Hi Diver Driver,

I have taken two flights since the beginning of this problem, but each start with a series of walk offs. Then I take some xanax and even have some alcohol before boarding , starting the day or so before, and then at the airport and then onboard. My last flight from Mexico City was the second one I booked from Mex City and took xanax and some alcohol, beer at the airport and then the FA kept my glass full of champagne.

I'm a bit worried about not only not going but how to get back.

I do think your right about getting airborne, once I'm up its a lot less stress for some reason.

I'm hoping one of those private plane companies won't mind me doing this.

You obviously are serious about this and want to get through it successfully. So why not just learn to fly yourself? By the time you set up a hangar visit to see an idling jet you may begin your own flight training. Small airplanes are miniature airliners. What we learn in them absolutely applies to large transport aircraft. It will absolutely help make you more aware of how they work and what is going on when you are in the back of an Airbus. Airline pilots get their start in training aircraft just like the one you will fly. If you get your private pilot license you will have some fun learning and I guarantee you will lose your fear of flying.

One of the most amazing things is how people fall asleep on commercial airline flights. I see these events as educational field trips. They are applied demonstrations of airplane design, airplane operation, applied technology, flight operations, human factors, psychology, weather dynamics, geography, piloting, and safety research. All this plus a Mach 0.8 thrill ride. It's a rich sensory environment that most people fail to appreciate. I admire you for making an effort to bridge the gap.

The risk in airline flying is overplayed in the minds of most people because they do not really know the risks. I think people are unable to mentally organize the physical forces, sounds and sights in flying which overloads their brains and causes them to log off mentally. It is not the physical drain of traveling by airplane. It is lack of ability and knowledge to sort out the many sources of visual, auditory and physical stimulus into their meaningful components. Without an education on the way airplanes fly there is no way to do this and they mentally shut down. I suspect fear is a variation of the sleep response of most people in dealing with something they are unable to sort into meaningful parts. Those whose response is to fear it actually have an advantage because their mind is telling them they need more information to handle things. This is a condition that can be altered by training.

I have a background in aerospace and presently work as an aircraft systems designer for a large company. College did little for my understanding of the flight experience. I was very timid about flying at first, stalls scared the heck out of me, but by joining the university flying club I gained an understanding of aircraft flying behavior which lent depth to my engineering studies as well. I noticed that even the best engineering students lacked a broader view of engineering than if they had taken some flight training. They could calculate well but had a poor idea how what they were calculating plays into the overall symphony of an aircraft design.

Good luck and keep us apprised what happens. Take some flying lessons!

-Cub

Not to make light of the situation, but Xanax and alcohol, you sound like a pilot already LOL. Good luck with you quest. Most if the charter companies shouldn't charge to just sit in the plane at first, so I wouldn't hesitate to call one up.

I looked into my local community college flight school and it appears as though the first two classes are: Private Pilot Lab, 2 units, at a local small airport, and then the ground school is at the college.

Do you think those two courses will enlighten me enough to be rid of my fear?

Arlene you would want to actually fly a trainer airplane with an instructor to really get anything out of it. Flight schools have a "discovery flight" to help introduce brand new pilots to the cockpit. You are taken up for 20 minutes in a Cessna 172 and get to see if you like it. It costs about $50. You may try moving the controls on this flight but are not held responsible for the success and you do not have to know anything to take it.

After that you would want to start a flight training program. There are two types of these programs- ones that are structured and run through an accredited institution, these are called Part 141. The rest are not formally structured and go under the name Part 61. The college you refer to probably offers the former which has the advantage of being more organized and predictable than the other type. The advantage of Part 61 on the other hand, is it is a go-at-your-own pace kind of thing.

If those courses include some actual flight time then yes, take them. Flight training always consists of alternating ground school and in-air flight training. You need both and it sounds like the lab course is the in-air part.

PS we like photography around here and I see you have some wonderful skills in this area- take your camera with you to the airport!

Hi Cubdriver,
the 50 $ intro flights for 20 minutes will either kill me or help me. LOL.

