Fear of Flying and Airplane Stories?

faceman

C'mon give us ur gossip? Who has a bad fear of flying or a freaky story from a flight u can tell us?

#1. A mate of mine is a BAD flyer. Hes 26. But hes a jack the lad. That didnt stop him freaking out on a short flight to glasgow. The friendly air hostess sat down beside him and held his hand for the landing. No joke. No that wasnt a typo, hes 26!!

#2. A guy who works with me asked me for 6 weeks off next year for his hols. I asked him if he was going travelling or something. He said he is going to new york with his wife for 2 weeks but is sailing over and back cos he is scared sh1tless of flying!!

TerrorFirmer

I haven't really had any bad stories but I fcuking hate aeroplanes. I've flown on loads and loads of flights to Europe and Africa over the years and every moment I'm thinking about what could happen. And yes, I know by using logic the chances are extremely slim but god I hate them.

Now that I'm eighteen I told my parents no more planes, and instead of going on a free holiday to Morroco this year I just stayed at home. And I was damn happy with it, just knowing I wouldn't have to get on a plane.

I HATE PLANES!!!!

faceman

I used to hate flying but ive flown so much now i dont care anymore. I was on a plane once where a dude locked himself in the jax during landing and the air hostess had to force the door open. Ur man walked out with his cax around his ankles! Lets just say he wasnt doing a number 1 or number 2...

kelle

After being around the world on countless number of flights, I've developed a fear of flying. If I feel turbulence I start to panic. But I still feel a holiday is not a holiday without a flight involved, so I put myself through the agony year after year. Admittedly, I had a better time in Milton Malbay than in Lanzarote this year.
Going to Gran canaria in January and dreading it!

Endurance Man

I actaully enjoy flying, well more the taking off and landing part, probably because of the speed. The only part i dont enjoy is sitting on those cramped seats, luckily my uncle works for airways so i usually get a cheecky bump up .

kelle

faceman wrote:

I used to hate flying but ive flown so much now i dont care anymore. I was on a plane once where a dude locked himself in the jax during landing and the air hostess had to force the door open. Ur man walked out with his cax around his ankles! Lets just say he wasnt doing a number 1 or number 2...

Hee-hee-hee!

Royale with Cheese

There was once a man with a fear of flying. He boarded a flight. The plane didn't crash. The end. Sorry Alanis Morisette but that is how the story actually goes.

Sorry to offend anybody but I have very low opinions of people whose fear of flying would stop them from boarding a plane or booking a holiday. Everyone knows what the chances of their plane crashing are. Extremely slim. I can't help but think people (sometimes even great people like Dennis Bergkamp) who won't fly are just victims of sensationalism in the media.

faceman

Dr J wrote:

There was once a man with a fear of flying. He boarded a flight. The plane didn't crash. The end.

Sorry to offend anybody but I have very low opinions of people whose fear of flying would stop them from boarding a plane or booking a holiday. Everyone knows what the chances of their plane crashing are. Extremely slim. I can't help but think people (sometimes even great people like Dennis Bergkamp) who won't fly are just victims of sensationalism in the media.

so why the low opinion? Have u any phobias?

Royale with Cheese

faceman wrote:

so why the low opinion? Have u any phobias?

I have no major phobias that I know of. The low opinion because they are letting themselves be afraid of something that is not dangerous to the point of it actually affecting their life (how many people do you know in today's society that have never flown? It's a part of life now). I don't have a problem with nervous flyers or people who sh*t themselves on a plane. If you're afraid of it (although you shouldn't be) I guess you can't help it. It should never influence your decision as to whether you'll book a flight or not.

Funkstard

I absolutely love flying. I've been on many a flight, but everytime I board the plane I feel like I did when I was 11 going to Florida, I've never been so excited in my life. Everything about flying, the takeoff/landing, the hustle and bustle of the airport, the movies, the food, the views from the window.......it's something that's never worn off.

My worst experience was when flying to Shannon this year before going onwards to Boston. The wind was so bad we came in to land twice and had to go back up because it was too strong. The turbulance was something else - it was the first time I felt properly scared on a flight, there was several times where the plane just dropped and my heart was in my mouth. Along with that, half the plane got airsick and the smell was absolutely repugnant. I had to mash my pillow in my face to get rid of the smell.

