Fear of Flying
Posted on 13. Jul, 2009 by Ryan Northcott in Flying, FuddyTV, Life
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I can’t remember when it changed. As a young lad I would jump on the chance to hop on a plane and go to some far off place, reveling in the magic of flight. Yet somehow, over the years, I have developed an incredible fear of flying. Weeks leading up to any flight I get anxious…even to the point where I’ve considered canceling a trip…just to avoid the flight. Often the trickle of thought that courses through my brain is…can I drive it?
What certainly doesn’t help my cause is the fact that I watch shows like Mayday on the Discovery Channel. One hour full of pure airline terror with awful lifelike reenactments and CGI graphics that kinda make a guy feel like he’s in the plane. Yeah, not so hot. Not such a grand idea. Yet I watch, slightly terrified and hoping I’ll never be on a plane that succumbs to bad weather, electrical failure or a miscalculation of fuel weight.
I can recall a flight I took to Grande Prairie, Alberta once in a rinky-dink plane with just a couple seats on either side. It was awful, probably one of the worst flights of my life. The turbulence tossing us about like a few school kids riding a bus on a bumpy road. The self-mutilating side of me decided to pull out the ol’ laptop when I got to the hotel and watch some plane crashes or near misses…fantastic idea (I say that with all the sarcasm I can possibly muster). Here’s the kinda stuff I watched….
So yeah, those are all good things to watch to instill confidence in flying. Lord.
When I was younger I was an avid flyer and loved going to the end of the runway to watch the planes takeoff and land. I loved flying so much, I was a religious player of the Microsoft Flight Simulators all the way from 95 to the last incarnation. So what happened to me? Pfft. I have no idea…all I know is that on a recent flight from Vancouver to Calgary I had to bury my head in T’s lap so as not to feel the awful turbulence. She’s a trooper.
Rachel
Jul 22nd, 2009
I knew someone who also had a flying phobia and they were able to overcome it by actually taking flying lessons. I guess by feeling like they could have some control over the situation and by learning more about it, it helped to calm their fears. Maybe on one of your many vacations that you will be taking you should learn how to fly?
Ryan Northcott
Jul 14th, 2009
Of course! More flights! Brilliant!
…yes “T” will have to come along. Yes, I’ll need her lap again, no doubt, but for pete’s sake even adivan didn’t work that well…
Meg
Jul 13th, 2009
I think the more flights you take that are uneventful, the better you’ll feel. So, clearly, what you need to do is take more vacations until you’ve beaten this phobia. Avoid short flights on tiny airplanes — that won’t help. I think the obvious choice would be something international on a big fat airplane with lots of free booze. I hear Paris is nice this time of year — I’m pretty sure you need to go there.
I’m no doctor, however, I AM a medical librarian, so if it helps to think of this as medical advice, go for it. Take two tickets to Paris (bring “T.”, in case you need her lap again) and call me in the morning.
Ryan Northcott
Jul 13th, 2009
I know, I know Dave! It’s a form of torture, I swear. Interesting that you’ve faced your fears head on, I actually think that may help me. It’s funny because I even went so far as to understand exactly why there is turbulence, but alas, not much help.
I remember when we flew to Belgium I was mortified, but it was honestly one of the best flights of my life. Smooth, calm and not as long as I would have anticipated. Of course, I can’t sleep on a plane, no matter what, so it was a long drawn out flight.
I have the fear, it’s true, but perhaps facing it head on will help.
Dave Durham
Jul 13th, 2009
Ryan,
Stop watching those videos! You’re gonna drive (or fly) yourself crazy! Fear of flying is a phobia. Phobias don’t always make since. But they are real (I’m not big on heights for example), Logic won’t work, I can give you all the stats on how safe flying is…that your drive to the airport is actually more dangerous …ya da ya da ya da…all of which are true, but when phobias take over… they take over. And they’re very hard to master, depending on the degree. I’ve worked thru most of my hear of heights by confronting it head on… I took up rock climbing for example. Hated it at first…worked thru it and now it’s “under control”. I started taking flying lessons at 15 and I majored in Aerospace Engineering so I know airplanes very well. They really are one of the safest ways to travel. But I don’t downplay your fear in the least. Everyone’s got fears. Some are just embodied in flight.
-d