I bet I could find some of those around here. I did go on one Cessna Acrobatic two seater to Catalina Island once, with a pilot who did loops and stalls on the way back over the Ocean. If the headsets would have worked properly he would have had a huge headache.

I thought I should put my website info. so you all don't think I'm some Osama radical looking for something, and also I did take it down but then it wasn't quick enough and one of the other peeps noticed. So what the heck.

Ok, so far I've done the via phone for four three hour session with a licensed psychologist and that didn't help at all. And I'm getting a partial refund of 30 percent of what I paid her. 400 bucks back.

I"ve downloaded and paid for Capt. Stacey Chance's various podcasts and CD tracks and those seem to help somewhat. I like the one of the noises of takeoff and I can get used to those.

I did my first virtual reality with light hypnosis on Saturday , and supposedly after two more sessions I'll be okay to go up. I have to say I do feel good after the virtual reality therapy.

I'll let you all know how this turns out.

;)

I learned to fly because I was scared. Now I run a flight school at the Van Nuys Airport. Dealing with fear is one of our specialities. We use a process of gradual exposure, described in "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook" by Edmund Bourne. Most of what we do is in the book.

If you want to do a flight lesson, ours isn't the $50 sensational flight. I happen to like a takeoff, followed by a few gentle turns, straight and level, a few gentle turns, and a smooth landing, no matter what size of aircraft I'm flying. I can refer you to instructors at Van Nuys and Whiteman Airports that think similarly.

If you would like more information, or have a question on something you read in the book, you can PM me.

Best of luck in trying to resolve the issues.

Arlene,

First- your website is great. No doubt- you excel at what you do.

10 years ago- I started having panic attacks- for no discernable reason. I only had 10-15 of them and then they stopped on their own and haven't returned. Let me say, after these episodes, I would never minimize a panic attack or anxiety in general. They would just occur- in the middle of a sales presentation, here, there, etc.

I had one as a PAX on an aircraft as it was boarding and almost got off. I got through them by "talking myself down" and I think after I recognized the signs of one coming on I would "deal with it" and it truly minimized the impact.
Never had counseling or drugs to deal with them, thankfully.

Ironically, my life is more stressful than ever- but never an inkling anymore.

Until I read your posts I hadn't thought about them in years. But boy, I can empathize.

On another note- I'm scared of heights and ladders. Having spent 5 years as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, I had to deal with it. It was a well known fact in the firehouse and became a little bit of a running joke. Funnily enough, other crazy things we did didn't bother me at all. At the end of the day my friends kept challenging me and I kept going up the ladders. Never liked it, still don't, but did it anyway. I'd like to think the other guys gave me a little credit for it. I think if you get in an airplane, take a little control of the situation, it'll go a long way to reducing your anxiety.

I suppose this is not much help. I do hope you can conquer your fear.

Hi jedinein,
I am looking into taking some flight courses at a local college. I went over to Van Nuys airport and watched the take offs and landings. I thought the Raytheon jets looked cool, even if they were somewhat disassembled. Whats up with the jets engines being removed?

I was surprised to see some larger aircraft, there was at least one mostly Orange colored Boeing 737 or something like that. Its near the Raytheon building. I thought that might help just to sit in one and get used to it.

Also, I didn't think those larger (Boeing 757 or 737) could land at Van Nuys, I thought the runways were too short. Anyhow, it was nice to see all of the take offs and landings.

I used to wonder where all of those expensive cars getting off the 405 at Sherman Way were going, now I know. ;)

OldAg84,

Thanks for the compliments on my website and work.

I'm determined to get over this fear. I can hardly believe I have such a problem. I'm so capable and have such a disability really. If I don't get over it, I won't be able to enjoy the world and will be mainly stuck in my So Cal region, which is nice but I'd like to get out every so often and see something different.

I'm getting over it for sure. My worst case scenario is that I'm wasting all this money with these VR training, etc... and wait until Fall semester to enroll in the flight courses, and see where that takes me.