If you're afraid of flying, what is it that scares you?

[oogieboogie]

I keep reading and hearing so many people who are afraid of flying or getting on a plane (including DH). It made me curious to know what exactly that people fear about airplanes and flying.

Now I've been flying since I was a kid and have flown alone since I was 8 years old, so flying to me is like getting into a car. No big deal. But DH says it makes him uncomfortable. When I ask him why, he can't explain it, he just says that it makes him queasy. But why?

What makes flying scary for you? Please educate me!

(Now... let's keep this thread civil, cause it came out of curiosity, not condescending )

 

[CBRorBust]

I personally do not like landing, taking off and mostly the fact that I do not know where I'm at or what's going on at any given time. Maybe it's because I'm a control freak, but I need to be able to see where I'm at and where I'm going.

I also get VERY scared when the plane goes through turbulence. I do not like the jerking and what's going to happen thoughts.

This was all pre-9/11. Post 9/11 of course there is also that whole terrorism fear on top of everything else. I do feel safe, but it just stays in the back of my mind.

 

[CamColt]

Exactly what CBR said.
Taking off I feel like we should just fall back down...there is no way that heavy plane should be able to stay up in the air. Also, the turbulence and even slight bumps and noises make me feel like something is wrong and we are going to go crashing to the ground.
The control thing is big too. At least in a car accident you have some control...you can try to get out of a crashed/burning car...If that plane goes down you just have to sit their helplessly and wait to die. You have no chance. Yes that can happen in a car too, but not necessarily.
The rational side of me knows the chance of any of this happening is ridiculously slim, but once I start thinking this stuff it really can send me into a panic attack.

 

[enchantedpixiedust]

Mine started pre-9/11, but I used to love to fly. Just one time I got on, panicked and it's been cruddy ever since. My biggest thing is being trapped in there with people all around, no where to go and also the fear of having a panic attack, getting sick.

(Turbulence doesn't help either.)

Not pretty, but there it is. I hate it.

 

[FreshTressa]

Umm...I'm afraid of dying. And I'm afraid of falling out of the sky. It just does not seem natural to be up so high with nothing under me.

It started for me when a plane crashed near san francisco coming up from puerto vallarta. I was on that same route just 3 months earlier.

I'm also afraid of having to experience the few minutes before a crash, knowing you are going to die.

I'm a big chicken!

 

[chris1gill]

OK, now I'm not completely scared of flying, it's more a respect of it really.... I fly all the time & all over the place, but I can tell you the ONE thing I am afraid of... is CRASHING!

Eek....

 

[luvmk]

Crashing!

I used to be scared to fly. I am MUCH better now. I noticed a big difference after I first had kids(that's when I started to freak). I can't explain why I don't mind it as much anymore. One of the things I hated was when the plane would "slow down" after take off. I remember saying to my dh "Why are we stopping? We are 25,000 ft. in the air, WHY ARE WE STOPPING?!" He looked at me and calmly said "We aren't stopping, we just aren't accelerating." I would also notice any strange smell on the plane. Does anyone else smell smoke? As you can see, I was a nut. Funny thing, this didn't keep me from flying. We probably flew 5-6 times a year. I guess maybe I'm just used to it now.


Rachel

 

[helenabear]

Okay I am not totally 100% afraid of flying, but I don't take to well for it. I do okay on shorter flights (1-2 hours) but right around the 2nd hour I start getting antsy... I am slightly claustrophobic and my inability to move around the way I like to as well as my inability to breath fresh air really makes me jittery. I fly fairly often for one who doesn't travel for business, but it doesn't mean I totally enjoy it. I even considered driving 1000 miles to FL by myself at one point... but since flying is safer and quicker, I prefer to fly when I can.

 

[Boo'sMom]

not afraid of flying....just of stopping really fast.

 

[monarchsfan16]

I'm afraid of being hijacked and crashing, and meeting the same end as the victims of 9/11 did.
I'm afraid of what could happen in the air. If there's a fire or something goes wrong you can't get to safety very easily. Not like in a car.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

I don't like the way that it makes my head feel. Shudder. The best way I can explain it is lightheaded... but especially during any turns at all, my head feels really weird (sort of like freefall) and I sometimes get queasy too.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I have flown overseas 3 times and am still scared. The part that scares me so much is being totally out of control.

 

[NHAnn]

What CBR and CamColt said

 

[newmousecateer]

I used to be afraid of flying...now I love it! I love the "thrust" of takeoff, I feel a little weird when the hydraulic system takes over for landings and it feels like the plane is "suspended", but I don't mind the landing at all...I kind of "grade the pilots" in my mind for smooth landings

I feel safer on a plane than I do in a car.

 

[square pond]

CRASHING!!!

 

[Microcell]

I am scared of crashing but oddly, landing to me is fun. You have a better chance of getting out of a bad landing alive than a crash from high up!

 

[Jasminesmommy]

I don't like the idea that its just air hold in me up. I head a bird could stop the propellers. Once in the air ir feels like we are falling out of the sky. Pilots who my be suicidal.

 

[Disney Princess 6]

...................

 

[browneyes]

I'm afraid they'll make me fly the plane home if I don't behave.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Bottom line...Not having any control over it!