Ok aviophobes...

[Bennett.]

Yeah it has been said, but focussing on the numbers might help. Try to find out how many planes are in the sky at any one time, how many take off and land each day of the year, etc - and you will see that your flight is just another one of those.

When on the plane, if it shakes or you hear a funny noise, just think of the last time you landed, or of all the planes that land every minute of the day throughout the world without a problem.

Finally, anxiety/stress is often also a product of what you have control over and whether you have done all you can - think of studying for an exam. In a flight, once on board you have no control. Nothing you do can change the odds of a crash so sit back and relax. In the super unlikely event of a catastrophe what could you have done about it anyway? Worrying cannot help here like it can in other situations.

Decent advice. Cheers

 

[JuddsABlue]

all you need to do is look back and reflect on the impeccable safety standards and lack of major accidents in the airline industry and you'll be assured that flying is safe as ever

 

[JuddsABlue]

I mean its so rare for planes to go down midflight anyway, you could consider your thoughts insane

I cant even think of the last one that went down midflight, probably hasnt even been one this month

 

[MrCharisma]

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

Then you'll know that there needs to be a series of issues that causes a plane to crash.
You're really got nothing to worry about.

But if you're that anxious about flying, I'd go and speak to a doctor about it and they might be able to prescribe something for you.

This doesn't make it better!

 

[radiojake]

Valium


edit: damn, beaten to it -

Should have read the 2nd page before posting..

 

[HBF]

This doesn't make it better!

Different strokes for different folks.
I've never been a nervous flyer, but watching Air Crash has really made me aware not a single issue brings a plane down.

 

[True__Believer]

Different strokes for different folks.
I've never been a nervous flyer, but watching Air Crash has really made me aware not a single issue brings a plane down.

Actually shows like that make you appreciate just how unlikely it is for a plane to crash. Another positive is that lessons are learnt from each incident in order to stop them from happening again.

 

[Bennett.]

Different strokes for different folks.
I've never been a nervous flyer, but watching Air Crash has really made me aware not a single issue brings a plane down.

40c worth of gaffe tape blocked a static port and brought a plane down...

 

[Bennett.]

Actually shows like that make you appreciate just how unlikely it is for a plane to crash. Another positive is that lessons are learnt from each incident in order to stop them from happening again.

The one that really really scares me is the Alaska airline one. Incorrect jack screw in vertical stabiliser...

 

[True__Believer]

The one that really really scares me is the Alaska airline one. Incorrect jack screw in vertical stabiliser...

This recent Taiwan one scares me more....three pilots with over 28,000 hours flight experience in the cockpit and they shut off the wrong engine. What makes it worse is that they did not even need to switch the engine off at that point. I mean seriously wtf.

 

[Teriyakicat]

40c worth of gaffe tape blocked a static port and brought a plane down...

The one that really really scares me is the Alaska airline one. Incorrect jack screw in vertical stabiliser...

FFS! Stop watching TV!!!
Good luck.
My bro used to have a few stiff drinks as he was shit scared of flying (probably explains why he didn't go back to Melb very often after landing in WA- but I digress...)
As mentioned by others earlier- just be careful of not mixing meds and alcohol and also don't over do it or the airline staff will kick you off and you'll have to go through all your preparations again.

 

[bkozican]

Sleeping tablets

 

[Bennett.]

This recent Taiwan one scares me more....three pilots with over 28,000 hours flight experience in the cockpit and they shut off the wrong engine. What makes it worse is that they did not even need to switch the engine off at that point. I mean seriously wtf.

Yeah, but I'm never getting in an ATR!

 

[billywhizz]

Get on the plane with a MASSIVE hangover.

Worst case scenario: Your flight lands safely.

 

[True__Believer]

Yeah, but I'm never getting in an ATR!

It matters not. The exact thing could have happened on any twin engine commercial plane. Don't let the propellers fool you, they are both combustion engines.

 

[Simple Jack]

This recent Taiwan one scares me more....three pilots with over 28,000 hours flight experience in the cockpit and they shut off the wrong engine. What makes it worse is that they did not even need to switch the engine off at that point. I mean seriously wtf.

Don't get too concerned with this 'hours' thing. There's hours, then there's hours.

The RAAF (and probably RAF, USAF etc) put guys into fast jets with a few hundred hours of proper training quite successfully.

On the other side of the coin:
I saw an accident report from an incident(RPT 737) where the 27 year old captain had about 4900 hours with 4750 on type, presumably all with the training/checking systems of a LCC. Just think about that one.