Emergencies

What you call emergencies are not what I'd call emergencies

The most important thing to know about flying is that it  is amazingly routine. In a normal career a pilot won't face more than a few minor technical hiccups. Very few experience engine problems and even fewer face 'Emergencies'. However what you describe as an emergency, would now be described by the crew as a non-normal procedure.

Non normals, not emergencies

Fearful flyers imagine that flying a plane is difficult, even under normal conditions ...read more about this on our on-line fear of flying course at Premium 

From the start of a pilot's career the idea of flying a plane according to the laid down procedures is emphasised, it is, after all the safest way to fly a plane. The checklists and procedures are the result of all the operators' experiences on that plane, collected and promulgated by the manufacturer.

The most testing time for a pilot is when multiple failures occur, these ... read more on fear of flying premium. The question that I am most frequently asked on this subject is: Can a plane take off if an engine stops?

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Fear of flying About Automatic pilots

Automatic pilots can fly planes more accurately than humans can

Do you have a fear of flying and worry about how safe the plane is? Do you worry about things like automatic pilots? You'll be please to know that modern automatic pilots can fly a plane more accurately and more consistently than any human pilot can. But autopilots can't think, so there'll always be a pilot on your plane for the foreseeable future.

Shallow fog means using the automatic pilot

Even on a bright sunny day, fearful flyers imagine that a plane is balanced on a knife edge when it's flying. On cloudy days they are ready to  go into panic mode about the extra dangers they imagine. Imagine such a situation and then leaving it all to a computer!

But the fact is is that flying is straightforward, it requires skills, special skills but no more than any other job. Before I explain what autopilots do I need to explain what the real pilots do.

Unfortunately Hollywood has done pilots no favours by suggesting that we're all like the fighter pilot in films like Top Gun. They portray pilots as steely-eyed super heroes whereas pilots are just people who fly planes. Sure some pilots are different from others but then so are train drivers or accountants.

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Directions and Information about the course

Here is some information about the fear of flying course you have booked.

The first thing we want you to know is that you’ll enjoy the day and we’ll do our very best to make you feel comfortable and relaxed for the whole day. We will not spring any surprises on you and we certainly won’t make you feel any worse than you do now. Indeed we’ll make you feel a whole lot better...if you don’t leave us smiling then you’ll be an exception to most ’passengers’.

The purpose of the course is to help you to find a strategy for dealing with your fear of flying and so the course is designed around your needs.

The day belongs to you so we’ll do the things that are important to you and we will also cover the things that are a cause of worry to most fearful flyers. We’ll show you some simple breathing, relaxation, visualisation and thought stopping exercises that will help you to address your fears. We will dissuade you from ‘hoping’ and ‘wishing’ and encourage you to be realistic in your thinking.
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Difficult airports

There are no such places as difficult or dangerous airports

Let's deal with the frequently asked question, "Are some airports more difficult  than others to land at?" And the answer is no,  there are no such airports. To the question "Do some airports have restrictions on their use?" The answer is "Yes". When there are restrictions and limitations at an airport, pilots have to either watch a video or visit the airport under supervision.

But that doesn't make them difficult and ... see Premium on line for more help and useful information  There is no point in my telling you things that aren't true, because that would discredit everything on this site.

Before an airline can operate with fare paying passengers it has to meet all sorts of requirements regarding the legality and safety of its method of operating. Clearly a small charter company, operating between small airports, would have different requirements compared with an international airline, but that doesn't mean that the standards are lower.

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Cabin Crew

Cabin crew are on board to help you, don't watch their faces for signs!

All  cabin crew have to meet certain educational standards and have to have a better than working knowledge of English, which is the language of aviation. Airlines, however will also set their own standards regarding fitness, educational and language requirements. The cabin crew are legally responsible to the Captain for the safety of the cabin and the passengers.

Highly trained members of the crew

Passengers have to obey the legal instructions of the crew who act under the legal authority of the Captain.  Fortunately the days of seeing them as Trolley Dollies and airborne waitresses are long gone.

