Fear of heights/flying in a small plane.

[Ps76]

Hi,

Just wanted to ask in case anyone has any advice on the fear of heights I get when flying in a small plane. I'm much better on the big jets (especially when I sit over the wing so I can't look down) but recently have been trying out a little general aviation flying (the theory I might be able to cure my fear by learning to fly) but have been really scared. The main issue I have is I think there's just this flimsy door separating me from all that height down and it freaks me out. 1000ft. is kinda not too bad but it just gets worse with height. I know the plane is gliding through the air at 100mph so will not fall but looking down there is no sensation of the speed I'm going hence it freaks me out.

Any info that might be able to help a little greatly appreciated.

Many thanks for any info etc.,

Pierre.

[Kimmar]

Hi Pierre!

I can't say that I have much to help you with, though I do get the fear of that "flimsy door" thing, since I tried out Cessna 172's for a few trips in my early recovery.

I used them as a relatively cheap, and quick way to get up in the air and then practice the anxiety reducing techniques that I had learned. I too don't (and didn't) like the height, but with each flight that fear seemed to lessen a bit. Seems weird that you can look out and see the wheel out there doesn't it?? LOL

My advice is to realize you don't care for heights, but use the techniques you plan on using when in a bigger plane to help reduce or eliminate your anxiety. Deep breathing, thought stopping, etc.

Also, ask your pilot (who is commercially licensed and therefore pretty knowledgeable) about anything you have in mind, such as what would happened if the door fell off! LOL

(These planes can and do actually fly without doors at times, doing photo shoots, etc.)

Congrats to you on taking these steps, you'll find, as I did that it paid off on the big birds, because the sensations are exactly the same, so you'll know what's going on without hearing from the cockpit, but you will miss the 330 degree view! LOL

[Ps76]

Hi,

Just to say many thanks for the reply etc. Have been considering tasking a flight in a Cessna 150 (which is even smaller than the Cessna 172 which makes it even more scary!) to hopefully help in the future. I know people say the feeling of height is different than from when looking down from heights but it still freaks me out. But hopefully will get better with time (have also been watching videos on Youtube of Cessna's in cruise to try to get more of a feeling for it and to be a little less scared. Don't know if it'll help but hopefully it will a little.

Many thanks,

Pierre.

[Kimmar]

Just a quick aside, did you know that most pilots seem to suffer from fear of heights? I think I heard the average was something like 80 percent. They fly airplanes without even thinking about it as "height" but don't try and get them up on a ladder or a roof! LOL

Cessna 150! You brave soul you! LOL

Although you'll never be afraid to fly in a "small" airplane like an ERJ or a CRJ, cause you'll just remind yourself that *really* small planes don't have bathrooms or flight attendants! LOL

I keep a picture of me in front of "my" 172, and take it with me when I fly. It helps to remind me that if I can fly in a single engined plane with one pilot, how much *more* safe am I with two engines and two pilots!! (It works! LOL)

[aerobat]

Hi, Pierre,

That bit about pilots having a fear of heights is true. Check these links: :)

http://www.airbum.com/grassroots/GrassrootsAcrophobia.html (http://www.airbum.com/grassroots/GrassrootsAcrophobia.html)

http://www.fearofflying.com/wordpress/?page_id=103 (http://www.fearofflying.com/wordpress/?page_id=103)


http://flighttraining.aopa.org/ft_magazine/fullstory.cfm?id=5088&issue_title=September+2004 (http://flighttraining.aopa.org/ft_magazine/fullstory.cfm?id=5088&issue_title=September+2004)

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/cfi_tools/publications/inst_reports2.cfm?article=4698 (http://flighttraining.aopa.org/cfi_tools/publications/inst_reports2.cfm?article=4698)

But of course the good news is that most pilots feel secure when strapped into an airplane--even a little tin can like a 150 or 152. :lol: For the record, I have about five thousand hours in those wee little two-seaters now, having beaten my fear of flying and become a flight instructor. And I feel comfy up there. However, I never particularly had a fear of heights; I can go up a ladder onto my roof or rappel into a sinkhole. My fear of flying was about distrust of the machine and the pilots and an irrational fear of crashing.

I hope you'll find that as you fly a little more often you'll become more comfortable, but if not, it may be that the GA strategy for beating FoF is not the best route for you. It does work for some people. In my case, I made major progress on my FoF and then started flying lessons.

