Omegous From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 293 posts, RR: 2 Posted (10 years 3 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 2662 times:
Not sure if this would go in the civ aviation forum, of not move to appropriate location
Anyway. My friend is driving her friends car down from Reno in a few weeks since her friend is moving here to Vegas. However, my friend has little choice but to fly back or not help her friend.
She has never flown before, and is deathly afraid of flying. She would not be worried if I went with her, but I a) Can't afford to pay for a flight at the moment and b) can't get the time off of work.
So, aside from going with her on her flight back (and then flying my butt home) which I would more than happily do, are there any other tips you guys might have?
Oh, and she has never flown before, thus the reason she is afraid. I wish I was finished with my PPL, then I could take her up for a spin and then she would not be as afraid (she would fly with someone she trusts).
Airsicknessbag From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 4723 posts, RR: 38 Reply 2, posted (10 years 3 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 2635 times:
I know actually three people from my pool of friends, relatives, colleagues etc who were afraid of flying. But once they had done their first flights, they loved it.
So, if in the case of your friend it´s just an obscure fear of the unknown, it´ll pass on its own. If it´s more deeply rooted you can still develop strategies to battle that after her first flight.
Jhooper From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6195 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (10 years 3 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 2630 times:
Oh, and she has never flown before, thus the reason she is afraid. I wish I was finished with my PPL, then I could take her up for a spin and then she would not be as afraid (she would fly with someone she trusts).
If you're really going to take her for a "spin", don't forget the parachutes
Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.
LordHowe From Finland, joined Jan 2003, 728 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (10 years 3 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 2620 times:
20 % of all the airline passangers are afraid of flying. Its very normal!
But there is a sollution - a cure to it. Many airlines organize courses for people with fear of flying. These courses usually take over one weekend - from Friday afternoon till Sunday evening and they are very good.
I attended AYs course for about ten years ago. I wasn't actually afraid of flying, but I felt uneasy and restless whenever in an airplane. The course took these feelings away.
The thing with these courses is that aviation professionals tell you all about flying and you get to know an airplane and what is happening in different stages of flying. Then you have opportunity step by step come closer to flying - first simulator, then in an airplane taxiing, then finally in Sunday evening you take a flight (about two hours) somewhere and then back home. Its amazing! Its wonderful and you get control over your feelings! I warmly recommend!
Goingboeing From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4875 posts, RR: 19 Reply 7, posted (10 years 3 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 2593 times:
Whatever you do, don't have her check out this web site. I swear I have never seen such morbid fascination with airline crashes, aviation disasters, and what have you.
Demoose From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 1952 posts, RR: 26 Reply 8, posted (10 years 3 months 4 days ago) and read 2574 times:
Get them playing on flight sim! Thats what I think god rid of my fear of flying - once you know what is going on to make to plane get off the ground and then get back down again plus what all the noises are I think you realise how safe flying really is and you know what to expect.
EGGD From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 12426 posts, RR: 40 Reply 9, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2554 times:
Well,
I had a very similar problem, although it wasn't my first flight it was the first flight that I could remember, and I was really frightened (although I couldn't remember why). Anyway basically I just flew and it was ok. BUT, if your friend really has problems then I suggest you take her to the busiest airport you can find. Show her how many planes take off in a day, and that there is very rarely an accident, if she see's all these planes taking off without a hitch then she'll realize that not every plane that takes off crashes like they do in 'disaster' or 'black box' or whatever other programs there are on TV about air crashes!
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 4117 posts, RR: 37 Reply 10, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2533 times:
If she really doesn't want to fly by herself, has she considered taking the Greyhound bus back to Reno? Guess that only takes a couple of hours and will be about $25. But I would feel safer in an airplane
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
Hmmmm... From Canada, joined May 1999, 2088 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2510 times:
There is no cure for the fear of flying. Nor should she have her arm twisted. These days, a panic attack on an airliner could lead to another topic on Airliners.net: "Passenger Freaks Out And Attacks Cabin Crew" and federal charges. Let somebody else do it.
