fear of flying

bianchimoon

I'll be honest I hate flying, mainly the take off. Just when I had myself convinced that it was irrational, we have yesterdays tragic happening, how do you cope with irrational fears (or rational)
ps i'm flying to mallorca soon for a cycle hol

neal1984

I dislike the landing but otherwise I try not to think about it. Yesterdays events were tragic and having flow German wings only a couple of weeks ago it did make me think. Not looking forward to my flight tomorrow morning given yesterday but at the end of the day it's still safer than my trip to the airport by car.

bianchimoon

Neal1984 wrote:

I dislike the landing but otherwise I try not to think about it. Yesterdays events were tragic and having flow German wings only a couple of weeks ago it did make me think. Not looking forward to my flight tomorrow morning given yesterday but at the end of the day it's still safer than my trip to the airport by car.

strange but the closer I get to the ground the better I feel, as long as this doesn't happen too quickly of course :?

RideOnTime

I like the flying bit.
Dropping out of the sky for 10 minutes and then crashing into a massive mountain I am not so keen on.

peat

bianchimoon wrote:

strange but the closer I get to the ground the better I feel, as long as this doesn't happen too quickly of course :?

Likewise. Ever decreasing distance to fall and not so much fuel sloshing around. I fancy my chances in a crash upon landing. My biggest fear would be some fatty behind me crushing me.

The 8 minute fall for the German Wings flight doesn't bear thinking about. Too awful.

metronome

I despise flying. Aeroplanes are giant germ pools with wings. From the moment they herd you through the airport like cattle, the outrageous prices in the departure lounge, the weird crap they try and sell you 40k ft in the air, popping ears, weird food, turbulence and finally a guaranteed cold at the end of your flight. Relatively speaking it is however a very safe form of transport.

CHRISNOIR

I always find I start thinking about the logistics of it all. "So, this thing that weighs, like, a couple of hundred tons is propelled into the air, yeah, by a jet engine which is - kinda - like a controlled and continuous explosion. That's nuts. And it's not natural. And why is someone trying to sell me perfume?"

Although, and I admit this sounds bonkers to some, I do really like airports. Not least as they're one of the very few locations where it is quite acceptable to order a pint and a full breakfast at 4am.

finchy

My wife is absolutely petrified of flying, so we just take the train or coach - not always easy as we go back to visit her family in Slovakia (about 24 hours), but it feels like a bit more of an adventure and it's more environmentally-friendly than flying.

If my brother hadn't buggered off to live in the USA, I don't think I'd ever bother flying again.

If you're scared, look for an alternative means of transport - there are plenty of cheap rail deals you can get.

pliptrot

I'm going to Singapore tonight. Any idea where I can get the best train deals? It's been a bad year for flying - 8 crashes and more than 1,000 dead. But out of how many flights?

bianchimoon

johnfinch wrote:

My wife is absolutely petrified of flying, so we just take the train or coach - not always easy as we go back to visit her family in Slovakia (about 24 hours), but it feels like a bit more of an adventure and it's more environmentally-friendly than flying.

If my brother hadn't buggered off to live in the USA, I don't think I'd ever bother flying again.

If you're scared, look for an alternative means of transport - there are plenty of cheap rail deals you can get.

unfortunately i'd miss the cycling as only going for 5 days, as I'm going with a group of guys rather than wife and kids I will rely on group bravado, and a drink or two :?

ugo.santalucia

Flying is statistically very safe, but on a number of occasions I have been genuinely scared on a plane... emergency landing due to fuel leakage, smoke in the cabin (turned out to be steam from the microwave oven), smoke from the aircon vents (turned out to be condensation), severe turbulence, thunderstorm, heavy wind at landing, Chinook at take off... the list is long)
Driving is less safe, but I don't remember ever being petrified on the wheel... or cycling, or on a train.

There is that element of fear, which 99.99% of the times ends up being for nothing, but it's still there to spoil a significant proportion of flights.

bianchimoon

I always thought lap seatbelts were pointless in planes, due to forces involved, maybe fine for stopping you bumping your head during turbulence, but in a crash ... nope

bianchimoon

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Flying is statistically very safe, but on a number of occasions I have been genuinely scared on a plane... emergency landing due to fuel leakage, smoke in the cabin (turned out to be steam from the microwave oven), smoke from the aircon vents (turned out to be condensation), severe turbulence, thunderstorm, heavy wind at landing, Chinook at take off... the list is long)
Driving is less safe, but I don't remember ever being petrified on the wheel... or cycling, or on a train.

