Ask Me Anything
As a nervous flyer you may have many questions related to air travel, and the aviation industry. Whether it be related to take-off, landing, turbulence, noises you have heard…..etc etc.
This is where you can ask me any question you want, and I will answer it for you. Simply post your questions below, and I will answer within 24 hours.
- How Safe is Flying? Detailed Statistics - Everybody tells you that flying is statistically safer than almost any other mode of transport. But is this true? YES IT IS! As proof, here are a few... More →
- Fear of Flying: Turbulence - Many nervous flyers will be scared of turbulence. But, truth be told, turbulence is nothing to worry about. In fact, turbulence is a mere annoyance... More →
- Fear of Flying in Bad Weather: Rain - There are two reasons why I have written this article. Firstly, a reader who completed the fear of flying survey suggested it and secondly, a... More →
- Fear of Flying in Bad Weather: Lightning - Welcome to the first of this series of articles discussing a fear of flying in bad weather. First up, thunderstorms - and more specifically,... More →
- Dealing With Turbulence Anxiety - When there is anxiety about the uncertain outcome of some event, we naturally seek some means of control, so that the matter works out to our... More →
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your site, I will comb through the pages in hopes of getting over my fear. But my fear is a little different and I wanted to know if you have ever experienced this with any of your collegues. The thing is I am an Ex Flight Attendant – Ex because 4 years ago I walked off a flight after suffering from tremendouse aniexty and have never been able to fly (for the purpose of work) since. I have travelled maybe 4 times since then and it was the most HORRIBLE feeling.
It would be so easy to just get a desk job and forget about it, but the problem is I MISS MY JOB MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD! There is nothing else I can see myself doing. Have you ever seen anything like this? A flight attendant who fears flying… I am so embarassed because all I hear from friends and family is ‘are you still a flight attendant?’ or ‘why dont you fly anymore…..’. I look at all of the friends I left behind, only to see all of thier layover photos and just want to cry! To make matters worse, my younger sister was just hired as a flight attendant!
Can I get over this you think???
Regards
SM
Hi SM,
Sorry to hear of your anxiety and how it has affected your career. Personally, I have not experienced this with any of my colleagues. BUT, anxiety can affect anyone – even those, such as yourself, ‘in the know’.
Despite knowing how safe flying is, your anxiety is taking control of you. Can you overcome it? Yes. But, you have to overcome it BEFORE working as a Flight Attendant again. You know as well as I do that passengers look to us for support in times of anxiety, and any sign that you are not 100% comfortable will only increase their uneasiness.
I highly recommend the SOAR Course for overcoming your anxiety. The longer you let this continue, the harder it will be. Remember, YOU CAN OVERCOME THIS.
Hi!
First of all, your website is great! I stumbled across it tonight as I was trying to find anything that may help calm my fear of flying before my flight across the country in a week and a half. I used to love flying. It put a smile on my face when we’d take off, which I think was because the thought of being so far in the air was really exciting to me. However, on a flight about a year and a half ago, we hit slight turbulence on both my original and returning flight. When the pilot told the attendants to sit down, it really shook me. Since then, I’ve refused to fly. But now that I’ve got a brand new nephew on the other side of the US, I know I have to get over my thoughts and fears.
Just reading your entries has eased my fear a good bit. I don’t think my fear is extreme, but at the same time, I have additional questions that until I have answers, I think I’ll still fear flying anywhere. All of my questions are about turbulence, and I’m sure have easy answers.
First question: People always tell me that when the plane hits turbulence, the pilot will try to avoid it by dropping the plane, and this is what I feel when it seems like I’m dropping many feet. Is this true? I know you mention that pilots try to avoid it, but do they do so in such a way that passengers can really feel the movement? Or is what I’m really feeling the small bumps of turbulence that you talk about?
My second question: I’ve never experienced bad turbulence (a small amount was enough to scare me). Why does the length of time of turbulence vary? If pilots try to avoid it, why have some people experienced turbulence for long periods of time? If it continues for a long period of time does that mean that there is no better altitude to fly at to get out of it?
My next question: Is turbulence caused by weather (like a storm system) more serious than open air turbulence? The turbulence I’ve been in was while we flew through dark clouds, and not only did I worry about the turbulence, but I was also worried that the plane would get struck by lightning. Does that ever happen?
My last question is: Where is the best place to sit on a plane to minimize how much turbulence you feel? That may be a dumb question since the whole plane moves, but I’ve heard in certain sections of the plane, you don’t feel turbulence as much. If so, I’d love to be in that area during my flight.
