Did you read this post?
It doesn't say "chances of having a car/plane crash". It says chances of dying in one. So everyday that you get in a car you have more chances of dying than when you get on a plane. And yet people get in cars every day.
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Afraid of riding an airplane... how do I get myself psyched?
- Thread starter MoodyMedStudent
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Did you read this post?
It doesn't say "chances of having a car/plane crash". It says chances of dying in one. So everyday that you get in a car you have more chances of dying than when you get on a plane. And yet people get in cars every day.
Yeah, the statistic is chances of death in, not chances of having a crash in.
Also OP, you need to worry about death even during normal flight, from DVT and howabout those Terrorists! But ask Dmac77 to give you a lift to the airport. If you survive in the journey there with his driving, you'll be absolutely fine on the flight
Seriously though, air travel is very safe. If you keep yourself occupied by reading or watching films (I wouldn't recommend Snakes on a Plane though - not because of the them, it's just an awful movie), thinking positively, hundreds (thousands?) of flights complete successfully every day, they've been doing this for a long time now and there's not much to be afraid of.
I think everyone has a fear of hurtling to the ground uncontrollably in a ball of flames, I have a fear of walking out of my house and getting killed by a speeding driver. I have a fear of slipping in the shower, smashing my head against the wall and through the shower door and bleeding to death. Annoyingly, there's risk in everything we do, we just have to work out if the risk is worth the reward. In those instances being clean and getting fresh air are both well worth it - and I'm sure this visit to China will be more than worth the flight.
Also OP, you need to worry about death even during normal flight, from DVT and howabout those Terrorists! But ask Dmac77 to give you a lift to the airport. If you survive in the journey there with his driving, you'll be absolutely fine on the flight
Seriously though, air travel is very safe. If you keep yourself occupied by reading or watching films (I wouldn't recommend Snakes on a Plane though - not because of the them, it's just an awful movie), thinking positively, hundreds (thousands?) of flights complete successfully every day, they've been doing this for a long time now and there's not much to be afraid of.
I think everyone has a fear of hurtling to the ground uncontrollably in a ball of flames, I have a fear of walking out of my house and getting killed by a speeding driver. I have a fear of slipping in the shower, smashing my head against the wall and through the shower door and bleeding to death. Annoyingly, there's risk in everything we do, we just have to work out if the risk is worth the reward. In those instances being clean and getting fresh air are both well worth it - and I'm sure this visit to China will be more than worth the flight.
I think long international flights can sometimes be more pleasant than shorter flights. You can just hang out and watch 5 movies in a row, or read most of a novel, and you usually have more room. It might be better than you think.
Also, there are lots of resources out there for dealing with being afraid of flying...not sure what would work for you, but it might be worth looking around online if you haven't yet. As a lot of people in the thread have suggested, it's really very safe.
Also, there are lots of resources out there for dealing with being afraid of flying...not sure what would work for you, but it might be worth looking around online if you haven't yet. As a lot of people in the thread have suggested, it's really very safe.
Phobias aren't all that logical, so knowing the safety stats doesn't help too much. If you put a spider on someone's arm that has arachnophobia and told him it couldn't hurt him; well you see.
Desensitizing by gradual exposure to the fear usually works. Some airlines used to offer fear of flying courses, but I'm not sure if they still exist.
Desensitizing by gradual exposure to the fear usually works. Some airlines used to offer fear of flying courses, but I'm not sure if they still exist.
If I crash in a car good chance I survive, if I crash in a plane good chance I'm dead. While the chances of getting into a car crash are higher the survival rates also have to be better.
Not necessarily true. Do you have any idea how many plane crashes take place where nobody is even injured? It's because they don't usually make the evening news.
Quick quiz: how many people died in commercial plane crashes in the U.S. last year? Answer: Zero. Nobody.*
Here's another: what was the fatality rate of all commercial plane crashes in the U.S. in 2009? It was 24% with only two crashes reported - all 155 people survived one of those two crashes.*
Don't go assuming that because an aircraft is bigger, heavier, and flies through the air that a crash is more deadly - just as most motor vehicle accidents happen close to home, most plane crashes happen due to problems that take place on the ground, not in the air. Planes almost never just fall out of the sky.
(*source: www.airdisaster.com)
I absolutely hate flying. I would quantify it as an irrational fear since the act of flying isn't what scares me. Its the whole experience that I get worked up on.