There is that element of fear, which 99.99% of the times ends up being for nothing, but it's still there to spoil a significant proportion of flights.

very much agree with all of that

morstar

Statistics:

Flying is safest by miles travelled but not the safest by number of journeys taken. AFAIK, train is safest by number of journeys taken.

ugo.santalucia

morstar wrote:

Statistics:

Flying is safest by miles travelled but not the safest by number of journeys taken. AFAIK, train is safest by number of journeys taken.

If near misses and potential accidents were factored in, I bet flying would not appear to be that safe after all. If you break the engine on a train it is an inconvenience, if you do so on a plane it is a potential disaster

seanoconn

Whoops, I've just assured the Missus that flying is the safest form of transport, she's flying Friday and it very uneasy to put it midly. How can I reassure her possibly with the aid of lies?

capt_slog

I feel for you. I have no problems with it at all, but I think the next time I go over the mountains in a plane I might just give it a thought.

I think it's the complete lack of control which is worrying you. I feel somewhat the same as a passenger in a car, I often find that scary, it's even more so when you realise the stats are less in my favour than in a plane.

VTech

I read a report that even though there have been more crashes, the results are actually better each year because traffic is ever increasing so the rule of physics say "the more you fly the more chance of accidents"
It is a terrible shame but I fly all the time and I never worry, I feel the level of safety is on a major level and there are plenty of features to make sure accidents are at the minimum at all times.

One thing that does scare me is when I fly from the local airfield they always have the accidents report on the main seating area desk and it is page after page of crashes and accidents. Thankfully I have never had a crash or an accident although I have had some rough turbulence.

bianchimoon

Capt Slog wrote:

I feel for you. I have no problems with it at all, but I think the next time I go over the mountains in a plane I might just give it a thought.

I think it's the complete lack of control which is worrying you. I feel somewhat the same as a passenger in a car, I often find that scary, it's even more so when you realise the stats are less in my favour than in a plane.

You're right, lack of control over the situation is a big factor for me. Best flight i've been on was a prop trip to Paris, felt the safest i've been on a plane i think that was due to the less 'powerful' take off just seemed to stay level and gain altitude as opposed to nose up and gain altitude, it felt a lot more comfortable

finchy

pliptrot wrote:

I'm going to Singapore tonight. Any idea where I can get the best train deals?

Wait for the Chinese to finish their Eurasian railway line. It'll only be a couple of decades (maybe).

VTech

One thing to remember is also that the cheaper airlines do use cheaper routes.
You can fly the same plane with a budget airline against the same plane and take off/destination as an emirates flight and I guarantee the emirates will be better.

sungod

bianchimoon wrote:

I always thought lap seatbelts were pointless in planes, due to forces involved, maybe fine for stopping you bumping your head during turbulence, but in a crash ... nope

depends on the crash, in a heavy landing they help keep you safe, also stop others flying into you

i fly a lot, my only real concern is delays, lost/late baggage, proximity to people i'd rather not be near, dodgy seat, running out of bubbly etc., everything else is noise level statistical risk (and as a cyclist i know which is more likely to cause me harm/death!)

imho you need to figure out exactly what is triggering your fear - claustrophobia, lack of control, noise, view, snakes, whatever - then you can think about it rationally and try to put it in perspective

vs run courses (not free), but on the faq page there's a link to a 'desensitization' video, might be worth a try...

http://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/faq/

...not seen it but the overall program has a good reputation

ugo.santalucia

bianchimoon wrote:

Capt Slog wrote:

I feel for you. I have no problems with it at all, but I think the next time I go over the mountains in a plane I might just give it a thought.

I think it's the complete lack of control which is worrying you. I feel somewhat the same as a passenger in a car, I often find that scary, it's even more so when you realise the stats are less in my favour than in a plane.

You're right, lack of control over the situation is a big factor for me. Best flight i've been on was a prop trip to Paris, felt the safest i've been on a plane i think that was due to the less 'powerful' take off just seemed to stay level and gain altitude as opposed to nose up and gain altitude, it felt a lot more comfortable

I think me and you have a lot in common... I'd probably be OK flying a plane

VTech

ugo.santalucia wrote:

bianchimoon wrote:

Capt Slog wrote:

I feel for you. I have no problems with it at all, but I think the next time I go over the mountains in a plane I might just give it a thought.

