any advice appreciated.

[WORCESTERIAN]

Hi

I am sorry if this is a long mail, but there seems a great depth of expertise and experience in the membership of the forum, so I should be as detailed as possible. I take holidays in Poland. As I have a fear of flying, I take eurostar and german night train, and then travel withion poland during the following daytime. But now there are flights from Birmingham available to Poland (cince last summer) and I have become tempted. After all, it would cut my total journey time down by 24 hours.

I have flown previously on 3 occasions. Once in the 1980's two short flights inb a light aircraft at a flying club open day. And in the early 1990's one short flight at a country show in a helicopter, That scared me because I sat at the front (to get good photos of the view) and the pilot showed the passengers how manoverable the machine was. Tipping it back and forth and side to side.

Now, that said, you might wonder what about this fear, I made it into the air 3 times etc. I have been on the LOndon eye and like it so presumably it isnt a fear of heights issue . Well, the year Concorde crashed I was on the train to <London on my annual holiday trip (having considered, and dismissed flying) when the buffet car guy came to me and said "have you just heard, Concorde has crashed" That presumably, along with my scary (scary but not dangerous) helicopter experience, reinforced my developing fear. After all, Concorde I felt had a exemplary safety record. The creme de la creme of speedy passenger flight... the choice the the jetsetter business man and celebrities.

Since then, I have continued each year to use the train but with regret that I have felt unable to fly. So what to do about it ? I have been to Birmingham a few times to watch planes take off and land. I feel no unease at the airport. All looks very organised and inspires some confidence. Have brought a couple of fear of flying products (DVDs ) One is "Cure you Fear of Flying" By 2 captains, and the other "Flying without Fear" Additionally, a video of a 737 flight with the pilots.

I suppose I have essentially covered the ground which a fear of flying course would do (with the exception of relaxation techniques) I suffer from anxiety and panics anyway (cant drive on the motorway) But I really want to overcome this thing about flying because the ground travel to Poland takes so long.

What are my perceptions about flying. Safer than any other transport. I feel uneasy watching the planes take off in the sense that what if an engine failed.... landing looks really straightforward . I am of course scared of feeling trapped in the plane and worried about mega panic (but at the same time reasonably certain I would not because I have absorbed so much information from the DVDs ) I know however, that on the eurostar I am also trapped in the train, even under the sea for 20 minutes, and that gives be nothing but a sense of unease.

There are fear of flying courses. I wonder whether I should pay for someone to spend a day telling me what I already know ? At the end of those days, the people still face the choice/challenge of the course flight, but I can see that the experience would pretty much inform the course participant whether they are likely to manage BOTH ways of a real flight The worse case scenario for me would be to take a flight, manage to get on the plane, and then after the vacation, be unable to face the return...


Any ideas, suggestions, observations ??.
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[Falcon]

Just a couple of observations. Your first flights were in two light aircraft and a helicopter. The sensations in these will be very different from passenger jets. When I started to learn to fly it took me a few hours to stop feeling motion sick in a two seat trainer and I was unafraid and highly motivated. Feeling concerned in a unfamiliar environment is a tool our body has used to centuries to help keep us safe. A quick glance at the general forum will reasure you that your are not alone.
Concorde had a good safety record, modern aircraft are designed very differently. One piece of advise is to steer clear of air disaster documentaries, they can't give the full story in the hour they have and usually make people feel worse.
The thought of spending more time in Poland could be a good motivator but don't get too upset, some people consider train journeys across the whole of Europe a holiday in themselves.

[WORCESTERIAN]

Thank you for the reply. Indeed, I agree train journeys can be a choice for a holiday experience, in themselves, but feeling it is the only accessible option isnt nice. I have the idea it might be nice to mix and match.. train one way, fly the other. or fly half way etc.

At the moment, I can say airports dont scare me. I have belief the industry knows what it is doing. After all why would anyone take ona career in the industry if they thopught it was more dangerous than others. The life insurance folks offer rates that are not higher than average etc. What bothers me is can I get on the plane ? and will I stay on once inside ? Will I be able to get on for the return journey ? , and as for panic in the air... thats probably the least of my concerns although no doubt it would be pretty unpleasant if it happened and I have no doubt it takes some managing. Done panic... plenty of experience. not dangerous... not too worried about that alone. (Panic on motorways, so dont drive on them (avoidance) but for sensible reasons... namely I have to be in full control of the vehicle. But can manage as a passenger on motorways (albeit sometimes feel a bit edgy)

I guess a touch of separation anxiety enters into it too, as I have abandoned trips before (not because of the fear of travelling method)

My memory of the light aircraft flight is sketchy. I think it was a bit bumpy./ It was the helicopter that was the (for me) unnerving one. It seemed to ascend vertically at great speed and then the demonstration of its manouverability began :)

An old friend of mine is a pilot instructor in the RAF, and a couple of years ago offered me a ride in a rented cessna 152 but I declined, because I was bothered about the possibility of panic (panic not a problem in the same way in a commercial aircraft as the disruption wont get in the way of the pilot :) I saw inside the plane and it was so tiny there was no way I could risk panicking in there, sat so closely to the pilot and the controls.

I watched at the airfield as he landed the tiny plane to the amazement of the observers, in a strong crosswind that apparently would have been beyond many of the others there Glad I wasnt in it

I am convinced the fear of flying courses offer the high probability of getting in the plane. I am however a little concerned about the notion that you have to keep going or the fear might return (thats what some people say/recommend) I wiould have hoped that the intensive day long confidence building process would be enough to prevent major problems.

[Barb-SAN]

I am however a little concerned about the notion that you have to keep going or the fear might return (thats what some people say/recommend) I wiould have hoped that the intensive day long confidence building process would be enough to prevent major problems.

None of us can predict how much work it might take for you to overcome your fears.

I found I had to work quite hard, utilizing a variety of methods (see my bio. in the moderator staff bios). It took me a couple years to reach the point I'm at now....which is not much anticipatory anxiety, and fairly comfortable flight, at least so far. I haven't had a very challenging flight yet (like extreme weather conditions), and am trying to fly commercially every two to three months now, to stay in practice.

Perhaps you are expecting too much from yourself to think that you will be "cured" in a day...more likely you will see some improvement after the class, but will need to continue to work on various anxiety reduction techniques, your thoughts, take additional flights, etc. :thumbsup: