For those of you afraid to fly

[Lilly]

Thanks for your advice on my son's trip to London. I think we will just wait; and watch and listen to happens in the next month. I wish the tour company that they are with was a little more lenient with cancellations. The entire $1500.00 must be paid by the end of December with very little refund if we were to cancel. I appreciate the advice about the Britons being so helpful and the credit card suggestion. I will also tell him not to advertise that he is an American, although we are proud to be American. I think this was true even back in the 1970's when I visited Europe as a student. Thanks for your help.Lilly

 

[Gretel]

First of all I was afraid to fly before the tragedy of the WTC. For those of you who are not afraid to fly you will never understand.............................everyone is afraid of something for me it is flying and I don't feel like I have to justify that fear.

For those who love to fly.................great.......................... fly all you want.

For those who are afraid don't let anyone tell you your fears are stupid. To those of us who have panic attacks, etc. the fear is very real and no matter how we try to overcome it our brain tells us otherwise. WE wish we didn't have the fear but we do.....................

 

[LindaBabe]

trips to Walt Disney World in the last four years in an effort to get over my fear. I had gotten to the point where I didn't need a tranquilizer, although I have never been happy in the air. I arrived home from the last trip on 9/8. We're scheduled to go again in December. My brain says "if the planes are going - I'M going". My nerves are saying something else. I'll fly, but it will take every ounce of courage I have to set foot on that plane.

 

[flyingcircus]

gretel,

I don't think anyone has said that you need to justify your fear. I think a lot of people right now have to justify that they are not scared to fly. Whenever something traumatic happens, people react either positively or negatively. People who were not scared to fly, now are, and it is difficult for them to get over this fear- you know, as you have had this fear!

I do believe that you are correct in saying that those who love to fly, don't understand. I have always thought how difficult it must be for those people to try to overcome their fear of flying, to set foot on a plane.

Right now in the airline industry, there are thousands of people going through counseling, employee assistance programs, out on sick list, all because now they too have a new fear. Believe me, I DO NOT belittle anyone who has a fear of flying. However, right now there are people who have this fear as a result of the WTC crashes, and are trying to get over it. For them, they may just need a little reassurance that they are not alone. For others, they may never be able to fly. Please don't feel you have to justify your fear. I for one, don't think you do!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad says..............................................................I do not like to fly, but I do. I am afraid of heights, because when I am at the top of the Space Needle I can feel it moving. I am afraid of the take off and landing. I am afraid of take off, because 11 years ago we were on a flight out of Sacramento to San Diego, and we are flying down the runway just a few seconds from takeoff, and all of a sudden it's hard brakes and we come to a stop. The pilot says one of our engines isn't working!! All thru this I am fine and we wait for hours and are finally ready to go. When we do takeoff, I'm suddenly white knuckles!! I'm more opaque knuckles now, not quite so bad. The landing problem is not so much landing as it is banking the plane to turn into the landing. In 1978 or 1979 While I was in the Air Force I was stationed at Mather in Sacramento, where I live today. We had some kind of a fire drill or something, because we were all out side. Next we see a large plane, could have been a bomber, or probably a large transport plane take off. We see it take off above the trees and up it goes, and suddenly it starts to bank to the right. In a matter of seconds it just fell to the ground and exploded. Every time our plane banks toward our landing I think of that plane. I hope this next trip will be different. I want to fly! I hope I now have that steely resolve, that I have everywhere else in my mind, to include flying.

 

[Snow Shoe]

For many years I was REALLY NERVOUS about flying, but I did it anyway. I have tought my students the basic flight principle, Brunillie Principle of Flight, so I fully understood how and why a wing is capable of lift. I kept telling myself that it was the best way for our family to get to Disney and enjoy as much time there, but I still didn't like it that much. I managed "OK" with this attitude for many years. Well this past summer we went to Disneyland Paris. The flight was 9 hrs long direct from DFW to CDG. The flight was GREAT! We flew at 32-35,000 feet, some small turblance now and then. I have made several U.S. flights since returning, and I feel that I have lost that sense of "fear" that once really told me that this was not a good idea. I'm not saying for everyone to take such a long plane ride, but it obviously help me.

Now there's NO WAY you'll ever get me on a roller coaster!! But that's a different story.

 

[caitycaity]

gretel-

i do not like to fly, i was just saying that i didn't understand the lack of control thing b/c i don't feel safe in an automobile either. i think that's due to the fact that i was in a near fatal car-accident and we were driving perfectly safely. It really shook me up and I realised that none of us are in control of our lives, and since there's nothing we can do about itt, we might as well just go on with life. That's all I meant.

I'm sorry if I offended you.

 

[genetic jackhammer]

I haven't been on a plane since 1993 and have only flown about 5 times my whole life so the events of 9-11 have nothing to do with my fear. My fear is fear of heights...I don't like tall buildings or amusement rides that go up high (I'm scared to death of Ferris Wheels). Once I get on the plane and it takes off and at cruising altitude I really enjoy the flight. It's coming down and being able to see the ground getting closer that flips me out. And don't say look away or keep your eyes shut...I can't do it...I need to see what's going on, so I must have a window seat. Some day I guess I'll get some therapy.