I'm really scared of flying. Please help i leave for disney in a week!?

Question

I'm really scared of flying. Please help i leave for disney in a week!?

Answer 1

Although you already had an excellent answer from Bert of Oz, I thought I would add my 2 cents worth, cos I know EXACTLY how you feel.

When I flew as a youngster I had no fear, then when I was about 30 I suddenly had a fear and had no idea why the sudden change.  I went to a Flying Without Fear course to try and overcome this as I was leaving dents in the upholstery of every plane I flew in!!!

Much like what Bert said, understanding the noises and what goes on, when and where, can alleviate a lot of fears.  Certain sitting positions can also help - as dumb as it sounds, put your hands on your lap rather than hang on to the side of the seat, keep your feet flat on the floor rather than crossed in some nervous position.  My main fear was the height and the turbelance - something in my brain couldn't figure out why the plane would bump in the sky with mere clouds!!

On the course we were told that it is very rare, if at all possible, for a plane to crash from turbelence.  This fear put aside, all I had left was the height thing.  That was not going to change unless planes suddenly decided to fly just a few metres off the ground.  So my fix it for that was to actually look out the window (I could never do this before) and enjoy the outlook (if there was any to be seen), and I take a travel sickness tablet that makes you slightly drowsy so sleep takes up most of the flight, plus relaxes you slightly.  Sometimes the fear of being sick in a plane can make you scared of flying.

One main sentence that I always remember from the course:

"THE PILOT WANTS TO GET HOME SAFELY, JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DO".

Funny that ey?

Another thing I did to try and overcome my fear was to fly a plane myself.  I went to our local aerodrome and for about $100 I was able to fly a little plane (with a pilot right next to me) over my home town.  I thought I would freak, but it was just awesome, and believe me, my fear of flying was bordering in paranoia at that point in my life.  Obviously my fear of flying was also about not having control of the 'vehicle'.  Once I learnt things about the engine, flying the plane, noises, fuel, the amount of checking done, I was more comfortable.

I still have the occasional butterfly in my tummy, but I'm not flying with my eyeballs popping out of their sockets, not gripping the seat, not drinking myself into oblivion (that never worked anyway), or sweating profusely.  When turbelence happens, I don't like it, but I don't feel that same fear.

Nobody can have an instant fix for this type of fear, it takes practice and reassurance to yourself and from your travel companion.

Enjoy your trip - and remember - the pilot wants to get there too!!

Answer 2

Just remember flying is one of if not the safest forms of travel statistically speaking.  

Answer 3

I think the best thing to do is to understand what is happening - then you'll know there's nothing to be afraid of!

I'm a pilot by trade - so trust me, I meet people all the time who are scared of flying. They range from people who are first time flyers to couples where one is scared and the other fine to people who've flown for years and still never quite got over the fear...when I talk to them a bit, I find the big concern is not understanding.

They don't know what happens, why things feel this or that way, and they need reassurance about the things that seem odd. Also, they quite often need myths to be burst - TV and movies are hopeless for spreading nasty ideas about flying that are simply impossible!

Some common ideas to follow... :-)

Most people tell me they are scared of crashing - that's the big one. If we take that though and look at the stats, some rather cunning analysts a year or two ago figured out that on average, you would have to fly 10 hours a DAY, for about 12 million years until you would be guaranteed to be involved in a crash.

So in other words, they are so few, the odds are literally one in billions!

Not to mention, most crashes happen on landing, when the plane is slow, close to the ground and people survive - very, very few plunge from the sky. In fact, virtually none. Most people survive the actual crash, then those who suffer are the ones who don't know what to do after - so the best thing you can do is pay attention to the safety brief - and bear it in mind. It'll put your mind at rest because if something went wrong, you'll know what to do...trust me. :-)

People often worry about us as pilots. They're scared we'll get sick or forget what we're doing. Not going to happen!

To fly for an airline, a pilot needs literally years of flying experience...and then once s/he's in, they need years more to become a captain and be in charge. This is why you see most airline pilots are in their 30s - 50s!

I'm only in my 20s and still working away at the hours I need to be an airline pilot. Even when I get the flying experience, I need to be accepted - and the airlines only take the best on board.

Once they're taken in, you have medical screens annually. Don't pass it? Then you stop flying - it's simple. So we know the pilots are fit and healthy!

Then there are tests every few months. From what I've heard, the tests are tough and they make sure the pilots can handle EVERYthing possible - and they do it all by the book and properly. Again - no pass, no fly.

So the two or more fellas flying your plane will be fit, experienced, well trained and capable... :-) you're in good hands! It's not like being a bus driver...

Now - onto the plane, for a few facts and mythbustings.

For a start, fuel. A lot of people are scared stiff about running out - but it just doesn't happen. The flight is planned bit by bit and when the fuel needed is worked out, an extra 10% is added, then more and more added to cover any event (like a delay) - and finally, an extra reserve added...just in case.

Doors - people think they can open in flight...WRONG. The pressure of the air inside the plane actually holds the door into its frame - and it is physically impossible to open!

Engines - jet engines are incredibly reliable - even more so than your car! Plus they are serviced continually, inspected after each flight and even if one or more fails, a plane can keep flying on the remainders. A four engine jet can fly on just one if it needs! It's slow - but it'll keep up there :-)

Wings - you'll see if you look out the window, the wings flex and parts move. This is totally normal. The flexing is just caused by wind - and it stops the wing stressing. It's like if someone grabs your arm and pulls - it'll move, naturally, at the joints - this stops it being hurt! The wing is the same.

As for the moving parts - these are actually brakes ("spoilers") and flaps - which help the wing make more or less lift when it needs. So they move up from the wing or back from it - nothing to be scared of.

The last thing is the actual feelings...

During takeoff, you'll feel pushed back into your seat - even more in the climb. Perfectly natural - it's just the plane accelerating - being such a powerful machine, it makes more of an effect like that than any car!

Turning in the air might feel weird too - because the plane tilts...again, it's totally normal - the plane won't roll over! But as it tilts, the nose can swing around to where it needs to be.

Finally...noise. Unfortunately, the plane's manufacturers can only block out a certain amount of engine noise - the rest is still heard...some people think the engines are exceptionally noisy - they are, but unlike a car, they're moving a few hundred people and there's 2 - 4 of them, not just one...so don't be stressed.

Certainly if you have any more flying concerns, send me an email with your questions - but otherwise I hope I helped!

Think of this...you're in more danger getting to and around the airport than you are in the air... :-) it's just that you're more used to ground travel than air.

Air travel is the safest in the world - for a reason! And everything that happens in the plane is for a reason - so nothing is wrong if they make a change :-)

Enjoy your trip!

Answer 4

You should get those earplugs that they make for airplanes.  They will not permit your ears to pop.

And you should get a lot of fun magazines and focus on them...  and don't sit by the window.

Answer 5

Awww babe, i am flying in a few days and i am just as nervous as you!

Although i spoke to my male friend (as fellas are always more down to earth and realistic about it lol) and he calmed my nerves, a lot.

Basically, think about it, the chances of anything going wrong are so slim it's not even worth thinking about, you're in more danger driving to the airport!

Also, here's a little fact to make u smile when ur nervous- more than 1000 times more people are killed by donkeys each year than airoplanes... still worried? lol.

seriously hun, just enjoy it as a new experience, and don't let it spoil ur hols!

have a great time!

x*x