I need to get to the airport 2+ hours prior to departure, I get cabin fever while in the air and getting your luggage and car rental is a stressful act for me.
Add on top of that the fact that I'll need to entertain two 5 year old girls while doing all that. We're heading to disney in a while and the whole flight thing has me stressed
I need to get to the airport 2+ hours prior to departure, I get cabin fever while in the air and getting your luggage and car rental is a stressful act for me.
Add on top of that the fact that I'll need to entertain two 5 year old girls while doing all that. We're heading to disney in a while and the whole flight thing has me stressed
No, read those statistics you quoted again -- they're both about chances of dying in a crash, not simply chances of having one. So, while your chances of having a crash -- and surviving -- are higher in a car, your fatality rates are still lower in the plane. A win-win for flying.
I'm not a huge fan of flying, but mostly because I find it boring. I don't like bus travel either for the same reason. I hate being cooped up in a seat for hours at a time -- I have to get up, stretch my legs, walk around... but that could just be the ADHD in me talking. Oh, and I'm also not fond of the lineups and security checks.
And that's a bad thing?
If the plane goes down and actually crashes, I doubt that you would want to be a survivor with the kinds of injuries that are capable in such circumstances.
That alone makes me feel better about flying. That and I won't be going alone...
I play hard rock music and 'It's the end of the world as we know it'. Plus the added benefit is that I'll be listed on the news and will be leaving a world so screwed up that Donald Trump is seriously being considered a presidential candidate.
You have a much more significant possibility of sitting next to a fat person oozing into your seat, a chatty person who tells you their life's story and all their medical and psychological issues, a smelly person, or a person that is bombed out of their mind on drugs to keep from crawling the walls.
Relax. Don't worry. Dying in a plane crash isn't the worst thing that could happen to you... Seriously...
I went through a period of time where I had the same issue so I got my doctor to prescribe a few valium. Knowing that I had them made the pre-flight time less stressful and in the end I never even needed to take them.
Oh, and that whole safer than driving bit . . . for a lot of people it's a control issue. You feel like you're in control when you're driving but when flying it's out of your hands.
Oh, and that whole safer than driving bit . . . for a lot of people it's a control issue. You feel like you're in control when you're driving but when flying it's out of your hands.
Best parts of flying are taking off and landing. I love the g forces and the thrill during takeoff, and the view and thrill during landing. Those are also the two worst parts for someone who doesn't like flying, I guess! I doubt there is anyone, not even the pilots, have the "come on, better lift off!" as the pilot pulls on the yoke.
Would a window seat benefit you? That way you can see what is going on, easing the stress of the "what if...!" scenarios that are flying through your mind, as you can see what is happening. I dislike being on a train in a tunnel because I can't see what is going on.
This might be the worst thing to show you, because it is a bird strike during takeoff! The plane comes back round for an emergency landing, and all is fine. But what is worth listening to is the audio recording of the pilot and the control tower. The pilot's reaction, and the calmness of his voice is enough to reassure me that he knows exactly what to do, and how to deal with that sort of emergency. Pilots get trained in simulations for every type of incident that can happen.
I'd just enjoy the view - you never see the world from that point, so enjoy and appreciate it while you can. The world has never looked more beautiful and scenic than it does from the skies..
Would a window seat benefit you? That way you can see what is going on, easing the stress of the "what if...!" scenarios that are flying through your mind, as you can see what is happening. I dislike being on a train in a tunnel because I can't see what is going on.
This might be the worst thing to show you, because it is a bird strike during takeoff! The plane comes back round for an emergency landing, and all is fine. But what is worth listening to is the audio recording of the pilot and the control tower. The pilot's reaction, and the calmness of his voice is enough to reassure me that he knows exactly what to do, and how to deal with that sort of emergency. Pilots get trained in simulations for every type of incident that can happen.
I'd just enjoy the view - you never see the world from that point, so enjoy and appreciate it while you can. The world has never looked more beautiful and scenic than it does from the skies..
The drugless solution is to go through life as a fatalist.
Que Sera Sera.
Relax, and enjoy the ride.
Que Sera Sera.
Relax, and enjoy the ride.
Pleasant thread! No wonder the OP hasnt come back. Now they're scared of MR, too.