The view out the front window of a small plane and the feeling of connectedness to it is worth a million bucks, though; these are things we must give up as passengers on an airliner. But it is possible to build a mental bridge between them; this helps enormously with turbulence.

I wish you well, and please keep posting! :tiphat:

[Ps76]

Hi,

Just to say many thanks for the replies etc. I went flying again in a Cessna 172 and although I'm by no means cured it wasn't too scary when I was doing it. Was also pretty cool seeing an Allegiant air airliner taking off from an adjacent runway as we were on final. Hopefully I'll learn that in principle small planes operate no differently than the big jets which have 1 in a million safety records so they must be pretty safe too.

Many thanks,

Pierre.

[Ps76]

Hi,

Apologies for posting again but just wanted to ask how you got over your fear of flying before you became a flight instructor. Was it just from reading or from taking commercial flights. I guess it's different for everyone but I definitely also have that distrust of the machine - I guss deep down I don't believe man can fly and until that changes I guess I'll always be in this mess(!)

Many thanks for any info etc.,

Pierre.

[aerobat]

Hi, Pierre,

A little snippet of the story is here in the TF staff introductions:

http://www.takingflight.us/forums/showthread.php?t=7302 (http://www.takingflight.us/forums/showthread.php?t=7302)

In a nutshell, I saw a professional anxiety specialist--Reid Wilson, owner of anxieties.com and a famous fear-of-flying expert. His book Don't Panic was enormously helpful before I even got on the plane (for the first time in 13 years).

I didn't take up flying little planes to beat my fear; I did it to address the tidal wave of passion for aviation that hit me once I beat the better part of my phobic fear. But it happened that same summer. Of course, I discovered some more fear (but not the phobic sort) in the process of learning to fly. Many pilots will tell you that on a low level, fear is a fair and regular companion, and an antidote to complacency.

If you learn to handle an airplane, you should have no problem realizing deep down that man was indeed meant to fly; it just took a few millennia to figure out how to do it.

If you really want to check out those flying on the edge, apart from astronauts that is, check out BASE jumpers in squirrel suits. (no, I don't/won't ever do that, but have done a few tandem skydives :lol:). Good luck to you and I hope the GA flying pays off. It will take some repetition--and an understanding instructor--to get you there. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

[Ps76]

Hi,

Just to say many thanks for the reply etc. Will maybe try to find the book you mentioned but otherwise it's just trying to feel the same in a small plane as I do in a big plane(!)

Many thanks,

Pierre.

[Getb0rn]

Ps76, just wondered if you are trying out flying in the smaller planes for a specific reason? I guess I am wondering if you have to fly in them often for work or is this just a general interest/investment in getting over your FoF?

I was going to get some flying lessons in smaller planes to get oevr my FoF but they are so expensive. Are just general passenger flight as expensive?

Also I am wondering if watching the flights on you tube helped desensitise you at all?

Good Luck with your flights!

Also, Just wanted to say this has been a great thread, I have enjoyed reading through everyones posts. I have often wondered how I would be in a small plane it's great to be able to gather all info.

[Ps76]

Hi,

I tried out flying in smaller planes mainly because I thought they looked pretty cool and also to try to beat my fear of flying both in them and larger planes. However after 5 flights I can't say that I'm cured in any way(!) Maybe the small planes is not for me I guess but maybe I'll try again in the future (it is expensive too).

Cool the thread proved useful. I would say if you feel like it it's definitely something that might be cool. The pilots are always so at ease and that helps putting me at ease a little too (a little anyway!).

Hope it might help a little,

Pierre.

[Kimmar]

It occurs to me that my fear of heights is not actually heights at all, but the fear of "falling from that height"...(Big surprise huh?? LOL)

However, this thread is making me think that you actually don't know how well supported the plane is, in the air, and that it actually can't "fall" from that height, like you could.

There's a thread on here that I'm going to link you to that totally changed my view of flying. I found out that the plane is actually not just flying "in thin air" and just because I can't see it doesn't mean it's not thick and holding that plane firmly at the altitude of the pilot's choosing.

It's long, but worth a read.

http://www.takingflight.us/forums/showthread.php?t=8071

[Ps76]

Hi,

Just to say many thanks for the link etc. I definitely have a problem with the model I use for seeing the aircraft. Sometimes though I tell myself that it's happy to fly, with the wings providing lift because of the speed the engines are pushing it through the air and it suddenly looks like a beautiful, self containing flying machine. So I feel better about being in that machine. But normally the moment passes and then I'm back to being scared again.

