weeping and on the flight she would cry her eyes out but only until the plane had levelled out, she would then start to cry when it was landing.
She had a proper diagnosed phobia with another problem which took 18 months to cure and she used those techniques for her fear of flying and now even when a plane drops 100 foot because of turbulence she doesn't show any signs of fear.
 
I totally feel your pain man!!! I literally am in hell for the entire flight. I'm off to Lanzaorte in 4 weeks today flighting on 9/11!!! My arse is already going.

some advice (some might not agree) Watch air crash investigation, you'll feel happier knowing that a lot of scenario's have already happend and wont happen again..... so long as your not flying air france that is, you should be safe haha!
 
Thegoon84 said:
I totally feel your pain man!!! I literally am in hell for the entire flight. I'm off to Lanzaorte in 4 weeks today flighting on 9/11!!! My arse is already going.

some advice (some might not agree) Watch air crash investigation, you'll feel happier knowing that a lot of scenario's have already happend and wont happen again..... so long as your not flying air france that is, you should be safe haha!
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What happened on the ninth of November? :rolleyes:
 
[TW]Sponge;19831520 said:
Only because there are billions more cars than Planes. I hate it when people say that statistic because it just doesn't work.
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And yet every second of every day several planes take off and land around the world, each of those planes capable of doing several tens of thousands of safe trips in their own individual lifetimes each.

It might not be the safest form of travel, but you still need to put things into perspective, flying is generally safe, as is everything else you do (like driving a car, or heaven forbid, the statistically higher-crashing motorcycles that are in fewer numbers to their car counterparts).

Chances of me being on a plane that will ultimately crash is almost ridiculously low. Chances of me being on the plane on the flight that it crashes is even more ridiculously low.

Chances of being in at least one if not more car crashing accidents during your lifetime I would hazard are actually pretty high.

I realise you were replying to a quote regarding fatalities not crashes, but I'm including any type of plane crash or incident (such as it landing on fire or with it's roof ripped off) where I'm unlikely to survive, as if it were a crash that I doubt I'll ever endure.
 
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Been on a plane that had a double birdstrike and a helicoper that had a flameout, after seeing the emergency procedures I was happy to get on planes again :)
 
I don't like turbulence when food is being served. Not fun eating when the aircraft is rockin'.

I hardly go on flights, but one reason why I like flying is that you get to see what the Earth looks like from above. Google Earth doesn't even come close. :D

DSCF0275e.jpg
 
semi-pro waster said:
if the worst happens then it's probably a near instant death which is something that might not be true for almost any other method of transport.
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Well... no. The riskiest parts of a flight are take-off and touch-down, when the plane is travelling slow enough at a point of impact that you'll just break your femur (much like an emergency landing over water). Followed by burning to death in a massive blaze fuelled by several tons of aviation fuel.
 
The worse bit about flying is the game of Russiam Roulette you play at the end of the runway. In the next 30 seconds you are about to find out if you live or die.
 
albert said:
In 2001 i went on my honeymoon to Gran Canaria and on the flight back i thought i was going to die and I've never flown since.

Just as the plane was taxiing the Captain came onto the mic and told us all to put on our seat belts. 3 minutes later we flew into the thunderstorm. The engines kept revving up and then dying then revving up again. We were sitting 3/4's up on the plane but the people sitting at the front were going above and below us. A stewardess trolley shot down the aisle by itself due to the momentum. The worst thing was looking out onto the wing of the aircraft and all i could see was flashes of lightning hitting it. People on the plane were screaming. Add to that the plane was shaking really really bad. Sounds daft , but my feet and legs went cold and clammy and i really thought i was going to die.

Since that flight all our holidays have since involved me driving to France or Holland.

My problem is that the missus wants to go somewhere hot next year which will involve flying.
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well look at the beating that plane took and was fine.

and second point you were on honeymoon with your misuses, thought the plane was going to crash and you would all die, and you didn't get arrested for public indecency when the plane landed???


You failed as a man and a husband.
 
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