AIBU? Panic attack over flying

[MumofHennHals]

Wondered if someone could give me some logic 😂 my partner said I'm worrying unreasonably... eh!

I’m flying to Gibraltar tomorrow, it’s supposed to be a ‘Rocky’ landing at the best of times ( sometimes they divert and touch and go landings aren’t unusual either )

AND TOMORROW IS 36MPH WINDS WHEN I LAND..

It’s a business thing so I’ve not got a way around it and actually looking forward to the trip itself, I’m just a terrible flyer.

Any advice on flying in general in the winter ( I’ve only ever flown in the summer ) and if anyone has Gibraltar landing knowledge, bonus points! Thanks xx

In the nicest possible way, you're not that special. There have been thousands and thousands of incident-free flights in and out of that airport and it has an excellent safety record. A bumpy descent is like a bus bumping over potholes, it's just what happens and is well within the design capabilities of the vehicle.

Thank you. My anxiety goes too, it's not usual to go wrong but what if I'm the first. I'm really nervous of the landing at Gibraltar mainly

You can't reason with, or talk away anxiety, just manage it

I take a travel sickness pill mostly because it makes me drowsy and relaxed, it's called Stugeron (other brands don't work)

I also listen to loud music (metal/rock) in my head phones as (oddly maybe) that takes the edge of my anxiety

Good luck

Can you distract yourself when landing? A technique I heard was to wear an elastic band and use it against your skin in your wrist - something to do with the brain focusing on that sensation/pain instead

I have an EasyJet pilot on the sofa next to me. He’d answer any questions you have I’m sure. Only Captains who all thousands of hours of experience will be able to land in strong winds. First Officers do not land when the wind exceeds a certain strength.

I’m sure you know this but airlines are extremely risk averse. They know what tolerances the planes and equipment can withstand and do not take the slightest chance. Any mishap could lead to a total collapse of the airline.

No corners are cut when it comes to safety. The pilot next to me did not feel it was appropriate to go into work yesterday as he had a poor night’s sleep (sick dog) and called in ‘fatigued’. Flying a plane even ever so slightly tired was considered too unsafe. Safety really is a non negotiable for almost all airlines

Don't forget, OP, just because something is scary, it doesn't mean it's dangerous. Accept that you're going to feel scared, observe and acknowledge it when you do. But keep reminding yourself, I'm scared of this, but I know it's not actually dangerous, planes come in and out of this airport perfectly safely every day. I just have to put up with being scared for a bit longer and then I'll be on the ground again.

For info the OP may be spared the Gibraltar experience.

The wind speed and direction at GIB is particularly unfavorable this AM so as others have said, with safety in mind and all that at least one airline (BA) have rerouted their early flight to land at Malaga.

36mph winds is not especially bad or strong. I would not expect there to be issues with that. Many years ago I landed at GIB in far worse weather than that - a proper storm like the ones were having in the uk right now - and we got down safely at the second attempt. I'll be honest, it wasn't great, but it was ultimately fine. The difficulty there is the Spanish airspace restrictions and the runway being surrounded by water. I'm sure you'll be fine, if there's any doubt then they'll divert. As stated above, airlines are extremely risk averse.

@CrotchetyQuaver

You are right that 36 mph in itself isn’t that strong but the problem at GIB is the wind direction coupled with terrain.

Any wind blowing from SE->S->SW gets nicely churned up flowing up or around over the Rock and can produce really nasty turbulence on final approach.

The wind at GIB this AM is south westerly 13 gusting 25 with gusts to 40 knots in the forecast which is almost worse case for turbulence so I can see why BA have re-routed.

There’s a special section covering this in the Gib aviation documentation, which includes wind limits, (link to example in link below, scroll to the bottom to see the wind effects page).

Many airlines have their own Gib specific wind limits in addition to the ones in the general documentation and some airlines make Gib a place where only captains can do the landing in certain conditions.

http://www.europlanet.de/vaFsP/charts/LXGB.pdf

Thank you! You're so right, we didn't even attempt to go to Gibraltar they told us before we boarded that the plane was going straight to Malaga due to how bad the weather conditions were.

We got a coach from Malaga to Gibraltar and when we arrived we couldn't even see the rock it was that bad!!!

Hi @MumofHennHals

Thanks for the update, hope you have/had a successful trip despite the detour.

I’m not a good flier, OP. Have flown plenty and it’s got worse as I’ve got older, started in my late 20s. Now I have to take a flight a year for work so flying on my own. Though I think I’m actually a bit more resilient to it when I’m by myself.

I try the tactic of counting when turbulence hits, and 99% of the time it’s over before I reach 10. That’s helped.