Will definitely try that jello trick though. Sounds like it might help me quite a bit (I'm normally nervous in bumps).

Many thanks,

Pierre.

[Barb-SAN]

Sometimes though I tell myself that it's happy to fly, with the wings providing lift because of the speed the engines are pushing it through the air and it suddenly looks like a beautiful, self containing flying machine. So I feel better about being in that machine. But normally the moment passes and then I'm back to being scared again.....Pierre.
I got the chills reading this...because I think you are getting nibbled by the flying bug...;)...it just hasn't really bitten hard yet! :D

You are on the right track...you might consider taking some ground school for private pilot, or spend some time in aviation museums, or at air shows, and marvel at the wide variety of airplane designs. Have you read any of the aviation literature yet? I've really enjoyed some of Rod Machado's books, especially Plane Talk and his Private Pilot Handbook. He has a website, http://www.rodmachado.com/Product/Books/books.htm Here's a bit about both books:

Rod Machado's Plane Talk
The Mental Art of Flying an Airplane


Welcome to a collection of Rod Machado's most popular aviation articles and stories from the last 15 years. Rod Machado's Plane Talk contains nearly 100 articles covering flights of fun and knowledge that will stimulate your aviation brain and tickle your funny bone. In addition to the educational topics listed below, this 456 page book contains article on topics such as higher aviation learning, the value of aviation history, aviation literature, aviation art and how an artist's perspective can help you better understand weather. You'll also find more than a few articles written just to make you laugh.

Rod Machado's Private Pilot Handbook
NEW! "Second Edition"

A serious text written in a fun and witty style. More than 1,200 original illustrations and photos in a hardbound, full color, 624 page book. This book is a one-of-a-kind manual. You can learn or review by just looking at the pictures. However, the text is laced with Machado;s humor and practical training insights, so you will want to read every last word on each page. Written in the first person, it's as if Rod is sitting next to you, personally explaining all the necessary aspects of flying to make you an informed, confident and competent pilot. It is the first book of its kind completely written and illustrated by one instructor--a CFI with more than three decades of teaching experience, 8,000 hours as a flight instructor and literally hundreds and hundreds of aviation seminars under his belt. Flight instructors will love using the great illustrations with their students. It will also be a favorite for its readability. It's perfect to refresh for a flight review, catch up on new rules or for student pilots to pass their FAA knowledge and oral exams.

[Ps76]

Hi,

Just to say many thanks for the links etc. Have been thinking about taking maybe a private pilot lesson but maybe was thinking will buy a radio controlled plane to satisfy my desire first(!)

Many thanks,

Pierre

[Barb-SAN]

Hi,
Just to say many thanks for the links etc. Have been thinking about taking maybe a private pilot lesson but maybe was thinking will buy a radio controlled plane to satisfy my desire first(!)Many thanks,Pierre
That's an interesting idea...hope you will tell us more about it if you do that. Flying a radio controlled plane is a lot cheaper than taking Cessna lessons, and seems like you can still learn some basic aerodynamics. I had a chance to try flying one of those once (a very simple, inexpensive one)...big mistake, flying on a windy day. The motor wasn't strong enough to make the plane fly into a headwind...and it disappeared into the trees, never to be seen again. :cry:

[Barb-SAN]

Just saw this article in an aviation e-brief : http://www.kansas.com/business/aviation/story/778467.html


It's not everyday you meet someone with the title "chief UAV pilot."
But Kirk Demuth, 24, flies unmanned aerial vehicles for a living for Flint Hills Solutions in Augusta.
The company is working on technology for UAVs to operate in the nation's airspace and to commercialize their use for civilian markets.
As pilot-in-command, Demuth works at a computer on the ground when a small, 35-pound Aerosonde UAV tested by Flint Hills Solutions is in the air.
Although Demuth's not in the cockpit, flying an unmanned air vehicle takes the same kind of piloting knowledge needed to fly other types of aircraft.
He checks weather briefings, has to know rules and regulations, and takes care of preflight information. Demuth goes through a preflight-checklist and makes sure components are working before flight.
The unmanned aerial vehicle is launched from the top of a vehicle. Once the vehicle reaches 50 miles an hour, it will take off.
Demuth can see how unmanned vehicles can be valuable in disaster situations, such as when a tornado hit Greensburg, he said......

There's a lot of opportunity for pilots of unmanned aircraft, he said.
"This is where the aircraft industry is going to be focused," Demuth said.