anyone think they can answer this---Airplane Fear?

Question

I am deathly afraid of the dangers of flying on a plane. My new career forces me to travel places. My first plane ride for my job takes place in one month in Poland.

Answer 1

You should be more deathly afraid of riding or driving a car as it triples the risk of death.

Answer 2

I suggest taking a lot of things to occupy yourself so the last thing on your mind is the plane. Take some of your fave music, or even a portable DVD player and just get lost in your fave movie ( or sex and the city seasons!!). Honestly just do your best to occupy your mind. Also, buy a super cold bottle of water in the airport to bring on the plane. The last thing you need is to pass out!

Also, just mention to one or more of the flight attendants that you have this anxiety about flying. That way if you do have a panic attack or pass out ( which is not common but can happen) they kind of know where your coming from. Where as if you mention nothing and your alone they need to play a guessing game and may think that the situation is more serious than a panic attack ( ie. a heart attack)

Good luck, you'll be fine!

Answer 3

Airplanes are safer than traveling by land.

There are far far fewer people killed in airplane crashes than there are in earth bound vehicles. Which is why the always make the news, its a RARE event. Imagine if they reported every car crash in your country!

Just getting a Private Pilots license is a very long, and difficult process. Your PIC in a very experienced pilot, it takes experience to get these jobs.

I hope I can alleviate some of your fears.

The flight crew has to eat different individual meals, they are not allowed to all eat the same thing. The co pilot cannot have the same meal as the pilot, in case of food poisoning, Safety procedures are built in that you dont know about.

Before taking off the pilot does a "run up" which means he tests ALL the equipment on board to make sure it is all operating correctly. This includes de-icing equipment, all hydraulics, etc He checks his fuel in both tanks, he checks his magnetos, his flaps, his rudders, his stabilizers, he checks his communication devices, he sets his altimeter, finds out what the weather is like along the way, checks for NOTAMS, etc.

Before the pilot gets into the plane or they load it with passengers someone does a complete "walk around" of the plane checking it - a fuel sample is taken to make sure there are no contaminants, etc. This is standard procedure.

Your flight crew are all trained professionals, airplanes have to have regular safety inspections and have a schedule of regular REQUIRED maintenance.

The way planes fly is air moving over the wing "rolls to the side and off" due to the wing design and creates a vacuum above the wing, the air passing under the wing provides lift - there are flaps that can be lowered to create extra lift.

The engines provide thrust.

If a plane has an engine failure which happens very very rarely it is aerodynamically engineered so it can glide without power for miles - until the pilot can find a safe place to land.

In movies when an engine quits the plane immediately goes into a steep dive, this is about as true as "women in movies cant run and always fall down" and "everytime a woman gets into a car alone at night there is a psycho killer hiding in the backseat".

Planes have tons of navigational equipment aboard, Air traffic control advises them of traffic, they have to fly at a specified altitude and compass heading. They do not just fly where they want to.

Air traffic entering controlled airspace in a heavy traffic space are given "vectors" to fly by ATC.

Planes do not explode or fall out of the sky if they are hit by lightening. Planes are rarely hit by lightening anyhow, and its no big deal if they are. Lightening rarely rarely damages a plane. It just rolls off.

If there is a storm the pilot will "go over the top" in order to minimize turbulence. If he cant go over the top he will ask permission to go around the storm if its severe.

Experiencing turbulence while flying is no different than hitting waves or wake while boating.

The only danger in long flights is the possibility of blood clots in your legs, so get up, move around every so often.

Think about it, if it wasnt safe would so many people BE flying? I have a private pilot license I know of what I speak, if it wasnt safe I would not be putting my kids on planes - your fears are groundless, relax, enjoy the view, and go to sleep, that makes it relatively painless to endure a long flight.

Answer 4

I think its like anything else that you dont understand. Your fear of flying was probably set in your mind by someone else. I am a pilot and everyone has a little fear when they do something for the first time. After a couple of flights you will start to see how exciting it can be. Also try to get a window seat--it will help so you can see what is going on outside and how beautiful flying really is.

Answer 5

Keep in mind that the odds of the plane you are in crashing are about 1 in 500,000. That's a 0.0002% chance.

Furthermore, statistically you could be in about five plane crashes before you wouldn't survive.

If you're still scared just watch the flight attendants since they'll find out about anything before you will. If they're not scared, you shouldn't be either.

Answer 6

my everyday job takes me up in the air and back to earth.
There's nothing to b scared of.
It'll b a very memorable ride.
don't panic and if you wish ... listen to your favorite song during your flight.
if you do feel anxious or nervous, just call on the flight attendant and she'll assist you.
Remember to stay calm. it'll b a joy ride to you

Answer 7

I fly every week. I have logged more miles than a moon astronaut x 4 (2 million miles). It's safer than your car.

Answer 8

im an aircraft technician i am also afraid of flying but i keep myself busy by reading magazines or playing games

Answer 9

it's safer than riding in a car. you never hear about all the successful flights around the globe every day, you just hear about when one goes wrong.

Answer 10

Just take it easy my friend. visit : http://www.afreearticle.com/Article/Flying-without-Fear/38123

Hope you'll find answers to all your questions in this article.

Pal.