Those sudden drops are what gets to me.....coming back from New York I was asleep, and I woke up to the plane dropping in the air for a good 3 seconds. That's a damn long time for something like that to be happening. For those 3 seconds the plane might as well have been nosediving into the sea. Scary stuff.

However it hasn't put me off, and I absolutely cannot wait for the flight to Melbourne in January!

Dr J wrote:

I have no major phobias that I know of. The low opinion because they are letting themselves be afraid of something that is not dangerous to the point of it actually affecting their life (how many people do you know in today's society that have never flown? It's a part of life now). I don't have a problem with nervous flyers or people who sh*t themselves on a plane. If you're afraid of it (although you shouldn't be) I guess you can't help it. It should never influence your decision as to whether you'll book a flight or not.

It's called an irrational fear for a reason....there is no logic to it, just that people can have huge phobias of the most inane things. You can't understand it if you don't have a phobia for something

faceman

Funkstard wrote:

I
For those 3 seconds the plane might as well have been nosediving into the sea. Scary stuff.

Interestingly enuff, u have less chance of surviving the crash impact if a plane was to crash into the sea instead of land. Or so they tell the cabin crew in training!

Funkstard

Really? The fact that it's water and not solid land makes absolutely no different when something that big hits it going that fast, so I presume it's because of the fact that people will drown in the sea that makes it more dangerous?

Royale with Cheese

Funkstard wrote:

It's called an irrational fear for a reason....there is no logic to it, just that people can have huge phobias of the most inane things. You can't understand it if you don't have a phobia for something

Yes I have known people who will freak out at the sight of a banana... however just one. How many people have a fear of flying or are nervous flyers? Could it be something to do with the intense media coverage any plane crash gets? I mean there are tv shows on sky about different plane crashes through the years.

Funkstard

No, it's the fact that you have absolutely no control as to what happens at that height, and that if it does, you're pretty much guaranteed to die. You're both useless and powerless to do anything once the plane leaves the ground

Sizzler

I have to say I wud fly around the world in the pelt before Id get on a boat, rather crash into the ground then drown!

lazylad

I love planes. I would love to learn how to fly. Never been frightened of flying. I love the speed of takeoff,
I used to collect the matchbox planes. I have about 10 different planes collected. Have had them for 10 years in good condition. £4 each they used to be, I had to beg to get them.

SpAcEd OuT

Flying to Portugal the turbulance was so bad some overheads even opened and bags fell out everyone on the plane was freaked then the lights all went off and the plane dropped for at least 4 or 5 seconds....scariest moments of my life,all the kids screaming didnt help either,some kids even cried for the whole journey it was a nightmare.

seamus

Funkstard wrote:

No, it's the fact that you have absolutely no control as to what happens at that height, and that if it does, you're pretty much guaranteed to die. You're both useless and powerless to do anything once the plane leaves the ground

Seriously, you're statistically more likely to die in the taxi journey home on the M50. And at that speed you have absolutely no control as to what happens, and you're pretty much guaranteed to die.

Much like Dr J, I can't understand anyone being so mortally afraid of something so mundane that they would allow it to affect their life to the point of spending 12 extra days travelling just to avoid it. Sure, I get a quick jump of the old ticker when the plane does a bumpy or windy landing, but who doesn't?

Pigman II

I'm not scared of flying but I am scared of a plane crashing into my home whilst I'm sitting here scratching my balls and watching tv. Great fun when you live within earshot of the Dublin flightpaths as I currently do then.

Anyway, my question is, is there any webpages around that describe what its (probably) like to die in an aeroplane crash as I'd nearly feel happier knowing than just dropping out of the sky unprepared for my fate? It seems to be almost a taboo subject as far as I can tell.

I detest flying but I wouldn't say I'm scared of it. I just find it really unpleasant. I have sinus problems and I always end up with an unbearable splitting headache, blocked ears to the point of being almost deaf etc. It just makes me feel awful, every single time. I hate the awful dry air and the way you can't sleep, or if you manage to you wake up with a sawdust mouth. I hate being crammed into a tiny space with no space to move my legs and not being able to walk around. I hate when people recline their seat back into your face, especially when you're eating. I just don't understand how anyone can enjoy flying. I put up with it but only just. I had a 8 hour flight to New York once which was hell. It was just so boring and went on and on.

