I am absolutely terrified of flying. I never used to be until my plane almost crashed. What can I do?

Question

I am absolutely terrified of flying. I never used to be until my plane almost crashed. What can I do?

Answer 1

Knowledge is the only thing that will cure your fear of flying.

The fear of anything is only a lack of knowledge on that thing.

Find out all you can on flying, then go and take a flying lesson with a competent professional Flight Instructor.

Answer 2

I think u should learn more about flying and you will get the hang of it

Answer 3

All the Advice so for sounds very good.A bit more info about your experience would be helpful.As a pilot with many wild passenger hops to reflect back upon,I just want to help you by pointing out that your normal and if you value life and something appears to threaten it stay clear of it until you learn more about it.Do not let your fears rule you but understand  your environment.Flying has been my life since my pop shoved pillows under my butt so I could see out the windows.Skydiving soon followed so it is safe to say I have been in more than a few tight situations.Knowledge and good training keeps you thinking clear to react to any given threat.Risks are every where around you ,all the time.The more you under them the more effective you are with dealing with them with the proper mind set.Maybe take a lesson or two and advise the instructor why your there.I am sure they would be more than happy to help you out.Who knows,you may just find out you love it and keep on flying just for the pleasure it brings you.Your gonna be fine.Good luck!

Answer 4

This article may help:

Overcoming the fear of flying

Earlier this summer, I flew to Amsterdam beside an older man who prayed for hours. At first I thought he was devout, but then he explained he was scared of flying and couldn't afford to book a cruise.

A few weeks later, enroute to London, I changed seats with a young woman who was petrified to buckle in. She told me she had a few weeks off between graduate school and a new job and didn't want to waste the opportunity to see Europe — even though she was literally shaking.

Both of my fellow travelers overcame their fears, though the emotional toll seemed costly. And it struck me how the standard concerns about mechanical failure or pilot error have been greatly upped since 9/11 by an even greater fear of airborne terrorism. Many travelers who in the past were not anxious about flying certainly are now. And those who were afraid before are even more afraid these days.

Of course, I could cite the statistics, which continue to show that commercial aviation is safer than car or rail travel. In fact, one study conducted after 2001 concluded that it's 261 times safer to fly from New York to Los Angeles than to drive. But these days the statistics may not help many fliers, especially after they wade through the gauntlet of airport security. It's like telling someone about to go bungee-jumping for the first time that they're more likely to get hurt slipping in the shower.

Fighting the fear

My former seatmates are not alone. It's probably safe to conclude that more Americans are nervous about flying than at any time since the jet age began almost 50 years ago. And all the statistical tables and Erica Jong jokes aren't likely to help, since aerophobia is a recognized anxiety disorder and often masks deeper concerns.

The airlines themselves used to actively combat such fears. In the past, airline employees were better able to assist scared passengers; many still do, but additional duties and more crowded cabins have diverted their attention.

My former employer, Pan Am, is credited with pioneering the first fear-of-flying program back in 1975, and I recall when nervous passengers were given tours of empty airplanes on Sunday mornings. In recent years, American, Northwest and US Airways offered excellent seminars. But most carriers scrapped such programs several budget cuts ago. Now it's up to outside companies to help fight the fear of flight.

I believe that — within reason — we should all convince our friends and family members to keep flying. It's not just the "if we give up, then the terrorists win" argument. But there are two fundamental reasons why such fears should be addressed: 1) For many Americans, flying is the only practical way to travel, and 2) deciding not to fly often grounds spouses, partners, children, parents and friends as well.

Several types of assistance

A variety of tools are available to assist those who want to overcome their fears. They range from books to videos to online courses to complete seminars with actual flights. The price for such assistance ranges from no charge to several hundred dollars.

It's worth noting that when we examined this topic at Consumer Reports Travel Letter a few years ago, we found just a handful of offerings. Now dozens are available.

