Nervous about flying?

grannypauline Yes, I agree they do need traction but there's hard and then there's back pain the following day hard ?. Was by the window & think we must have bounced back up a good 20ft before coming back down again only slightly more gently! Probably the worst landing I've known in years of flying so was probably a newly qualified pilot but as I said, everyone was able to walk away so all's well. It won't put me off my frequent trips around Europe. Always on the lookout for a cheap fare to anywhere warmer than the UK!

A slight off-tangent response but, has anyone done a balloon flight? Now, coming down in one of those is a controlled crash! I have done 2, the first I was absolutely terrified taking off, then got over my fear of heights a bit, enough to stick my nose over the top of the basket. Well, from thereon, I was hooked! The feeling of serenity as we sailed over countryside (no engine noise) was unsurpassable. The landing was, I admit, a bit rough (basket tipped over on its side on landing), but I enjoyed it so much I grabbed the opportunity to do another flight, and would do it again, if finances and opportunity come together again.

Not landings but I heard a former pilot say
“in the event of an evacuation the captain is the last to leave the ship. If he passes you on the way out you may assume the rank of captain.”
He, I recall, didn’t have a high opinion of parachuting as a sport as “ no one should abandon a viable aircraft “
There seems much sense in these thoughts better than the air Traffic Controller I know who lamented how much easier his job would be without the ** pilots!

My son-in-law, who trained as a pilot in the RAF, always says "any landing you can walk away from is good landing".

I'm like many of you. I don't mind flying but I hate the time I have to spend in airports both before take off and on landing. 4 times for a few days in a different place. No thanks I don't like holidays that much.

I agree with some of the other posters. I don't dislike the actual flying, I just hate the length of time it now takes to actually get on board. I know it has to be done for our safety, but oh what a rigmarole it is.

My auntie, uncle and young cousin were killed in a Comet plane crash a long time ago and that spooked my family. It has taken some time but I am now very happy flying.

I can recommend a book called Bluff Your Way On The Flight Deck (newer version Bluffers Guide To The Flight Deck) where it explains that planes have to make a slightly hard landing as the wheels have to have enough traction to stop the plane in a short distance and also overcome the effects of a sidewind, if there is one. It also mentions that the main thing on a pilot's mind as she/he is taking off is whether the cup of coffee the cabin staff have just brought in will stay upright or spill all over their natty uniform!

I love airports. There's usually lots to see and do in a large one. Some, like St Louis (Spirit Of) have big exhibitions and they all have posters, information, and adverts. The shops stock slightly different items from the high streets - not that I have any room as I travel light. I recently tried (without buying) noise cancelling headphones and a very posh headrest!

Small airports let you get up close and personal to the taxiying, take offs and landings. The aircraft have different logos on their tails which they obviously paid some marketing company thousands for!

i want to go and see my penpal in the seychelles my brother will lend me the air ticket money. thing is i havent flown for 10 years due to health problems,and fear of being shut in .like toilets...am very nervous about flying. can i get something to calm me down apart from air sickness tablets.i have IBS TOO AND BACK PAIN..

I don't have a problem with someone recommending something they have enjoyed, surely that is just healthy discussion?
Actually I have heard the David Gunson talk, and it is absolutely hilarious, will switch it on in the car if I need cheering up. He was a Concorde pilot as well as an Air Traffic Controller. You can listen to it here www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KbUNzi58wM but make sure you are not close to a sleeping baby grandchild, because you will laugh out loud. Not really sure that it provides reassurance for nervous flyers though!

I have no fear of flying and love the take off and landing. Like everyone else, I loathe airports. However my real problem is a phobia about anyone being sick. If I fly I have to sit in the window seat where there are only 2 seats rather than the usual 3, with my husband beside me. I couldn't sit next to a stranger in case they felt ill. Pathetic I know but this has been the bane of my life and kept me from doing so many things.

Flying isn't a problem for us, it's airports that puts us off.

Those little retail opportunities are getting overwhelming.

Not to mention the queues for security checks ...

Love Eurostar, either taking the car or just going on the train.

The Air Traffic Controller's after dinner speech is funny but like so many things it's now a bit dated.

Don't mind flying but has to be business these days. I hate the early morning drinking at airports especially having to get on an easyJet with queues for the loo up the aisle as soon as the seatbelt sign is turned off. I've been on some awful flights in china but so far I've lived to tell the tale.

Don't mind flying at all. Even my latest landing which was not great didn't put me off. It was very windy and we sort of dropped out of the sky, landed with a huge thud, bounced and then landed again. All safe & sound so quite reassuring really that the pilot can deal with that sort of thing! As for airports, I only ever do hand baggage even for a longer holiday (everyone packs far too much & it's easy to wash a few things by hand) , so can whizz through from front doors to boarding gate in an hour or less. Even have time to buy my sunscreen in the airside shop & sometimes fit in a drink at the bar too! Happy days ☺

I hate flying - I think it relates to my lifelong hopeless balance. It makes me feel awful.

By the way, you can look at the statistics in several ways: fatalities per mile travelled for instance - or fatalities per accident. The latter figures do not look quite so rosy!!!

Can't stand airports but never been nervous of flying.In fact I always get a 'wow' on a 747 take off when it goes into that surge before airborne.. I recall once asking cabin crew ''can we do that again'.?

Glad I’m not flying anywhere in the near future after reading that!?

I have to fly to get to the UK, not many other options really, I love flying, and love the time at the Airport spent people watching, not as keen at the security check, it takes such a lot of time, but its for our safety, its just to accept it.

LOVE flying! I enjoy the most dangerous parts, take-off especially; that sensation of leaving your tummy on the ground is my absolute favourite.
Loathe the airport "experiences", but... if it gets you to your destination quickly, fly on, I say!

I agree with MOnica- I can't bear getting through airports and not having a car means even getting to an airport is more expensive and time consuming than the darn flight! I take trains now and even took a bus (coach) to Poland last year! I am in no rush and love to read so I am keeping my feet on the ground! I only fly to the States and if I could afford to sail I would!

I don't have any fear of flying - but like MOnica I detest the hanging about in airports and the complete waste of hours of time. The so called air in the cabins is also pretty grim - we always feel as if we are inhaling a sort of germy soup. Europe is far better since Eurostar, and we too have gone by night train to Italy. Not the most luxurious form of travel but the beds were large, comfortable and clean and we travelled overnight so no holiday time lost at all.

I agree MOnica, airports are horrible. I have yet to try continental train travel but it's on my wish list.

This is just advertising and wholly inappropriate.

I am not bothered by the flying. What I loathe are airports and avoid flying because the start and finish of every journey is so unpleasant.

I have taken to travelling by train and, so far, have been to Switzerland and Spain that way. You see so much more of the country that way, have more space, and can move around, not to mention being able to take knitting needles, scissors and large bottles of drink (bought at local supermarket prices) with you

It's not the worry of crashing it's the hatred of being up there. And despite other telling me it's just like being on a bus, it isn't because if it was I would have got off. Cruises and coach holidays only for me.

"All landings are controlled-crashes" - well that has gone no way at all to change my hatred of flying!!!