Fear of taking off on plane

[Funkyslippers]

I get very nervous during take off on a plane as I figure it's the most dangerous part of a flight. I also hate any turbulence. Anyone have any reassuring facts to keep in mind during the flight please? I know that flying is extremely safe but I always think if anything should happen everyone on the plane is doomed!

Listen to a hypnosis podcast to help flying. It helped my DH enormously

Noise cancelling headphones, prayer and math’s working out the number of planes in the air

I fly a lot but used to be exactly like you, completely paranoid on take off . Doesn't bother me now, I actually fall to sleep most of the time. My logical head talked me out of the panic. I realised how many planes take off every day, it's 10000s and realised they all take off safely - I now fly 1-2 times a month and my fear is completely gone .

I have the same thing. I'm fine as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off. I'm a mess during take off only, to the point I look ridiculous rocking back and forth and crying, it's really embarrassing but I can't help it. I'm happy and relaxed throughout the rest of the flight and during landing.
I've bought books/apps but they all seem to cater to the claustrophobia aspect of flying. I've yet to find any help for just take off fear.

I'm the same op.

My dp loves flying and travels a lot both for work and pleasure, he helpfully tells me each time it's not the taking off that's the bit to worry about, it's the landing...

Headphones, bit of 80s/90s grooving going on and airport beers...

I fly every week and it's like riding on a bus once you've got used to it.

In terms of stats to help, only 14% of fatal accidents happen on takeoff, whereas 49% during landing.

As with everything, exposure to your fear will reduce it over time.

The most dangerous part of travelling statistically is the car journey on the way to the airport and then landing.

Take-off on a commercial flight is probably the one phase of the journey where there are the fewest variables in terms of aircraft handling…

You’ve got a known runway length, known weather, the pilots will have run take-off performance calculations to ensure you are going to achieve legal margins on things like climb angle/minimum heights…..so it ends up being one of the more mechanical and predictable process aviating processes.

In terms of “what ifs” people worry about engines failing but it is also worth bearing in mind that the aircraft loading and associated calculations made by the pilots are done to ensure that:

1. if an engine fails the aircraft can stop on the runway if the failure is below a certain speed, or
2. it can continue to fly off safely on a reduced number of engines if an engine fails above that same speed…

You are never in a position where if an engine fails you have no safe options.

It's just a bus with wings

I live near Gatwick and have done for most of my life. I've watched literally thousands of aircraft take off with no problems at all. As someone already pointed out your car journey to the airport is more dangerous.

I'm terrified too @Funkyslippers. What helps me is Mozart, prayer, fervently paying attention to whatever film/TV programme I've downloaded onto my iPad and a very stiff drink on the plane. I also like to see bored flight attendants. I figure that we're not in crisis if they are looking bored.

A friend, who has far worse anxiety, has a GP who prescribes diazepam for flights.

Good luck

As soon as the plane feels like it’s left the runway I close my eyes and silently start counting to 150. That most times gets me up in the air and timed to the “ping” of the crew starting to talk to each other and then getting their belts off. It’s just reassuring to focus on something else other than me panicking

Cabin crew here!

I was afraid of flying until I was 22!

Some things that may reassure you

I've done hundreds of flights and never had any scares!

Cabin crew and flight crew do heaps of checks before the flight and on the turnaround. There's checklists and everything is cross checked and double checked.

One tip, try and humanise the flight crew. Remember there are 2 (at least!) living breathing people behind that door with families and loved ones. They would not want anything to jeopardise the safe take off of that plane.

We all have to do mandatory training every year to keep our licenses and ensure our knowledge is up to date

Please tell the crew if you're feeling nervous. We will understand and do everything to reassure and help you.

Hope this helps you a little bit. As I said I used to be afraid and I know how horrible it is. The only thing that sorted it for me was getting a job abroad which meant I was flying frequently and the more I flew the less I was scared x

Watch the cabin crew carefully. Do they seem anxious? Stressed? Even a little bit worried? Or do they seem completely relaxed, chatty & happy? Or just going through the motions? or maybe even a bit bored, as we all are sometimes on another normal working day.

If there was something to worry about or something unusual about the take-off, they would be the first to realise, so if they are chilled, there is absolutely no reason for you to be concerned.

Think of the aircraft as a boat and the air as water. When a boat travels through the water it’s effected by tides, waves etc, this is similar to the aircraft travelling through the air. I think maybe it’s the noises that worry people the most during the take off, undercarriage retracting, flaps, spoilers etc and of course the sensation in a climb. Possibly may help to search YouTube and have the noises explained in a video. Then there’s no surprises.

Remember the flight crew up front are trained and checked constantly and most importantly they want to get to their destination and back safely as much as you do. All UK airlines have fantastic safety records and safety is their priority. No Captain will ever take off if even vaguely concerned the plane won’t make it. They check them before every flight to make sure everything is working. Any issues and they’d much rather a short delay and issue fixed than chance it.

I don't like takeoff or landing.
I only fly because I love my holidays.
When boarding & going through the door I check the rivets and mutter "check the rivets".
When landing I mutter "reverse thruster" (just in case the pilot forgets 🙄)
First time I flew with my sister she thought I'd gone mad but now does it herself, it's a mantra to keep us safe.
Hopefully that helps! 😁

I have a guess as to when it is "wheels up", passes the time while trundling down the runway. Then guess when the "ping" of seatbelts off happens. I don't mind flying too much but find it mind numbingly boring. No matter what I try - reading, watching downloaded Netflix etc., I just can't seem to concentrate long enough for it to pass the time. I often wonder why that is.

Anyway, flying can be a terrifying thing for many people. It is not unusual at all. Many are scared out of their wits but put on a calm face and grip the handrest for dear life and pretend they are not worried at all. If it is crippling, then Xanax or Valium are wonderful things. Alcohol not so much.