Tips to handle fear of flying

[kemistry]

@all of you saying the statistics bit

if you take into consideration how many cars there are on the roads compared to how many aircraft are in the air in/around the UK flying isnt exactly as safe as
those staticians make out

if there were anywhere near as many aircraft as planes youd see a lot more accidents

 

[MasterMike]

@all of you saying the statistics bit

if you take into consideration how many cars there are on the roads compared to how many aircraft are in the air in/around the UK flying isnt exactly as safe as
those staticians make out

if there were anywhere near as many aircraft as planes youd see a lot more accidents

I think the statistics work with a little bit of spin ... planes are far safer per miles they travel than car journeys

 

[Vixen]

Are you sure you'll be able to take everything you want on the plane? There are still strict security precautions in place for liquids, and I'm not sure how toiletry bags fit under this. I know that my mum had to repack maple syrup bought in Toronto duty free at the weekend for her flight from London-Edinburgh, as they won't let stuff like that through.

 

[pyro]

Actually, Russian (or Soviet or whatever) engineering surpases the EU and US, it's just that they don't have money, and with lack of money comes lack of research, maintenance, etc. so problems do show up.

Ok clearly the people defending russian engineering have not seen the 40 year old Tupolev planes that they regularly use. Aeroflot has one of the worst safety records in the world and the Ilyushin brand of aircraft are shocking.

Fair enough if you don't want to read the whole topic, but just two posts above you? I am not saying Russian planes are safer than EU or US planes, I am saying that if they had the money they would have superior planes right now.

 

[Shoseki]

Let me be the first to suggest... look out of the window ^^

You don't even feel part of the world any more... flying is so amazing...

 

[AJUK]

Download a podcast or two about meditation or relaxation and play them to yoruself during the flight. I have a couple on my iPod that I use, not because I am afraid of flying but because they help me sleep. They do help.

 

[Thrash]

I think the new series of Air Crash Investigations on National Geographic would be my reccomendation. Interesting story on tonights episode where a 747 lost all 4 engines. Moral of the story: don't fly over errupting volcanoes!

They showed that over here in Oz a couple of nights ago, now that would have been one serious brown trouser moment. I thought the forming of the Galunggung gliding club by the crew and passengers was a good touch.

This looks like a good set of statistics to settle a worried mind:

http://www.planecrashinfo.com/cause.htm

 

[norm]

Best approach to flying is to come to terms with your fate. If something should happen, let it happen, you can't stop it.

Or find an alternative mode of transport. : )

 

[FishFluff]

Go to the docs, explain the problem and they'll give you some Valium or some Xanax. Pop one of those half an hour before getting on the plane and you'll either sleep through the flight or be so relaxed you won't even realise you're on a plane.

 

[PsiFox]

Fear of flying is irrational - flying's not a problem. I don't think the fact that he's in an aircraft is what's bothering this guy.

He has a fear of crashing

And we all know "flying" is not dangerous, but crashing is

 

[Duff-Man]

Get a pilot to fly instead and relax at the back

Seriously though, look at the statistics, and think that even right now, people are flying about over your head, so there is nothing to worry about.

Not having a go at all, but comments like this show a lack of understanding.

If it were a rational concern, then logic may help. With phobias and other irrational fears, knowing that there is no danger is not enough to prevent the fear and panic. An claustrophobe doesn't really believe there is any danger from enclosed spaces, yet still cannot help but panic when put in that situation.

 

[West]

I went 9 years and 6 Holidays at home because of my Fear.. but then one day after going to Alton Towers, and riding every single roller coaster there, I realised how stupid it was, now it was last year, and my mum had just booked our holiday to FL in the USA, I got on the Plane after being delayed 2 hours and just bit it and I loved the experience, gets boring of Long Haul but it was a great experience..

 

[Wang]

I'm finding very amusing the fact that in the attempts to try and dispell any fears the OP may have, someone has posted a set of stats that show the most crashed plane to be the one he is flying on.

 

[hargi]

Flying is magic, no one really knows how a plane flys, there are 4 seperate and controdicting theories of flight. but thats as much as i know from watching QI and steven fry said so so it must be right.
Dont worry it will be fine just grip the arm rests if you get a bit nervouse.
and yeah the stupid acceleration all ways makes me smile to.

 

[miracleboy]

Having had a fear (irrational or otherwise) of flying for as long as I can remember, it never ceases to make me laugh when people with no fear of it say "I don't understand why you don't like it" - it's a phobia, and they are never easy to explain.

