Taming the Metal Bird - How to Defeat Flight Fear

There once lived a man who believed he would die in a plane crash. So, he evaded planes at all cost and traveled with cars, trains or even ships, but didnt rise up to the sky. One summer night the pilot of the small private aircraft noticed while flying that the engine doesnt work anymore. And at the top of that the electronic and navigational systems had also broken. The mist was hovering and the plane dived into the darkness. After recovering from the serious injuries the pilot discovered that the accident caused one mans death. The mans: who was sleeping calmly in the room of the roadside motel, which the plain smashed. The man was afraid to fly, so he chose a car for his rather long journey and stopped to rest in the roadside motel. Fatalists should like the story we chose for the beginning. They like to say that if it is destined, it is destined  you will get killed even while walking in the street if the brick will fall on your sconce. However, more seriously, how many people do you know, who died from the falling brick? The likelihood of getting into a plane crash is perhaps even lower. So, its best time for you to relax and forget that body perishing anxiety while getting airborne and to enjoy warm holidays or adding variety to the routine with the business trip.

I cant do with myself! There are about 5 people having a fear of flying in every plane. That is about 3-5 percent of all the fliers. The fact that flying is much safer than driving a car is equal to 29 times (the data of USA sociologists) was widely headlined recently. However, the numbers of nervously sitting passengers during the flight is not decreasing. So, why do people are afraid to fly? The psychologists notice that the fear of flying is more oftently experienced by people, who are accustomed to lead at work or home. It is common for them to know that situation is in their hands and they control it. And while flying we can only trust the pilots and aircrafts personnel. There are unfamiliar sounds around, it is unclear why the plane suddenly jolted, what are the air conditions outside, why it is suddenly asked to fasten the seat belts. For example, children are usually not afraid to fly. They are already accustomed to the fact that there are many unfamiliar sounds around, so the plane is not an exception for them. Moreover, kids dont perceive till the end that they are in the breathtaking height. People who are afraid to fly usually dont believe that it is much easier to get killed while driving a car than dying in a plane crash. They oftently provide an argument that person understands how the car works and its principles, is accustomed to it and perhaps even drives. It seems to him that it is safer, because you control the situation on the ground by yourself: you can not exceed the speed limit and respond lightning quick in extreme situations, furthermore, even if got into the car accident you might not essentially die. And if the plane broken, chances of surviving are low it seems. Besides, the flight anxiety might be closely connected to other fears, for example heights or claustrophobia.

Why the plane flies? There are many courses where information about planes is provided. There you could learn about planes technical characteristics, how do they fly and land, how it is made, which unexpected matters you might expect, how pilots and other personnel is prepared, which safety reasons could be taken, what are the opportunities of the plane getting broken, what possible consequences it might cause. The most important thing is information. When the person gets acquainted with the plane and understands its system, he feels safer and without ruffle. The fear mostly rises from the lack of information. When the information about the plane itself is provided, the time is devoted to the advices, which help to relax during the flight. Thus the first medicine from the fear of flying is to acquire as much information as possible. Here we wont explain the entire flight technology, but we can answer some most frequent questions causing anxiety. They should help you feel safer in the sky.

Neither storms, nor thunder should be afraid of * Do the so called air vortexes mean that the plane is in danger? Absolutely not. That is a really normal phenomenon. The plane jolts a little when it enters the vortex of the shuffling air. They mostly appear during the rainy periods, but sometimes even in the cloudless day. The air vortexes have many reasons to appear, for example when the air streams flow above the mountains or perhaps just another plane passes by. Because of so called air vortexes passengers are advised to fasten their seatbelts, consequently if the plane jolts hardly you may bump your head or fall. * Would the plane crash if the engines got broken? No. Firstly, every plane has two, three or four engines. So, if one got broken, the others still work. The plane can fly a long distance with only one engine working. Even if all engines got broken, the plane can glide for about 160 kilometers more and land safely. * Is it dangerous to fly during the storm? The planes dont fly during the storm. The plane wont get closer to it than 35 kilometers while flying. Being in the sky doesnt bother the plane at all. Even if it gets struck by lightning (according to 'Boeing' companys data, it occurs about two times per year), nothing bad happens to the plane, or its passengers, except maybe the frightening. * Can the wings of the plane break? No. While constructing every new plane wings are tested, bent till they break. With the strain few times greater than possible during the flight. * If the plane is old, is it safe as much as a new one? Yes. All planes should meet the same requirements irrespective to their age. Moreover, slightly older planes usually have installed modern aircraft electronic systems. So the older planes are not as old as it seems, they have many new parts. * Dont rush to the airport the last minute. According to many psychologists, it is also like a therapy to sit calmly and look how beautiful the planes are rising and landing. Rushing will only sharpen the stress and anxiety. * Choose the right seat. When registering, you could ask for a place in the front seats of the plane near the pass way. You will feel safer, because the exit will seem closer and the view of distant earth wont cause a nervous pine in the stomach. * Confess that you are afraid It is recommended to tell the personnel about your anxiety. It is natural that you are not only one afraid. Most of the airlines refuse the thirteenth row, so that the unlucky number wouldnt cause negative emotions. Steward will give you more attention and advices. Besides, the confession that you are afraid makes you calmer. * Dont drink alcohol, coffee or tea Avoid them before the flight and during it. These drinks accelerate the issue of liquids, however, the air in high altitudes is dry enough. Coffee increases the blood pressure and raises the heartbeat rate, all of this cause a stress. * Move for a while When the plane raises exercise your arms, legs and neck, take a walk in the inside the plane (hold on seats backrest if the plane jolted). This will keep you from stiffening. * Try to relax Take a book, magazine or crossword to the plane. If you like listening to the music, choose tender and relaxing. Communicate with your neighbors. According to the psychologists a joyful chatting with another passenger sitting nearby is really encouraged. This helps to relax and deflect headache causing questions What if..?

Tom Bredbinson is writer for http://www.travellerstories.net . He is writing articles related with traveling tips, tricks and new ideas. He has been from the southest to the northest places of the world. You can use this article in any website together with the link it comes from. All rights reserved to http://www.travellerstories.net