Staying calm while flying alone! Help me!?

Question

I'm 14, and flying alone for the first time. The connections and layovers and baggage claim don't bother me, but it's the actual flight I'm afraid of. Flying scares me, but my mom usually gives me medicine to sleep, and helps calm me, but I'll be by myself this time. Any ideas of how I can relax about the flying aspect of my trip???

Answer 1

During the flight you can read, chew gum, bug the passenger sitting next to you, etc. to distract yourself.  Especially if it's only the takeoff and/or landing that scares you.

Before the flight, you can do things like:

* Look up how many flights happen per year, and how many crashes happen per year.  Now look up car crash statistics.  From these numbers, realize that driving to the airport is statistically way way more dangerous than the actual flight.  And you're not scared to drive (or be driven) to the airport, so why be scared of the flight itself?

* Learn a bit about how airplanes work.  That way, if you're looking out the window and see the flaps move, you'll know what they're for, and won't wonder if it means something is wrong (it doesn't!).  Also realize that airplanes can sometimes shudder and/or make noises, sometimes loud noises, even when everything is fine.  Also read up on how *everything* that makes the airplane go has a backup, and probably a backup for the backup.  For instance, did you know that all 2-engine planes are legally required to be powerful enough to take off and fly the flight on only one engine?  That's so you'll be safe if one of the engines goes out in flight or during the takeoff roll.  Also, look up "ETOPS".  It's basically a rating of how far the airplane can fly with one engine out - for big planes this can be up to 3 hours, and they ALWAYS stay well within their ETOPS-certified distance of other airports, because that's the law.  If you're flying over the ocean or a large uninhabited place like the Sahara, you'll stay within that distance of at least 1 (or is it 2?) airport.  If you're flying from New York to LA or something, you'll always be within a few minutes' flight time of several airports.

* I really hope the thing that scares you isn't the thought of colliding with another airplane, but if it is, look up how crazy-far they are legally required to stay from other planes.  Vertically it's 1000 feet, and horizontally it's 8 miles.

* Lastly, think about the fact that there are 2 pilots, and how ridiculously long they had to train to get their jobs.  They know what they are doing.

Answer 2

bring your ipod and listen to good/calming music.

you'll be fine :]