I don't like flying, but you can't really get away from it these days and you wouldn't really want to - there are some fantastic places to see in the world and I overcome my fears to try and see as many as I can.

For someone who doesn't like flying I seem to do it quite a bit - 3 times in the last six months of last year - Portugal, Tenerife and Iceland!

It's safe, you know it's safe, I know it's safe - so I won't tell you that again, I'm sure you've heard it a million times just like me, and I bet it doesn't help one bit - just like me.

So from one nervous flyer to another...try and go with someone who understands your issues, my wife is great and knows when I am getting nervous and distracts me with conversation or something.

Also alcohol does help - most of the literature on this will tell you it doesn't, but I bet the writer is a comfortable flyer. Be careful of getting drunk of course, but I find a couple of beers in the airport before getting on, and then a couple of glasses of wine during the early part of the flight and you will be sorted. By this point I am normally enjoying the flight and even looking out of the window boring my wife with a running tour of the landscape!

The sensation of take off can be unsettling, but remember - all the movements in the aircraft and the noises are all quite normal.

Break the flight down into small sections and it will really fly (pardon the pun) and look forward to the next one - for example, in takeoff remember that very quickly the pilot will start the introduction and the stewardesses will soon be out with the drinks trolley!

 

[MasterMike]

Flying is magic, no one really knows how a plane flys, there are 4 seperate and controdicting theories of flight. but thats as much as i know from watching QI and steven fry said so so it must be right.
Dont worry it will be fine just grip the arm rests if you get a bit nervouse.
and yeah the stupid acceleration all ways makes me smile to.

I was just about to say reading that ... I'm not the only one who trusts legendary bummer Stephen Fry for most of his trivia

 

[nin9abadga]

i get claustrophobic which is why i hate flying, plus i struggle with my ears and the pressure. the best ways i've found are to sit on the aisle, i avoid the window as i'm trapped in and bury yourself in a good book and forget about the fact you are on a plane.

oh, and as stupid as it may sound, watching stuff like Air Crash Investigation on the discovery channel made me feel a lot more confident about flying (the falling out of the air and dying side i mean!).

on my last flight to the US (my longest ever) i managed to cope by watching movies the entire way and reading. however i can recommend not watching snakes on a plane!

good luck, you'll be fine

 

[Robe$h]

Ahhhh, the old phobia of flying eh? Welcome to my world!

I am an airplane fanatic. I used to go to Heathrow airport every week to take down the aircraft numbers.. Yes I'm an airplane spotter

But when it comes to flying, I am a nervous wreck. I don't talk to anyone for about a week before the flight as it's all I think about. When I'm on the plane itself, no matter how long the flight is, I won't move or talk to anyone, ever.

I think the reason I'm so scared of flying is the fact that I know so much about airplanes, I know how thry fly etc, I know what can go wrong too...

Someone mentioned a good point a few post back. The more you fly the more subtle changes you notice, maybe a different engine noise to your last flight or something, and for a frequent flyer like me who hates flying, this never helps.

But you are flying on a 737 so I take it the flight is around 2 to 3 hours or less? This isn't so bad. Just remember that pilots for low cost airlines, cheap airlines like BMI Baby for example, are some of the best pilots in the world. People always mistake pilots with easyJet for example, as not well trained pilots but this is very wrong. They are some of the best pilots in the world so take comfort in the fact that your pilot is very well trained!

And as someone also mentioned above, if you ever have to travel to Russia or neighbouring countries, never fly on their aircraft or with their airlines.

Take some music, read a mag or book.. And as soon as the pilot announces that you have started your decsent to land, for me thats the best part of flying. Thats when I can finally relax knowing that soon we will be on the ground!

 

[chesterstu]

I was terrified of flying aswell. I have pretty much got over it now. I did ot by reading a book, can't remember the title atm but i only lent to my mum i will get the title off her later. But the book is written by an ex-airline pilot and he talks you through how the plane works, what saftey procedures there are and the engine back ups etc. Then what all the noises are and what turbulence really is. Then he has two chapters of real Q&A that people have asked him. It is a real eye opener and it helped me quite a bit tbh. The thing that makes me such a bad flyer, still, is that i am slightly claustrophobic but i get over that by going on long haul flights because they tend to be bigger planes

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Ahhhh, the old phobia of flying eh? Welcome to my world!

Sorry to be pedantic but you have a fear and not a phobia.
If you had a phobia you would never get on the plane.
After spending 18 months with psychiatrists with my daughter I do know the difference.