For many of us, traveling is one of the greatest pleasures in life. However, the joy of the holiday can be overshadowed by the fear of flying in a plane, which, by the way, is the safest and most efficient mode of transport.
How rational is the fear of flying?
The chances of dying in a car accident are almost a hundred times higher than in a plane. However, the fear of traveling in a car is rare, while aerophobia is much more common.
According to the International Air Transport Association, about three billion passengers are successfully transported by commercial flights every year without any accidents. So, the fear of flying is completely irrational. It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about from Miami to Denver flights that take more than nine hours or a short flight Pensacola – Orlando that lasts only an hour and a half.
How safe are planes?
The aerophobia of inexperienced tourists can be reduced by the information that the aircraft structure is thoroughly tested for strength. It is designed so that the current will not enter the cabin even in the event of a lightning strike. Every 15 minutes, there is communication with the pilots, who are always at least two. The human factor when working with the plane was minimized. Almost the entire flight operation is controlled by a computer that can recognize clouds and turbulence zones ahead.
Each aircraft has at least two engines. Even if something happens to one of them, the other one has enough power to keep the plane in the air. And if you imagine that both engines fail, the aircraft is designed to maneuver and land even in such conditions. To do this, planes are routed so that there are airports along the way where an emergency landing can be made. In addition, each aircraft undergoes mandatory checks both before each flight and scheduled in accordance with its operation.
Causes of fear of flying
Fear of flying can be caused by various factors:
- First flights;
- Unpleasant previous experience;
- General anxiety;
- Other phobias, such as fear of losing control.
At the same time, the fear of flying can be exacerbated by several factors unrelated to aviation, such as illness and difficulties at work or in the family.
What can help overcome aerophobia?
If you do a bit of googling, you can find various ways to deal with the fear of air travel. Some of them are quite effective. As for others, it’s even scary to think that someone has used them.
It’s worth having a closer look at a few tips that will help you build your own strategy to combat aerophobia.
- Find out more about the security system and aircraft quality checks. This information will be especially useful for first-time travelers.
- The need for distractions. It can be meditative music, a film, or an interesting conversation. It is especially important to distract yourself at the beginning of the flight.
- Breathing exercises also help.
- It is advisable to choose a seat near the wing. There are the least noticeable vibrations.
- Better not to look out the window.
- Flight simulators will also be useful in combating the fear of air travel. They can help to understand how an airplane works.
The causes of aerophobia are different. Some people are afraid to fly because they have been in serious turbulence. For others, it’s a new experience that scares them. However, the plane remains the most reliable mode of transport that can make traveling to new experiences more comfortable and faster.