And, there have been a good few plane crashes recently, enough to make me a bit more wary. Its unlikely to happen but there's still that chance.

galwaydude

i dont mind flying that much myself, different story for my gf though, she dreads flying so flying home to the states for her is hell and even worse for me. Nothing worse than having a nervous flyer beside you.

The General

Whats an airplane?

jezza

Well to be honest guys.. Ye're all going to die sometime. Big Deal if its on a plane.

byte

I detest flying. I'll still board planes, etc, but I'm glad to be on hard ground again! The less Ive to fly the better!

Umiq88

you havent experienced turbulence unless you've been on your friends dads 15 year old 2 seater which he restored himself

great fun though loved it stalled the engine (on purpose) and let it glide a bit thats scary alright and a couple of sharp turns but its all good

must say i love the rush of speed you get still get a bit jumpy when the plane drops a bit or turns sharply but thats naturel everyone gets it

turbot

If you have a phobia and you want to get rid of it, PM me and I'll discuss the details. I've extensively studied various advanced techniques in hypnosis and NLP, so if you have a phobia or you know someone who does, in 90% of cases I can eliminate it very quickly.

- Thomas

Binomate

I love flying. It's the safest mode of transport there is. The only bad experiences I've had was when landing at an airport in France, a cross wind lifted the right wing up and the plane nearly went sideways. Had to circle around and land on a different runway so that we could land into the wind.
My old man had a near miss with a plane who's pilot decided to taxi onto the runway as they were just about to land. The pilot apparently had to go full throtle and perfore some emergency evasion procedure. They circled round and landed again.

BobTheBeat

Im a bit of a flying scaredy cat, but it has only reared its evil little head in the past year.
Any kind of altitude drop,and i am very nearly in bits..eyes closed and grabbing the seat and everything....., im told its hilarious to witness. Also, if I cant see out the window due to cloud cover, i get really panicky.

Mate of mine travelled to Cancun on an airoflot (russian airline) charter good few years ago and is still marred by the experience. Inside the plane was kitted out very badly, seats were in sh*t, carpets torn on the aisle and a really really sickening smell of kerosene (plane petrol!) When they were passing over from the colder parts of the atmosphere to the warmer parts, the pilot announces not to be alarmed if the cabin should fill with 'smoke'. Couple of minutes later, the whole plane is filled with a thick fog and everyone starts freaking out.

But aside from all that, id never be scared enough NOT to get on a plane. The promise of a holiday is enough to get me through it all!

Royale with Cheese

bobmeaney wrote:

Mate of mine travelled to Cancun on an airoflot (russian airline) charter good few years ago and is still marred by the experience. Inside the plane was kitted out very badly, seats were in sh*t, carpets torn on the aisle and a really really sickening smell of kerosene (plane petrol!) When they were passing over from the colder parts of the atmosphere to the warmer parts, the pilot announces not to be alarmed if the cabin should fill with 'smoke'. Couple of minutes later, the whole plane is filled with a thick fog and everyone starts freaking out.

Aeroflot have by far and away the worst safety record of any airline in the world. It's gotten alot better in the past 15 years but before that if you look through the accident databases you will come across one aeroflot accident every other year. Dodgy alright.

Willymuncher

Only had one bad experience while flying, wasn't a huge deal, I was coming back from Spain, and it was the first time I had flown in years, when all of a sudden the plane started to drop for a few seconds, people started to scream...and a guy beside me was saying his prayers, that made me very very nervous. I've flown a few times since then over longer distances...one of which was dodgy, but when you educate yourself on why certain things happen, it relaxes you a lot......I found my last flight to be very enjoyable because I knew that every little drop or bump wasn't a big deal.

Dave!

Dr J wrote:

Could it be something to do with the intense media coverage any plane crash gets?

I'd say it might also be something to do with it being a 200 tonne mass of metal, travelling 600 miles per hour, 30,000 feet in the air (and you have no control over it)... It doesn't seem natural.