A340pilot From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 576 posts, RR: 0 Posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1720 times:
I have always wondered about this but how is it that some people are afraid of heights but love to fly over and over, personally, my sister Is petrified of heights, we once went to a hockey game and had to stay in a hotel that was on the 23rd floor, she had to have her window blinds closed in her room and wouldn't go near the window! However, she has flown all over the world (her last flight being from YVR-ORY on air Canada) and she will not get on a plane if she is not sitting by a window, she loves to fly!! Does anyone know why, or how this happens?
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2120 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1692 times:
I am also very scared of heights. I'll never stand at the edge of a cliff, but looking out of teh window in a hotel has no effects on me. Either does flying.
UPSfueler From United States of America, joined May 2003, 430 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1667 times:
Im with EmiratesA345, I am affraid of heights to an extent. I for one will never go to the edge of a cliff, And i freak out when im in the de-icing bucket, but I love to fly. If im enclosed up high its fine, if im in the open NO WAY!
Rick767 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2000, 2662 posts, RR: 52 Reply 3, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1632 times:
I have a morbid fear of heights, but have happily flown aircraft since the age of 14 and still do, almost every day. Many airline pilots I have met share just the same experience.
It's really a whole different thing being inside an aircraft, to staring out of a floor-to-ceiling window on the 27th floor of a hotel, or say being at the top of a tower in the open air.
I used to love the smell of Jet-A in the morning...
Futureualpilot From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2562 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1594 times:
My uncle had was afraid of heights before he flew E-2C's in the Navy....now hes a Capt. on 757/767s with AA.:-P
Pilothighflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 220 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1575 times:
My Flight instructor was scared of heights, made for several interesting moments when his door would open in flight in a C-152.
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6208 posts, RR: 42 Reply 6, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1516 times:
I await the day that a "Davis" wing appears on a B-17. I think the writer meant the B-24.
This is a subject I discussed many years ago with a friend who happens also to be a psychiatrist. I told him that I am quite comfortable walking on a 4x4 timber 1 foot off the ground but am terrified walking across a 200 foot wide bridge. I thought it was just a matter of the consequence of falling but he told me that it's more the fact that an aircraft is detached from the ground.
I wonder. I am scared to death being above the 4th floor of any building, unless I can see airplanes, but am quite comfortable in any airplane over 1000 AGL.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1490 times:
I'm one of those pilots with a morbid fear of heights. I find it really difficult to climb to the top rung of a step ladder. However, sitting in a cockpit doesn't bother me at all. Go figure.
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 1484 times:
Sounds exactly like me as well. While I don't mind being on the 30th floor of a hotel, if I have to take a glass elevator to get there or if the hotel has an open atrium I will flip out.
On the other hand, I love flying and am never petrified of it.
JBirdAV8r From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 4459 posts, RR: 22 Reply 9, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1449 times:
And a little like me as well. I have no problem flying, but I remember going to the 110th floor of the World Trade Center a few years back, standing RIGHT up next to the glass, and getting the worst sinking feeling in the world....wow. That was the first time I've really ever thought that I may have a fear of heights.
Positive rate From Australia, joined Sep 2001, 2143 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1425 times:
I too feel the same way. No problems flying 30,000+ feet in a plane but standing on the balcony of a really high building is scary. I think it's because in a plane you are enclosed and there is no sense of height as there is when you are in the open air. Maybe it's different in an opn-cockpit bi-plane, anyone care to comment what that feels like??
Jkw777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1353 times:
I can relate to that as well, standing looking down in the open is scary, or looking down the stair well in a real high apartment complex freaks me out. But flying, I cant help but look out the window. It is really bizarre how this works
JBirdAV8r:
Now that is some experience, the sinking feeling is very scary I had the same experience when I went to the top of The Eiffel Tower.
7E7 From Australia, joined Aug 2003, 159 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1297 times:
EmiratesA345, I do have the exactly same situation.
I live on the 27th floor, always enjoyed the views it brings, but I can not stand to stay on the balcony looking downstairs more than few seconds.
When it comes to airplanes, I have no troubles whatsoever contemplating the scenery (though sometimes it gets boring).
LHR340 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2003, 877 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1239 times:
I too hate heights, but I can sit on an airplane at 30,000ft+ and feel safe, the only kind-of scary time is on takeoff leaving the ground, after that I'm fine.
LHR340
A340 LoVeR! EC-GQK - LHR The Bussiest International Airport & 3rd Bussiest In The World!
EmiratesA345 From Canada, joined Jun 2003, 2120 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1211 times:
Actually, When I flew CSA Czech Airlines 2 years ago, I remember taking my seat next to the window and looking down. It looked sooo high from where I was to the tarmac, and actually scared me. Once we started flying, I had no problems.
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 15, posted (9 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1185 times:
I find it a little bit unusual that many pilots have a fear of heights...it seems like a double entendra or something like that...I for one dont have a fear of heights...seems like Im in the minority here...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
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From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 576 posts, 
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I had the same experience when I went to the top of The Eiffel Tower.
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