Here's a rundown of some of the better products:

Self-help

These products are designed to be used at home:

•Achieving Comfortable Flight. A former Pan Am pilot and a psychiatrist created this kit, which includes 7 audio tapes, 2 booklets, and 14 "quick reference cards." $59.95; www.anxieties.com.

•Fear of Flying Help Course. This online program, designed by an airline pilot, subsists on user contributions. It employs photos, videos, sounds, virtual reality tours, and print-outs to aid both children and adults. Free; www.fearofflyinghelp.com.

•Fearless FlightKit. Billed as "Chicken Soup for the Soul's Fearless FlightKit," this package includes a book with real-life stories, a personal checklist to bring onboard, and a "Flight Harmonizer" CD of comforting prose, music, and poetry. $24.95; www.fearless-flight.com.

• Further information about combating the fear of flying is available at TravelDirt.com.

Courses

Throughout the country, a number of companies offer assistance:

•Fear of Flying Clinic. This San Mateo, Calif.-based company offers "therapy combined with education." A behavioral counselor can assist with deep-breathing exercises. www.fofc.com.

•Fear Takes Flight. This four-step program, developed by a Kansas City, Mo.-based company, culminates in a short flight with a pilot-therapist. www.feartakesflight.com.

•SOAR. This Connecticut-based company, founded in 1982, offers a three-part home-study course (at $95 per section). It also offers two hours of "specialized individual counseling" in person or by phone with a licensed therapist who is also an airline pilot. www.fearofflying.com.

Books & videos

Dozens of titles have been published and can be bought online.

•The Fearless Flier's Handbook (Ten Speed Press). Personal experiences by the author and others who have completed an Australian clinic operated by Qantas.

•The Fearless Flyer (Consortium Books). The author has treated patients with aerophobia for 25 years.

•Flying in the Comfort Zone: Overcoming Your Fear of Flying is a video available through Amazon.com.

•Flying? No Fear! (Summerdale). The authors are an airline pilot and a clinical psychologist.

•Flying Without Fear (New Harbinger). The author shares techniques he used as an instructor for American Airlines' AAirBorn program.

• Further information about books, CDs and videos is available at AirSafe.com.

Can these products help you if you have a loved one who's afraid to board an airplane? Absolutely. But the key is to present these aids in a sensitive and caring way and not ridicule such fears. The sooner you do that, the sooner you and your traveling partner can be airborne.

Read previous columns

Send Bill your feedback

Bill McGee, a contributing editor to Consumer Reports and the former editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, is an FAA-licensed aircraft dispatcher who worked in airline operations and management for several years. Tell him what you think of his latest column by sending him an e-mail at USATODAY.com at [e-mail]. Include your name, hometown and daytime phone number, and he may use your feedback in a future column.

Answer 5

Excellent answers above.  It would be helpful if you would tell us more about your near-crash, so we can have a sense of how frightening the experience would have been.

As a professional pilot, the main thing I can tell you is that when you are in the airplane, you are surrounded by professional experts who are GENUINELY concerned about your safety and well-being, and who would never allow anything to happen to you, or even to frighten you, except for the millionth chance.

You use the word "terrified" to describe your level of fear.  Not like, "there might be a bear nearby," but, "The bear is about to catch up with me, no matter how fast I run."

Sounds like some professional help might be good for you.  A trained therapist can help you better and more quickly than most "methods," such as you might find on-line.

Also, try this one:  The next time you are at a party (Sunday School, or whatever), ask everyone to raise their hand who is afraid of flying.  Now ask everyone to raise their hand if they have ever been hurt in an airplane.  Big difference in the number of hands.

Also, finally, get back in the saddle.  The more you fly, the easier it will be.

Good luck, and have a good flight.

Answer 6

How did your plane almost crash?  Well, they have classes for that, and lots of books.  USAirways used to have a program that included a graduation flight.  I don't know if they still do.  Perhaps you should see a therapist.  I'm sure you can get over it, people do all the time.

Just curious, have you ever been in a car accident?  I've been in several, and I'm not afraid to drive.  I wonder why we don't have the same reaction with cars?

Answer 7

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