Millions of people fly to places across the world all year-round, compare car hire rates online, and when they get to their destination use the car to explore the country they are in. But for some people getting on the plane in the first place can be a bit of a nightmare. Fear of flying is surprisingly common and could possibly relate to a number of things. Perhaps a small amount of turbulence one time, or even being seated next to someone else who was afraid of flying.
A lot of people’s fear of flying comes from not knowing just how safe it is. And strangely, few of these people have a fear of driving a car. It’s true that plane crashes are always reported on the news. This can lead to a false perception that they are more common than they are. In fact, if you think about the millions of planes that fly every year, and the small number of plane crashes reported, you’ll get an idea of just how safe flying really is. So many car crashes happen around the world each day, that they are only usually reported if they are extraordinarily large or a celebrity is involved.
Even in the most severe turbulence, an aircraft does not actually move much in either direction. If the seatbelt light comes on, it is only so that passengers do not fall over (as they might on a moving train, for example) and get any minor bruises.
Clear air turbulence occurs when a plane hits a weather front (or jet stream). As a jet stream moves it changes the direction of the airflow. The turbulence you feel is just the plane hitting the air change. The other type of turbulence is convective turbulence. This usually occurs during takeoff or landing, and is the result in the sun heating the ground and the hot air rising, causing the air to become uneven.
Aircrafts are designed to withstand far greater force than either type of turbulence will ever be able to hit them with.
Hopefully, this information can be a primary means of reassurance. But if you are still nervous about flying, there are numerous websites that offer practical advice and support out there, as well as books on the subject.
And if you are just about to take a trip and are nervous, perhaps take some Rescue Remedy with you on the flight; it can be bought from most pharmacies. It contains a mixture of flower extracts and a small amount of alcohol. It can be taken in the form of three drops on the tongue.
Camomile tea can also help some people to relax. If you suffer badly from flight anxiety and herbal remedies aren’t your thing, visit your GP and explain the situation. There are a few drugs that can be prescribed to help with serious anxiety or insomnia.
There are also a number of activities to keep you busy on board, from in-flight entertainment to flight yoga and simple breathing exercises. Ask a flight attendant for more information.