If you're still brave enough to keep reading this thread, OP, the best thing to do is to bring all those issues with you to the departing gate. If you then decide to get on the plane, you'll realize you have rational fears just like the rest of us. If you don't get on the plane, you'll have missed the experience of a lifetime, wasted a ton of cash in the process, and you'll be soon meeting with a psychologist who'll be more than happy to listen to your irrational fears. Either way, you're covered. Bon voyage, hopefully...
If you're still brave enough to keep reading this thread, OP, the best thing to do is to bring all those issues with you to the departing gate. If you then decide to get on the plane, you'll realize you have rational fears just like the rest of us. If you don't get on the plane, you'll have missed the experience of a lifetime, wasted a ton of cash in the process, and you'll be soon meeting with a psychologist who'll be more than happy to listen to your irrational fears. Either way, you're covered. Bon voyage, hopefully...
The listed numbers are a person's chances of dying via a given cause.
This does not mean that the same person's probability of dying for each given trip is less for each instance of a car versus a plane trip. In fact, for any given boarding for a trip, not considering the distances traveled, the chances for you to die on that single instance boarding would be higher for a plane than a car.
Per distance traveled, the plane is safer.
My entire family is within the airline business and we have all got to one conclusion: air travel is not only the fastest way of travelling, but also the safest method of transportation.
I know this is a grim way to look at it, but way more people die every year to car accidents than to airplanes. There are thousands of flights every day and it's very rare to ever see something "go wrong."
Either way, just think that international airplanes are usually the most technologically advanced ones, which make them very safe. Nothing will go wrong. You could perhaps just take a sleeping pill 20min before take off and sleep until you get there.
I know this is a grim way to look at it, but way more people die every year to car accidents than to airplanes. There are thousands of flights every day and it's very rare to ever see something "go wrong."
Either way, just think that international airplanes are usually the most technologically advanced ones, which make them very safe. Nothing will go wrong. You could perhaps just take a sleeping pill 20min before take off and sleep until you get there.
I enjoy riding on airplanes and I have even driven one.
I think that if you took this before the flight it would stop any fear.
http://www.coffeesh0p.com/search/?term=Salvia
I have never took this but should work.
I think that if you took this before the flight it would stop any fear.
http://www.coffeesh0p.com/search/?term=Salvia
I have never took this but should work.
There hasn't been a death on a major U.S. Airline for over 3 years.
One thing that will keep you comfortable on the plane is whenever you get scared look at the flight attendant. If they don't look scared, don't worry. This works like a charm!
One thing that will keep you comfortable on the plane is whenever you get scared look at the flight attendant. If they don't look scared, don't worry. This works like a charm!
Does that control for the number of passengers per flight and deaths per flight?
If most airline crash fatalities are the result of the occasional jumbo jet falling out of the sky and killing hundreds at once, then the frequency of flying may not play that huge of a role.
On the other hand, if crashes are more frequent and deaths sporadic, then I think what you said makes a lot more sense.
As Craig Ferguson likes to say, the best way to get over a fear of flying is to take flying lessons and get your pilot's license!
Doesn't that distort the risk of being involved in a fatal crash then?
Hypothetically a single large catastrophe could produce a huge chunk of annual fatalities, but represent only one journey. In fact, another poster mentioned how it's been nearly 3 years since an American fatality occurred in the sky. In that one year, that accident probably accounted for a disproportionate share of total fatalities.
A better metric would be #of fatal crashes/total # of flights, since that would better represent the odds that something is going to happen to you on any given flight. You could even weight passenger size to account for outliers.
Ok ... back to trying to help the OP.
I hate flying. Hate. It. I'm acutely aware of how an airplane works, and still to this day after hours and hours of research and reading, I still cant believe that it works and the damn things stay in the air.
However, I'm usually on about 20 or so flights a year. To keep myself calm I always think about one thing, and do another:
1. The pilot wants to get there safely too. He / she probably has someone they care for very much waiting for them to return home.
2. When things get a bit bumpy, lift your feet off the floor about 2 inches. This allows your entire body to move with the plane and the turbulence is less apparent.
I hate flying. Hate. It. I'm acutely aware of how an airplane works, and still to this day after hours and hours of research and reading, I still cant believe that it works and the damn things stay in the air.
However, I'm usually on about 20 or so flights a year. To keep myself calm I always think about one thing, and do another:
1. The pilot wants to get there safely too. He / she probably has someone they care for very much waiting for them to return home.
2. When things get a bit bumpy, lift your feet off the floor about 2 inches. This allows your entire body to move with the plane and the turbulence is less apparent.