Fear of Flying...?

Question

I have a fear of flying and my father just announced that we are flying to Florida to visit some old friends. Ahem, yes, flying. I flew solo once when I was 9, but that was 5 years ago! I am TERRIFIED!!!! I mean, I fear the plane will crash, we become victims of terrorists or.....you get what I mean. Someone PLEASE tell me a way to cope. (PS I heard listening to your iPod on the plane can soothe your nerves, but don't electronics interfere with the equipment?) HELP!!!!

Answer 1

"Your chances of being involved in an aircraft accident are about 1 in 11 million. On the other hand, your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5000. Statistically, you are at far greater risk driving to the airport than getting on an airplane. However, the perception is that you have more control over your fate when you are in your car than as a passenger traveling on an airplane. Experience shows otherwise, considering that over 50,000 people are killed on the highways every year. Media coverage would suggest that airline crashes happen every day. Studies have shown one would have to fly once a day every day for over 15,000 years in order to statistically be involved in an aircraft accident"
Flying is very very safe. Dont worry about terroists that is the least likely thing to go wrong on a commercial flight in the US these days. Flying in the United States is very safe, there has not been a major airline crash in the US since November of 2001! That is a long time for no major crashes and only on fatality in the last seven years for the Major Airlines in the US.
Yes listening to music is a nice way not to worry about the flight, get some good headphones to take away the noise of the plane. And dont worry the only electronics which interfer with the airplane are cell phones and even cell phones dont cause any damage to the planes equitment it just creates static on the planes radios. You I-POD wont do anything to the plane at any phase of flight. So if you get really nervous before take off go ahead and put your I-POD on even thought they say turn electronics off its not going to do any harm to the plane. The only reason they ask you to turn that stuff off is incase there was an emergency during takeoff or landing you are fully aware of whats going on. Even when there is a problem on an airplane, if an engine fails on takeoff or an engine fire etc.. 99% of the time the plane lands safely. Planes these days are amazing piece of technology and the pilots are trained better than ever. If you not afraid to drive in a car you should not be afraid to fly in a plane.
Just sit back relax and try to enjoy the flight. Its one of the safest things you can do much safer than driving a car, walking down the street, or even sleeping in your house. More people have died on North American highways in the year 2006 than the amount of people who have died in powered flight aviation whole 104 year history!

Answer 2

They do ask for all electronics to be turned off when taking off and landing the plane but then you can turn your IPod back on again during the flight. I too do not like flying but I have to at least once or twice a year. My way of coping is by prayer, deep breathing and reading. I also make sure I have a portable fan in my purse so that if I get too hot I have something to cool me off.
I wish you well and have a great vacation!

Answer 3

you have nothing to worry about. i have just flown back from florida to oklahoma....flying is safer than stepping outside your front door. statistics prove this too. Security is tighter than ever nowadays so you have nothing to fear in terms of terrorists. You can use electronics as long as they do not out put a signal....like a cell phone, these can aparently cause interference but that has not even been proven.Ipods will be fine. When you reach 10,000 ft you can use electronics like ipods and the captain will tell you when you can turn them on. There is honestly nothing to worry about. Flying is one of the safest forms of travel. i wish there was a way i could reassure you more, message me if you like i would like to help more

Regards
Brett Day

Answer 4

HAHA i was 14 my first time and I was alone, the lady that was watching me (I was a UM) she told me this " ya know no one ever lives from a 60 foot fall, we get past 60' within 5 secs of take off" she told me all I have to do is pray to god that my heart is right, and if I have no fear of dieing then I wont fear anything.. that lady was so awesome, she talked me through the take off and stuff, o-well maybe that might help ya !

Answer 5

it's all cool im afraid of fiying just relax listen 2 music and kick back