Remember:

• The cabin crew are responsible for the safety of the passengers
• They are licensed crew members
• They are highly trained and checked frequently

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Blind Flying

Blind Flying means flying on instruments ... that's all

Blind flying is one of those expressions that comes from the past. In the industry we don't use the expression anymore because what we do now is so normal that we don't describe it as anything other than what it is ... flying on instruments or even simpler ... instrument flying. Modern airline pilot training emphasises the need to 'manage ' a flight via the instruments and  management systems.

Instruments and management systems

I'm often asked how I can see where I'm going in the dark or in cloud. Quite often fearful flyers are under the impression that if it's a clear day I can see where I'm going and navigate accordingly. This isn't unreasonable ... it's what we do in a car every day.

For more information on this subject see our on-line fear of flying premium Course

I'll spend a moment explaining why instrument flying was called blind flying. In the beginning flying .... premium

Unfortunately because of the forces involved and the way the human body is built (see here) it's not possible to fly a plane in cloud without something to show which way is up .... Premium ... however, you lowered the nose and the plane slowed down you knew you were upside down.

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Airport emergency services

Airport emergency services and what you should know

The only time most of us think about the 'safety' side of an airport is when we read or hear that a plane has made an un-scheduled landing and that the emergency services were in attendance. What does  mean in reality? In the old days a pilot could call for a fire engine or an ambulance to be available when he landed. The pilot could describe the problem and would suggest the sort of help he needed.

Fireman attending a fuel spillage

Modern regulations mean that if a pilot declares an emergency of any sort then all the services will attend. A commercial plane is only allowed to land at an airport that has the required amount of cover available. At airports where jumbo jet can land the fire, rescue and ambulance have to be at a higher level than at a small municipal airport.

Among their many duties the fire services are responsible for fuel spillages. If you see a fire engine near your plane don't be alarmed, their attendance is not an indication of danger. An aircraft reporting any problem with its braking system, tyres and wheels will always be accompanied to its parking place by a fire truck.

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Aircraft Systems

There are at least two back up systems for everything on a plane

All those noises, all those things and motors and pumps and instruments ... no wonder you have a fear of flying if you don't understand what it's all about! Here's a simple explanation ideally suited to a fearful flyer, who needs to understand enough to feel relaxed. An aircraft is like a house ... it needs things in it to make life comfortable,  but a plane has to take them along with it.
 

Aircraft systems are duplicated and triplicated

Fresh Air

The most important one from a physiological point of view is pressurisation, because we need to be able to breathe air to survive ... air is pumped into the cabin to supply enough oxygen at the right pressure for us to breathe. The pressurisation system in modern aircraft is very sophisticated compared with planes of the 80's and 90's. You shouldn't feel any change of pressure in the cabin with the possible exception of taking off and starting to descend. Modern systems are automatic and reliable.

Warmth

After that we need to be comfortable so we need to be warm ... we do that in connection with the pressurisation system. As the air is pumped into the cabin it goes through a heat exchanger to warm it. The outside air temperature is about -65 Centigrade ...  so the air certainly needs warming!

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Thunderstorms

Despite what you think, you won't have flown through a thunderstorm.

Even though air regulations require pilots to remain at least 20 miles from storms, many anxious flyers will  still claim that they have flown in, or through a thunderstorm. This false belief is a major cause of a fear of flying and is one of the reasons that fearful flyers don't want to fly to hot destinations! Thunderstorms are like any other clouds that have been formed by local currents of rising warm air.

At least 20 nautical miles from storms

During the day, the air is heated by the ground and rises. This air mass continues to rise until it is as cool as the surrounding air; when it reaches this level the moisture in the air is released and forms a cloud. Curiously though under some circumstances the cloud can actually stay warmer than the surrounding air and so it continues to rise. When this happens a thunderstorm can occur.

A thunderstorm starts as an ordinary fluffy cloud but continues to develop rather than reaching a steady state at a lower height. The circumstances ... the weather radar in the cockpit will show the presence of thunderstorm activity from a distance ... which means that the pilots have at least ... minutes to plan navigating around them.

