Here is a question...

[Passenger Mark]

Be interesting to see what all the responses are...

Three part question...

1. What part of the flying routine is most troublesome.
2. Why is it the most troublesome
3. What do you do to help

Notice I wrote "flying routine" as it may not involve the aircraft.

For me it would have to be right before they shut the door, right up to the taxi out to the runway. Once we are on the runway and going... I am much better.

The door shutting signals to me that I am on this plane, and not going anywhere. Everything up to this point has been preparation, but now, with the door shutting, it is the real deal! Once the door shuts and we start out to the runway, I just want them to hurry up and get it going. Not sure why. I guess I just hate to wait.

To help with it, I think of where I am going, and this is the start of the journey. I make photos! ha ha, look at the magazines, talk with the folks around me etc. Basically anything to distract myself.

Next...

[WillFlyToDisney2]

For me the most troublesome part is that moment when the plane pulls onto the runway and pauses getting ready to takeoff. I always take a deep breath, put my feet flat on the floor and grip the armrests. I LOVE the actual takeoff - the sheer power you feel as you rush down the runway then lift off is my favorite part of the flight. I guess I just always realize that we are at the point of no return - that would be why it is the most troublesome for me - the total handing over control of my fate to the pilots and the aircraft. I just hang on and go with it. I have to have a window seat so I can watch the ground outside.

:)
Kelley

[Passenger Mark]

Kelley... you wrote...

I LOVE the actual takeoff

Me too, never have had a problem with that. But I like fast cars also... maybe why?!?!

[WillFlyToDisney2]

I guess at that point you know you cant do a thing to change it so you finally "give up and give in" - in other words go with the flow.

Fast cars? I like to drive fast but HATE to ride with anyone driving fast! Dont mind watching the fast cars on TV though!

Kelley

[cassidywithwings]

For me. the most disconcerting part of the flight routine is at the moment of take off, right when the plane leaves the ground and it does that weird drop thing. I know its quite normal and that the plane is indeed rising, but it feels like we are bouncing back toward the ground. Like the belly of the plane is going to hit the ground! Another point of no return. And then after a few moments, we are off. I usually close my eyes and hope that we level off, which we always do.

I too like fast cars, but only when I am driving. I am such a back seat driver. No wonder I am not a fan of flying. Someone else is in the drivers, or in this case, pilots seat! Definitely a control issue.

Kelly

[Disney fan]

I like take off too ( also like fast cars)

1. Turbulence is the worst part for me.

2. It makes me nauseaous

3. I use releif band, Stugeron, aromatherapy oils, Rescue remedy. peppermints and anything else I can think of!!!!!!!:D


Lynda

[Passenger Mark]

Going to kick this one back up.

[Hope 2 Fly]

I hate turbulence and the moment they shut the door but another part on the whole flight thing that I hate is sitting in the departure lounge waiting for my flight to be called – and hoping it never will be! That seems to be the time when my imagination runs wild and I really wish I could cancel the trip. In some ways it's actually a relief to be on the plane.

[JPenny]

My heart pounds, I can hardly breath, my hands sweat. I want to be anywhere else. I feel like death is imminent.

I handle it by pretending I'm not scared ("just whistle a happy tune . . .")--I'm actually a very prideful person, I guess. I count, slowly. Usually by the time I get close to 200 we're leveling off and I start to feel better. It takes probably the next ten minutes to calm down to my less panicky FOF state, where I am usually able to remain until landing. If I could be completely unconscious for take-off, I think I would be fine. I will probably try Xanax next time I fly, since I've heard all of you talk so much about it. Once, though I'm a non-drinker, I had two irish coffees in first class to see if it would help. It took away my normal coping skills, and helped very little.

I'd love it if the captain could give a running commentary during the whole take-off (okay, folks, here we go---we're lifting off at full power, no problems here! All right, a little bank to the left now--don't worry, I'm in complete control. Isn't that a great view of the city?" There's a bump coming--there it is! Not to worry, just a little wake turb from the fat bird in front of us. Okay, we're at xxx feet and just a few more minutes before we can level off . . .). Then if he could let the pax know of every little turn and speed change before he makes it (Good afternoon, ladies and gents, I'll be slowing down to xxx speed in order to give the traffic ahead time to spread out--you'll feel a little braking sensation, but I'm completely in control. Here we go . . . there, that wasn't so bad, was it?).

Maybe airlines could have special FOF flights for an extra $50 or so.

Dream on . . .!

Jean

[spiffyone]

I feel exactly the same about take-off. That little dip as you leave the ground...and I don't like having the plane canted so sharply back. I count, too. 200 seems to be just about right for me, at least the times I've flown this year.

I don't mind turbulence so much, but I mind it when it's foggy and the plane is bumping around and you can't see anything out the windows. Then I don't like it.