)
I appreciate any response that you can give. Being in your position, I feel like what you say is more factual and calming than the people (like my family/friends/boyfriend) who tell me everything will be ok.
Thanks and have a great day!
Lauren
Hi Lauren,
Turbulence is a big fear for many people, but truthfully, it really shouldn’t be. I always tell those that don’t like it to compare air to water. When on a boat, you do not fear movement, because you can see the water you are floating on. When on a plane, you fear movement simply due to the fact you cannot physically see the air surrounding you. Imagine air as thousands of rivers flowing in different directions, and it becomes easier to understand turbulence.
Let’s answer your specific questions…..
Question 1: Movement during turbulence
Yes, pilots can sometimes change altitude to avoid turbulence but this is not what you feel. The movement you feel is the effect of turbulence on the aircraft itself. However, the plane barely moves more than a few inches in either direction (up, down, left, or right) – despite the fact it feels so much more.
As I mentioned, a pilot can increase OR decrease altitude to try and find ‘clearer’ air. Yes, you may feel this, but they will not continuously change altitude and it will be a gradual change – not sudden movement. You may also notice the aircraft slow down as this helps minimise the bumpy sensation. Just like when you drive fast over a speed bump, an aircraft will move around more the faster it is travelling. So, if a pilot cannot find any clear air, he/she may request to slow down to make the ride more comfortable.
Any change in altitude or speed is cleared with Air-Traffic Control before action is taken.
Question 2: Length of Turbulent Conditions
Turbulence can occur anywhere, however it is more common in some areas than others. Locations are dependant on weather fronts, jetstreams and various other factors. Therefore, there is no set ‘size’ of a turbulent area. It can last for 5 seconds, or 5 hours.
As I’ve already mentioned, pilots will always actively try and minimise turbulence in order to give you the most comfortable journey possible. Sometimes though, it’s simply not possible to avoid it. Turbulence is a completely natural occurence. It has always been around, and always will be.
Also, Air-Traffic Control may not allow a pilot to increase or decrease altitude due to other traffic in the area. Don’t forget that they are in overall control of the skies and pilots will always follow their instructions without deviation.
Question 3: Storms
Pilots will always avoid severe storms as they can produce severe turbulence which would likely cause injury to passengers onboard. These storms appear on radar and can always be avoided – depending on severity/intensity.
Flying through stormy clouds though, is a completely normal occurence. Yes, the clouds may cause some turbulence but it is completely safe and no different from that experienced whilst in clear air.
Yes, planes do get struck by lightning regularly but they are designed to withsatnd this. You can read more about this by clicking here. It’s an article I wrote a while ago on flying in lightning storms, and I even show you a video of a plane that is struck and continues flying as though nothing has happened.
Question 4: Where to Sit
It’s not a dumb question as you are correct in saying some areas of the aircraft experience more movement in the event of turbulence. Anywhere near or over the wings is the best place to sit. The worst place to sit during turbulence is near the back of the aircraft as the tail moves more than any other part.
In Summary
Turbulence is NOT dangerous, but can be uncomfortable. At no time is the aircraft in danger as it is built to withstand more than it will ever encounter. Pilots do not have to fight to control the plane in turbulent conditions, in fact, the autopilot handles it perfectly by itself.
Always remember that the plane is not moving anywhere near as much as it feels like it is. When the pilots put the seatbelt signs on and/or ask the Flight Attendants to sit down they are only doing so to ensure nobody injures themselves by falling over. We have a duty to keep you safe and unharmed, and therefore we make sure you use your seatbelt FOR YOUR SAFETY.
I promise you that your family, friends, and boyfriend are correct when they tell you everything will be ok – but I hope hearing me say it helps you! I operate on average 40 flights a month, and at no time do I ever feel as though I am not safe.
Enjoy your flight, and feel free to contact me if you have any other questions……
I flew to Portugal several years ago and we hit an “air pocket” this caused the plane to drop. I asked a gentleman beside me who said he was an RAF pilot back in the war and he says it seemed to be about 1000ft that we dropped. I am terrified of flying, i know its irrational. I have spoken to pilots and i know the logistics of flight and how safe it is, but i am due to fly to India in 2 weeks and i know ill be a wreck. Can the plane fall out of the sky with turbulence? this may be one of the stupidest questions you have ever been asked! your site is very helpful. thankyou .
Hi Jacki,
Sorry for the late reply…..hope it’s not too late!
Firstly, ‘Air Pockets’ do not exist. There are no holes in the air, it’s scientifically impossible. There are varying air pressures though, and this can lead to turbulence. One thing is certain, there is ALWAYS air surrounding us.