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About your fear of flying

We'll get you flying, that's our promise

However bad your fear is, we'll get you flying. You are not alone, and you will overcome  your fear  of flying. More than 40% of the travelling public are anxious about flying and 98% of fearful flyers overcome their fear. The chances are that you'll succeed, and this page is to show you that everything about your particular fear has been felt by someone else. You are not alone, and help is here for you.

We will help you fix your fear of flying

This  fear can cause a feeling of  mild anxiety before a flight, or can cause a state of terror and panic. Many fearful flyers are unable to even think of boarding a plane. In the worst cases, even a visit to an airport is impossible. Some fearful flyers can't look at pictures of planes. Do not worry about how bad you think your fear is, because you can overcome it.

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About our fear of flying products

We want you to be confident that when you buy from us you will be getting the best help available anywhere on the internet. Our products are designed to help you to overcome your fear of flying and are presented in a way that will guide and support you.

There is nothing in anything you buy here that will make you feel uncomfortable, in fact most people find the help not only useful but comforting as well. As an instructor and facilitator I know the importance of accurate descriptions and explanations. This is particularly important with fearful flyers, as you have probably read on this site most fearful flyers use emotive language when they describe their fears and their experiences.

We explain in simple but accurate ways all the things you need to know about overcoming your fears, this is in contrast to many fear of flying products which simplify in a way that does not build a firm foundation of knowlede. It is only effectively presented information that will normalise flying for you. Quite often an over simplistic explantion takes longer to give and is more difficult to understand than a more technically accurate satement.

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This is why our fear of flying course will get you flying

Do you want to fly with less worry? Do you want to be able to go on holiday without worrying about the flight? Do you want to be able to take a business trip, without making excuses not to go? Do you have friends and family living abroad that you want to visit?

Fear of flying
course

Our fear of flying course will help you to do those things.  If you have been searching the internet for a course that will help you to overcome your fear of flying then you will probably have seen everything from £10.00  miracle cures, to Harley Street specialists at £50.00 a minute. There are hypnotists, therapists, life coaches, airline courses and dozens more to choose from. But how can you be sure it will meet your needs to manage your fear, when you have to make a  choice based on a sales pitch or brand familiarity?

Our brand, and style, is here on this website ... this is the way we do things - we're open, honest, direct and treat you as an individual, a person with a fear of flying ... not as a customer.

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What are all those noises on board a plane?

What are all those noises on board a plane?

One of the reasons our  Fear of Flying Course is so effective in overcoming the fear of flying is that you have the chance to hear those worrying noises and sounds, over and over again until you get used to them. As you know, anyone who has a fear of flying is very sensitive to the sounds on board an aircraft.

It's also true to say that there are so many noises in the course of a flight that you can be forgiven for being alarmed. Because the sounds are unfamiliar and they occur unexpectedly, the anxious flyer will associate them with danger.

• Unfamiliar noises are perceived by humans as dangerous.

• Aircraft make noises that are unfamiliar to you (but not to the crew).

• Noises in flight are normal and are not dangerous.

Remember that as an anxious flyer you will always be in a state of heightened awareness, your senses will be tuned into everything that is going on.

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Successful Strategy to Overcome Your Fear of Flying

Let us help you to build a successful strategy to overcome your fear of flying

There are very few worthwhile things that can be achieved without a plan. Without a plan you don't know how you're doing compared with the  goal that you've set. I don't fly without a flight plan, and you wouldn't want me to ... now it's your turn to have one. You need a strategy to overcome your fear of flying. You must always remember that most people overcome their fear of flying.

 

Normalise flying because IT IS normal

Despite whatever you feel and however bad things may seem, you will overcome your fear if you stick at it. First, you have to know clearly what the nature of your fear is.

• What actually causes the feelings of fear?
• What are the thoughts that go on to make you react to being in a plane?
• Why have previous attempts to overcome your fear failed?

To overcome your fear of flying you've got to have a plan.