Spiff

[ChiefAtHeart]

I think that is a fabulous idea Jean! Now we just have to convince the airlines that more people would fly them if their pilots gave a play by play account of the trip :nod

To answer Mark's question, the worst part of the trip for me is when we first line up to get on the plane until take off. I hate anticipating taking off. Once I an in the air, unless there is turbulence, I am usually fine. I lose myself in the most interesting book I can find at the time. Occasionally I have a wild thought like "I'm 39,000 feet in the air!", but I usually force it from my mind. Turbulence usually shakes me up quite a bit. I try hard to concentrate on reading, but getting shaken around really makes that difficult. Landing is my favorite part. I usually look out the window then for the first time during the flight. I like trying to pick out landmarks from the sky. One of the best landings ever was when I flew on the 4th of July at night. Seeing the fireworks from a sky view was truely spectacular! I also love the feeling that I will be touching earth again soon and all anxiety will be over for awhile.

Jen

[Chelle]

I'm all about turbulence too. Oddly, takeoffs and landings don't faze me... probably because I've never had a bad experience with either. The only bad (and I'm saying bad by my standards, which in reality probably isn’t that bad, lol) experience I've had is with turbulence, so the minute I feel the plane start to jiggle, I start melting down.

There's also an element of control (or lack thereof) I have issues with... I feel very vulnerable when I'm not in control of a situation. Like Kelley, I have no problem driving fast, as long as *I'm* doing the driving... but, put someone else behind the wheel and I'm the worst backseat driver known to mankind (or so I’m told :blah )

As for what I do to help.. well, I'm still working that out :D I'm going much more prepared on my next flight (in 2 weeks :eek ) than the last time, so I have high hopes for my new found coping skills.

I love landings, even though I know it's the most intense part of the flight, the closer we get to pavement can only be a good thing IMO :D

[YankssRule]

For me..it is definitely take-off and turbulence. Take off scares me to the point to where I can't move or speak. It's horrible..I try to take deep breaths, which is hard to do, because my heart just about stops. That is pretty much the worst part for me. I've tried plenty of teniques, including drugs, but they don't really work for me..so I just endore or..or I don't fly. :wired

It's very hard for me to describe my fear. Sorry for it being so short.

Janet
:scratch

[disneydebi]

for me its the entire thing...
from the moment a trip is conceived, through booking the flight, and the entire thing...until I'm home safe and sound.
I have to say, I'm trying to be reassured by all of you and your posts. Knowing you are not alone in your fears does help... but I'm getting queezy just reading the descriptions of the flights, etc on these boards... (i get queezy just looking at the planes in the sky!).

oh, this next trip in November is going to be interesting.
Me, hubby, the 2 kids and my dad.... who's going to have to scrape me off the terminal floor?:lol

[jesgooch]

1. What part of the flying routine is most troublesome.

That part, right when the plane lines up with the runway, before the engines start going, and then up until the front wheels lift off. That is now really the only time I get anxious anymore. as soon as that front wheel leaves the ground I can look out the window and I am fine.



2. Why is it the most troublesome

Anticipation.

3. What do you do to help

Close my eyes and breath.

[Disney fan]

Interesting how Turbulence makes us all feel. Maybe I will take Ray's name for it and call it jiggles, sounds less scary!

any more answers?:bigplane

[Jeff California]

answer= being out of control.. the whole flight. Right now, I have a few-6 drinks to fly comfortably, and im still nervous.. I hope to someday fly without alcohol and fear....

Jeff

[xiknal]

Jeff, that is THE big challenge, isn't it?

...to just let go, trust those guys in the front office up there, relax, enjoy, and expect to arrive safely every time.

It's a bit like a Zen koan--'the sound of one hand clapping' and all that. We cannot just reason ourselves into that level of trust.

But we can do other things to get ourselves pointed in the right direction. Here are two that you know about, so all I am doing is highlighting them (highlighting helps too):

(1) make 'trusting flying' a strong goal to work toward
(2) meet the pilots as you board

Barb :nod

[noflyingfan]

1. Two things. One is takeoff. Until that seatbelt sign goes off, there is absolutely nothing I can do to make myself feel better. The other isn't so much about fear, but it doesn't make me like flying any better -- the pain in the ass part of packing for a flight (for a trip in the car, you can kind of just throw stuff in), getting to the airport, going through security, waiting, etc. I hate it even more because it's not even to do something I WANT to do; I wouldn't mind going through all that to, say, meet Christian Bale at the end of the line. I also hate turbulence, but once I'm up there, I usually admit to myself that I'm probably not going to crash and die.

2. Takeoff and landing are the most dangerous parts of flights, and at least when I'm landing, I'm on my way to where I want to be going. Also, the plane that went down with people I knew on it went down on takeoff. So it's a really touchy time for me. As for the annoyance with the whole routine of flying, the why is pretty self-explanatory.

3. The only thing that makes me feel better about taking off is when we reach cruising altitude. There's nothing I can do to make myself feel better or keep myself occupied. I think a constant pilot commentary would be GREAT; when I took a flying lesson and had the pilot sitting right next to me, telling me what was happening at every turn (in between me going, "ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH...was that SUPPOSED to happen?"), I felt a lot better.