I think it's the complete lack of control which is worrying you. I feel somewhat the same as a passenger in a car, I often find that scary, it's even more so when you realise the stats are less in my favour than in a plane.

You're right, lack of control over the situation is a big factor for me. Best flight i've been on was a prop trip to Paris, felt the safest i've been on a plane i think that was due to the less 'powerful' take off just seemed to stay level and gain altitude as opposed to nose up and gain altitude, it felt a lot more comfortable

I think me and you have a lot in common... I'd probably be OK flying a plane

If you can drive a car you can fly a plane, thats the usual rule of thumb.

finchy

VTech wrote:

If you can drive a car you can fly a plane, thats the usual rule of thumb.

The thought of my thick-as-pig's-faeces-but-proud-owner-of-a-driving-licence neighbour flying a plane has just brought me out in a cold sweat. Thanks VTech, I'll be having nightmares for months now.

bianchimoon

sungod wrote:

bianchimoon wrote:

I always thought lap seatbelts were pointless in planes, due to forces involved, maybe fine for stopping you bumping your head during turbulence, but in a crash ... nope

depends on the crash, in a heavy landing they help keep you safe, also stop others flying into you

i fly a lot, my only real concern is delays, lost/late baggage, proximity to people i'd rather not be near, dodgy seat, running out of bubbly etc., everything else is noise level statistical risk (and as a cyclist i know which is more likely to cause me harm/death!)

imho you need to figure out exactly what is triggering your fear - claustrophobia, lack of control, noise, view, snakes, whatever - then you can think about it rationally and try to put it in perspective

vs run courses (not free), but on the faq page there's a link to a 'desensitization' video, might be worth a try...

http://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/faq/

...not seen it but the overall program has a good reputation

That's very helpful knowledge is key here - thanks

capt_slog

Where you sit on the plane can make a difference too.

I always book a seat that's forward of the wing when it's possible to do so, usually about row4. I have had seats assigned at the back, and bloody hell!, that's noisy. You can't hear the engines as such, but the transmitted noise of them turning certainly seems to come through. It made the flight a complete pain in the backside.

None of this would bother Vtech of course, as I'm sure he always "turns left" anyway

As Sungod says, you need to find out what it is that's bothering you (BTW, "Snakes", Brilliant ).

mamba80

bianchimoon wrote:

I'll be honest I hate flying, mainly the take off. Just when I had myself convinced that it was irrational, we have yesterdays tragic happening, how do you cope with irrational fears (or rational)
ps i'm flying to mallorca soon for a cycle hol

Me too, next tuesday and we ll be on a A320 too... the thing to remember though is now is the best time to fly, if it was a bomb, the airport security will be re doubled, pilot error... they ll all be ultra careful and if it was a mtce issue, then Airbus and ground crew will be triple cautious....

Well thats what i will be thinking as we fly into Mallorca and back, also, i do not think being scared of flying is irrational, unlike a car or boat accident, in mid air plane incidents there are few, if ever any survivors

Wunnunda

Flying a plane is one thing. Operating an airliner is quite another.

The whole 'perception of safety' thing is interesting. For example : yes, flying up the front is generally less noisy (not exactly quiet), but in safety terms it is better to be at the back. In those accidents that are survivable (generally those that happen at airports) the tail often breaks away and remains semi-intact. The front is normally badly damaged and the centre is where most of the fuel and hot stuff sits (draw you own conclusions!).

The seat belt thing is also interesting. In the event of a survivable accident it is FAR better to have rear facing seats. Supports the head and body better and means you don't need that 'kiss-your-arse-goodbye' posture they make you adopt. Trouble is passengers HATE rear facing seats. The RAF use them in their troop carrying planes BTW.

markyone

I used to fly quite a bit but now I hate it and wont go on a plane again,i would rather drive or go on cruises.

VTech

I think the problem is now that the world really is a small place. Many companies have foreign partners and it is an essential part of business. I'm "only" 42 and when I was a kid not many people I knew had flown but roll on 30 years and not many people I know haven't flown. It's easy to say take a train or drive but many times this ain't possible.
Let's say you have supplied a product and it fails, it's quite common that the agreement is that you will get a tech to be onsite within 24 hours. Or to sign a contract or train staff etc etc etc.