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You won't overcome your fear of flying

You won't overcome your fear of flying if there's a question you need to have answered ... ask us your question now

Everyone who has a fear of flying has at least one question they need to ask, most have several, so here is your chance to ask Captain Keith your question. The answers are available by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

Why are accurate answers important?

Couldn't I get these answers anywhere?

Why can you rely on the answers here?

So, please ask us your question..we're here to help you.

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About Flying without fear.com

Mission

We want to help you to realise your dreams of taking a holiday, visiting friends, taking promotion or just being more relaxed when you fly. 

 

The information here is unequalled on the internet, it is presented in a way that will help you to overcome your fear of flying. We want you to feel confident that we will do everything we can to support and guide you on your journey. 

 

We want your experience here to be one that you enjoy and that you'll remember. Our fear of flying community has almost 2500 members around the world and many stay in touch and give support when flights are being taken. If you like what we do please spread the word.

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A simple explanation of chance and probability

Which of these statements is true?

1. The chances are you'll read the rest of this page ...
2. You'll probably read the rest of this page or ...
3. You'll possibly read the rest of this page ...

Which of them is accurate? What do they mean anyway?

I won't repeat what I've written in my book about these things but we'll talk about this subject in a different way. When we say ... the chances are that I'll play cards at the weekend, it means that it's more likely that I will play, than I won't play. If I say the chances are that I won't play cards at the weekend means that it's more than likely that I won't.

But whatever I say no-one would be surprised if I did or didn't, because I only said that the chances are ... and by that I invoke a whole set of social rules that allows anyone to put their own interpretation on whether I will turn up or not.

But neither of these outcomes is certain, and if the same behaviour happened over 150 years it is never a certainty, but it's getting more likely. What is a certainty is that I will or I won't turn up.  But that's a belief not a statistical fact. - See more...

Questions and Queries We've Had Recently

Here are some of the questions and queries we've had recently

On the premium site you'll find answers to over 400 questions. Call now on 01420 588 628 or email Captain Keith at flyingwithoutfear@yahoo.co.uk and register your interest for a 25% introductory discount on the normal price of £99.99

QUESTION Hi Guys, I'm scared of flying, BUT I reckon I'm a bit different to most 'scared of flying' people. In that, I must have flown hundreds of flights in my life, everywhere in the world. I've travelled since I was 20 years old on business, and I'm now 55. I've been on jumbos, short haul, little twin engine aircraft, all sorts. I've seen and been on every type of flight....smooth, bit rough, very rough; missed approaches, go-arounds, even on an emergency landing .

But I just cannot get my fear of flying from something I think is illogical, 'stupid' into a state where I know nothing's going to threaten my life whilst I'm up there! I think my problem stems from the fact that I'm a bit of a control freak, ie when I'm driving or whatever, and I need to know that the same people flying me are as committed to 'driving' me as safely as I would myself. -
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Overcome your fear of flying with our helpcasts

Helpcasts 1 - "Welcome Aboard" | Length: 3:07 mins |

The latest help, advice and insight from flyingwithoutfear.com for your fear of flying. Hosted by Captain Keith

Helpcasts 2 - "How Others Can Help" | Length: 3:39 mins |

Understand how talking and discussing your fear of flying with other people can give you support and assistance to go flying without fear.

Helpcasts 3 - "Coping Strategies" | Length: 5:22 mins |

Captain Keith discusses how you can develop your strategies to help you overcome your fear. Recognising that a fear of flying is not a weakness and that there are ways to help you deal with your fear. - See more...

Fear of flying Help Videos

Videos that will help you to overcome fear of flying

 

This sample video page is to help you to overcome your fear of flying. They will help you to understand and  'normalise'  flying.

De-bunk the myths and mis-understandings about flying. But don't just

If your anxiety levels rise that's good, because you can see that they will go up and then become steady ... your anxiety levels will not keep increasing. Learn to get used to your feelings.watch them once ... watch them over and over again until you're bored and so used to them that they're 'normal' to you. - See more...