This gentleman may have been a pilot, but if so, not a very good one! There is absolutely NO WAY the plane dropped 1000ft and I can tell you that with complete confidence despite the fact I was not there. It just does not happen, EVER.
So, on to your question; NO, the plane cannot just drop out the sky in turbulence. It is not a stupid question and you are not the first, and will not be the last, to ask it. Turbulence is an annoyance. It can be uncomfortable in some cases, but it is not dangerous. Simply stay in your seat, and fasten your seatbelt and you are 100% safe – that’s a promise.
Hello,
Thank you so much for this website. It has been so much more helpful than the other ones I have looked at.
I have a problem where I am afraid of basically EVERYTHING about airplanes(almost all the things listed on the homepage). The problem is that, I live overseas and therefore have to fly all the time. My fear wasn’t this bad until a couple years ago when my family and I flew over a snow storm and hit the worst turbulence I have ever experienced and an air pocket. Since then, my fear has escalated and I cannot go on a flight (even short ones) without having severe nervous breakdowns at least 2 weeks beforehand.
This week, I have to go on a trans-atlantic flight, and I was wondering if they are safer than most flights? I know you have said multiple times that turbulence are normal, but I can’t seem to shake the terror I feel every single time I hit them.
Thank you again for your sight!
-M.G
Hi M.G,
Turbulence is not dangerous, and air pockets do not exist. There is no area that is without air, but air pressure does change which can lead to turbulence.
With regards to your trans-atlantic flight, there are stringent regulations regarding which aircraft can be used on these routes due to the length of time spent over the ocean.
I recommend you check out The Take-Off Today Program for more help regarding controlling your fear.
Hi, Kevin
I love your site. It is very helpful. Now I feel much better about the flight I will take next week. It will be from Beijing to Fort Lauderdale, which lasts for more than 20 hours including the time spent at at airport.
I have a question here. Sometimes, especially during take-off and landing, the airplanes are surrounded by thick cloud. Is it possible that two planes hit to each other because of the poor view condition?
Thank you so much.
Apologies for taking so long to reply. I’m glad the website has helped you in some way.
With regards to your question, thick cloud is irrelevant. During take-off and landing Air-Traffic Control are in charge of aircraft separation, and keeping safe distances between arriving and departing flights.
Further to this, each aircraft has radar that detects all other planes in the area. All modern commercial aircraft are fitted with TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) that warns pilots if they are on a collision course with another flight. It then takes evasive action on behalf of the pilot by automatically sending one aircraft upwards, whilst moving the other down. Modern technology on aircraft is simply amazing, and makes flying safer than ever before.
Just remember, pilots do not need to see to know where they are going as radar and Air-Traffic Control shows/tells them.
Hi,
First of all I am a general aviation pilot so I know how safe flying really is. I am completely comfortable flying and being in GA planes but when I get on a commercial plane I get really anxious. About 4 years ago I was on a flight from Chicago to Phoenix and had an anxiety attack. Ever since then,every time I have to get on a commercial plane I feel like it might happen again. I am going to Italy in 4 days from Az and I am so anxious that I can’t even think straight. I guess my biggest fear is having to fly overseas. What if the plane has an engine failure or something like that, what is the procedure taken if you’re in the middle of the ocean? What can I do to get over this fear? I don’t want to miss out on great opportunities to see the world. Help!
Hi there,
So, my wife has a genuine fear of flying for a reason to which very few people in the world can relate. She and her entire immediate family were supposed to be on Alaska Flight 261 on January 31, 2000, on it’s fateful flight.
They all missed their flight by 15 minutes because when they took their rental car back in Puerta Vallarta, the rental agency claimed they damaged the car. They argued for an hour, and by the time they rushed to the airport and got through security, they had barely missed their flight.
As you can imagine, the thought of flying alone is very difficult for her. When we fly, it is hard before we go for several days, and then it is hard on vacation because she is thinking about flying back when we’ve already flown one way. Also, she doesn’t want to fly internationally because it is too difficult.
To top it off, our last flight out of Palm Desert was particularly traumatic. We had so much turbulence that people on board were screaming and grabbing the seats in front of them as we all watched the wings outside our windows flexing like a birds’ wings.
We both want to travel and it just simply scares her. Can you give any advice?
