S3ENVY Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 So, I'm off to France on a short trip tomorrow and maybe for the last couple of years I've acquired an actual phobia of flying. When I was younger, I was fine! I'm 25 years old, massively into brash boy's toys, have several radio-controlled planes and helis and used to be obsessed by flight. Now, I sit there with my heart in my mouth beating at an alarming rate wisking that someone would just knock me out! I especially hate taking-off and landing and my girlfriend who I'm going with just fuels the anxiety by winding me up on the plane. I was just wondering if there is anyone else on here that suffers or doesn't from the same fear and what you do when you fly to calm yourselves down. It's particularly short-haul flights like the one I'm due to take tomorrow. This coupled with the bad back I have at the moment is proving to be a very good reason not to go. Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Just do the following and you should be ok as it will relieve the stree. 1 Have a few beers beforehand. 2 Sit by the emergency door (just in case). 3 Make sure you know where the life jacket is (the channel is very cold this time of year). 4 Leave a note on your person so that your next of kin can read your 'last thoughts'. or 5, get slaughtered before hand and sleep your way over (not to be mised up with point 1 which is having only a few beers). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I too have 'The Fear' - most of my friends find this quite amusing considering I'm on a plane probably every other week. Things that helped me initially - when it was proper bad: 1. DON'T drink alocohol or COFFEE. They raise your tension. 2. Learn a bit about the mechanics of flying. 3. Count the rows between you and the emergency exits. 4. Hypnosis helped a lot. I *know* flying is safe - hell I wouldn't take my daughter on a plane if it wasn't - but it doesn't stop me getting the heebie-jeebies everytime I get on one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davyk31 Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 You should have no fear of flying as this is unrational! Its the fear of crashing that you ought to be really concerned about!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3ENVY Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Lol, I dont actually drink so "having a few beers" will amount to me being slaughtered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatcat Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 So we roughly see eye to eye on this one then Mac, 1 out of 4 is'nt that bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Become a member of the mile high club and the flight goes really quickly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] So we roughly see eye to eye on this one then Mac, 1 out of 4 is'nt that bad [/ QUOTE ] Depends how bad you are!! I have no problem having a few beers on a plane now but then again 5 years ago I used to get to border-line panic mode once the doors closed I think a few beers in that situation would not have worked I think learning about the mechanics/processes of flying was the best help. I used to ask about the types of take off and then count back to gear up, throttle back etc. Mad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Alcohol is not a good idea. The cabin is pressurised, but not 100% so the cabin pressure will be lower than ground. That makes alcohol have more effect. If you're also stressed, then the combination is not good. Add in the overly dry air pumped into a cabin, and you're best with soft drinks. Think of it this way. Driving is essentially safe; you're on the ground and near to help. Flying is essentialy dangerous - you're at 30,000 feet sitting on a huge fuel tank. So flying is hemmed in with rules and regulations so as to make it actually safe. Driving, meanwhile, is relatively unregulated - any idiot can do it, and many do. So flying does seem more dangerous than driving but actually isn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 (That was not a good post. Now I'm scared to drive home ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I hate it, the last few flights i've done i was giving valium by my doctor and it worked a treat, i was very relaxed and even managed to sleep for a couple of hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Look at it this way. Between 1990 to 1999 UK flights carried 700,000,000,000 passergers and not one of them died in a crash. Apparently the most dangerous time on a plane is during take off after V1, if a problem comes up during this then it's going to be a rough landing. But after that it's plain sailing or flying so to speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Apparently the most dangerous time on a plane is during take off after V1, if a problem comes up during this then it's going to be a rough landing. But after that it's plain sailing or flying so to speak. [/ QUOTE ] Landing is also a bit tricky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3ENVY Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I was going to go to the doctors to see if he could prescribe me some Valium... I thought if I'm going to get over this I need to do it without the aid of medication. Now I'm not so sure and don't have time to get anything! Is there anything I could easily get hold of that I wont get arrested for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilB Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Rescue Remedy might to the trick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lottiefox Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 S3 just don't think about how it feels to jump out of the plane!! Lavender oil can be relaxing (Tisserand in Boots do a big range) and might work although you'll smell a bit girlie, or else those Kalms tablets might help. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3ENVY Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Cheers Lottie! I'll nip to Tescos this evening and load up on stuff. Thanks People! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] S3 just don't think about how it feels to jump out of the plane!! [/ QUOTE ] He's nervous, not bloody stupid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patently Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 There's an RAF saying - it takes a special kind of idiot to willingly jump out of a serviceable aircraft... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I have the same irrational fear of flying - and it's only developed in the last 7 years or so, the 17 previous years were fine. I flew to Guernsey to be at a sick relative's bedside a few weeks back and despite it only being 1/2 hour each way I was terrified. Reading helps, but I hate any changes in the engine noise, especially when they throttle-back after takeoff and I'm thinking of going to the maldives soon - am guessing it's longer than 1/2 hour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Look at it this way. Between 1990 to 1999 UK flights carried 700,000,000,000 passergers and not one of them died in a crash. Apparently the most dangerous time on a plane is during take off after V1, if a problem comes up during this then it's going to be a rough landing. But after that it's plain sailing or flying so to speak. [/ QUOTE ] Assuming a UK population of 60m over this time, it works out that everyone in the uk must have flown 11667 times But i guess you were just trying to make him feel better Lies, damn lies and statistics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 I am not too keen on flying either. I know it is 100% safe, if you choose the right airline!, but I find the sensation uncomfortable and get quite anxious. Much like you I suspect. I had some hypnosis recently, I will tell you how it worked out when I goto Amsterdam next Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danksy Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Dave, What about the article in the press about the computer system being just a matter of time before a mid air collision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHA Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Press release from my company: Today’s Sun newspaper is running a story about the introduction of EFPS into the new tower which is due to open in January 2007. NATS has provided a full response refuting the allegations made by unnamed NATS sources. Our statement to the Sun said: Safety is paramount at NATS and we would never introduce a new system unless we were convinced it was safe to do so. We simply do not, and would not, compromise safety. Staff and unions have been fully involved in the preparations for the move to the new control tower. Training has been under way for more than a year, and we have also benefited from the experience gained by NATS controllers already using the same system at Stansted, Luton and Gatwick. During the training programme we have listened to and acted upon concerns expressed by staff and, working with human factors and safety specialists, we are confident that the issues will have been dealt with in advance of the tower’s opening. We have made – and continue to make – changes to address specific concerns, to the extent that some 30 or so changes have been made so far. If necessary, further changes will be made before the system goes live. The majority of our controllers have already passed the training programme and additional training is being provided for a handful who are still not confident with it. No-one will be asked to use the equipment unless they are confident to do so. The new control tower at Heathrow is needed for Terminal Five. It represents a major change in working methods, which is why we have invested in state-of-the-art training facilities, and taken time and care to ensure that safety is maintained. The system is also used at 15 airports in Canada, including the busy, multi-runway hub of Toronto, which handles as many flights as Heathrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3ENVY Posted November 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Dave, What about the article in the press about the computer system being just a matter of time before a mid air collision [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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