An optimist robs himself of the joy of being pleasantly surprised
LordHowe From Finland, joined Jan 2003, 728 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2502 times:
Yes there is!
Cure to fear of flying. I've been there and I know what I'm talking about. In the same course that I attended, there were several people who hadn't flown for a great number of years. But they were all with us on Sunday evening on a flight from HEL to CPH. And they all came back also. We had a meeting after six months and each and everyone of us had flown after the course also.
AYs web page tells about fear of flying:
"Fear of flying (flight phobia) is very common, it has been estimated that 7% of human population will not voluntarily travel by air, and 20% of all travellers suffer to some degree from fear of flying.
Most typical symptoms are anxiety, sweating, heart palpitation, trembling, irritability, unable to concentrate and sleep disturbances before travel.
Fear of flying is not an illness but an "unconscious" reaction of our body to an unnatural situation. There are many reasons, in some cases the feeling of not being able to control the situation causes the problem, sometimes a previous unpleasant flight experience may be in memory. Some people panic in a closed location.
Flight phobia is a learned reaction. Re-learning and accustoming our mental state to the unfamiliar will relieve us from the fear. Special courses are available, more information can be requested directly from the airlines."
Qb001 From Canada, joined Apr 2000, 2053 posts, RR: 4 Reply 13, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2489 times:
The psychotherapy to cure the fear of flying should be used only in the worst cases; that is if the phobia is detrimental to your quality of life. Otherwise, one can talk to his/her doctor and ask the doctor to get a prescription for a "calming" pill. Most doctors will agree to that.
I once had to fly with a colleague (BTV-SLC, with a stop at JFK) who claimed he was "scared to death" about flying and had the bright idea to get a prescription for some of these pills. He took one before boarding at BTV and he was fine (although I feared for a moment that he would faint on me before boarding...). Everything went fine, despite a kangaroo landing at JFK. On the way back, he didn't even take a pill and he was fine as well.
This is only to say that sometimes the fear of flying is only minor and can be cured very easily.
Never let the facts get in the way of a good theory.
Caetravlr From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 898 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2458 times:
What I think it boils down to, as someone mentioned above, is taking that first commercial flight. I never had a problem with it because my Mom and I flew all over the place when I was about 4, which is why I still to this day have such a love for commercial aviation 26 years later.
However, my ex-fiance's story is pretty interesting. She used to have the very same fear of flying. What she did was planned a flight somewhere, and got pretty drunk (not saying this is the best way, but it worked for her), and then took her trip. Can you believe that she has now been a UAL F/A for 7 years? Once you do it once, I think you are fine. I highly recommend taking that first trip on a larger mainline aircraft though. The Jetstreams that fly for United Express out of IAD can rattle even the most seasoned of travellers! (That would be me!)
Regards,
CAETravlr
A woman drove me to drink and I didn't have the decency to thank her. - W.C. Fields
Jhooper From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6195 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2449 times:
Tell them to enjoy a couple of margaritas in the airport before she takes off
Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.
Jhooper From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6195 posts, RR: 13 Reply 17, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2450 times:
So how much are these "fear of flying" courses where they take you on a flight on Sunday night?
Last year 1,944 New Yorkers saw something and said something.
Markk From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 195 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2434 times:
Try both of these communities
www.fearofflying.com
and
www.fofc.com
Both are professional sites dedicated to helping people afraid of flying. Both have commercial airline pilots on the message boards. fearofflying.com has daily chats between fearful fliers. I am sure your friend can find one or both of these systems very usefull
PROSA From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5439 posts, RR: 5 Reply 19, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2431 times:
Whatever else you do, try not to pressure your friend. Offer suggestions, but remember that the final decision is hers and hers alone. She simply might not be ready to fly just yet. If so, that doesn't mean that she never will, but let her decide.
"Let me think about it" = the coward's way of saying "no"
MD88Captain From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1287 posts, RR: 22 Reply 20, posted (10 years 3 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2429 times:
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