Thanks,
Josh
Hi! This site is incredible, thank you so much! I do have a question for you as it relates to turbulence. I understand why it happens, how it happens, etc. I also know it is not unsafe. However, I dont like it. My real problem is this: I am fine if the plane is bumpy so long as I can see out and have a point of reference–like other clouds, the land below, etc. However, when the plane is stuck in a cloud of turbulence or it’s pitch black out and i cant see anything with no frame of reference, I freak. I mean completely panic. It’s really because it makes me motion sick and I hate nothing more than being naseous. I even take dramomine as a precaution but I still freak. So, my question is, in an effort to avoid motion sick, where should I look or concentrate when we are stuck on a shakey plane with no point of reference?? I am due to fly every week this summer for work and it’s a shame because I love to travel but have extreme anxiety of flying because im scared of the bumps and hate the sick feeling it creates. please help!
Hello,
First of all, thank you for your website. It is so helpful to me as a fearful flyer, and has eased some of my fears a bit.
I think I contacted you on a different email, but I didn’t get to explain myself fully. I am sure that most, if not all, of my fears about flying are irrational. However, I still have them and people telling me they are irrational does not help me, because I already know that, and it doesn’t make them go away.
I am actually in the middle of a trip right now. I have flown many times in my life, and I became fearful in my teenage years. I cannot pinpoint a certain time that I became scared, there was no significant event. The last time I flew was three years ago. Then, 2 days ago, I got on a plane to go on a vacation with a friend. I was scared, I had been scared since I booked the flight. However, I told myself I would be fine. I ran all the rational thoughts “people fly all the time” “It’s safer than driving” through my head, but it doesn’t help! As it turned out, the ride was awful. We dealt with some turbulence, and I was absolutely white-knuckled. My palms were so sweaty I couldn’t grip the seat, my breathing was out of control; I felt terrified! Worse yet, we had to connect, so I had to experience the whole thing all over again…we didn’t even have time to rest between flights, we got off one and directly on to another. By the end of it, I was absolutely physically and emotionally drained. I can’t deal with that again on the way back home.
Basically, I’m afraid of a few things. I’m afraid that SOMETHING mechanical is going to go wrong with the plane in-flight, or during take-off, whether it’s human or computer error. I don’t know what- a wing falling off, a fire, some type of failure that would cause the plane to “break”, everything would just shut down and we would go down. I don’t like turbulence, and I was very afraid of it on this recent flight, but your tips have soothed me somewhat, so at least I know it is normal and not something that is causing the plane distress. I am afraid of flying through bad weather though- I feel as though we will just be tossed about and blown around! I do feel sometimes as though the plane is just going to “fall out of the air”, even though I have now learned that that isn’t possible. I am mostly afraid that some error is going to be made and we are going to go down, or that the weather is going to affect the plane negatively and that will cause a crash.
I know that is a lot, and I appreciate ANYTHING you have to say! THANK YOU!
Hi Kevin!
Your website is excellent, thanks for it! I’ve been suffering form fear of flying for a number of years, and although I am regularly flying, I still can’t manage to be relaxed with the idea of boarding an aircraft. My fear is not ncecessarily linked to the idea of flying itself, but rather I can’t trust the industry. Although I know they are supposed to comply with strict regulations from the CAA, that doesn’t help. I can’t help thinking that in the current times, airlines are cutting corners on maintenance. I have no reasons for believing that, it’s just a feeling. Probably backed by the Alaska crash which is refered to in a previous comment (and which was due to faulty maintenance practices to save a couple of bucks). Do you think this is a widespread problem? I don’t know which airline you are flying for, I am regularly flying with easyjet. I’ve never had reasons to complain but when I read that airlines are seeking to reduce maintenance costs, I wonder how they can achieve that without becoming less safe? I hope you can help me with that!
Thanks and safe flying!
2 questions….
I’ve been told I’m flying Ethiopian air from South Africa to France. Should I be worried?
The only thing I fear is Turbulence. I know it’s safe. I know the plane is not at risk but I HATE my stomach dropping. It runs through my whole body (same reason why I don’t go on rollercoasters). If only I knew a way to desensitise, I might actually enjoy the rush. As it currently feels, it’s just too much to bare. I spend most of the lead up, fearing such turbulence. Any suggestions?
Hello
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your website. It has helped me so much. After a bad flying experience I have been terrified of flying to the point of tears. I went to Thailand 4 weeks ago, gritted my teeth through the long flights, and although they weren’t bad flights, it was still a horrible and upsetting experience for me. For the return journey I decided to do some research and came across this website, all the articles, advice and information is so informative and helpful. I have now returned back home and the return flights were far more enjoyable. Whenever there was turbulence or I felt unsure about anything, I remembered the information from this website and calmed down almost instantly.
I hope many others who are scared of flying find your website and it helps them as much as it helped me.
Thank you again.
Lily