My main concern is crossing the ITCZ in March. The more I read about the area, the more scared I get. Flying at night makes me quite uneasy. I will be crossing the same area where AF447 went down. I have the feeling that a climatic monster is hidden out there. I know about the weather radars, but the french plane disaster makes me think why, why, why....I have tried not think about it, as If it hadn´t occured. But fours before my flight my mind is usually full of dark images.

I have booked first class, Madrid-Rio de Janeiro, just to feel more relaxed and during the day, but I am really scared about flying back at night on the 5th april from GRU. I know probably Iberia planes cross the area more than anyone else, and that they know how to handle with the situation, but however I am not happy about it. I have talked to a flight attendant who crosses the area regularly and she keeps me telling that she never had encountered a strong turbulence. So it´s relieving. I can cope well with flying now, but I don´t have information enough about this area, and I am getting quite obsessed with it.

I think any turbulence in the area, or lightening around will make think about AF. I will try to sleep, some pills as well before getting into the ITCZ.

Although I spent many years as cabin crew and come from an aviation family I can completely understand peoples phobia. I've been through lots of turbulence, many technical issues and almost had a full evacuation at one point. However knowing a little about aerodynamics, how a plane functions in normal and non normal situations is what gave me the confidence that I was not going to end up as a charcter in air crash investigations!

The reason I understand phobia is that I experienced it first hand and it completely took me unaware. Put me in a 747 with an engine failiure and I would be right as rain - I'd know exactly what the pilots would be doing and that the aircraft was not going to fall from the sky.

However when my brother was doing his training to become a commercial pilot he offered to take me for a spin in a cessna - ( a very small single engined light aircraft). Whether it was the fact it was my 'baby' brother at the controls or that you could feel every bump, twang and thump I don't know but I can remember looking over the cowling wishing I was firmly back on terra firma. As we levelled out he casualy remarked that the engine was running a little roughly, knitted his brows he started talking through what might be the problem. I knew logically that even if we lost the engine, he'd get the nose down, keep the air speed up, wouldn't stall the thing and that there were loads of large, even fields below us...however I was more than a little anxious. As things transpired everything was fine, we landed back at the little airfiled and I jumped out making a mental note never to fly on anything with less than 150 seats ever again!

I think what saved me from completely hyperventilating in that little cessna was knowing something about what makes a plane stay in the air and a little about the instrumentation. With heavy jets things are hugely more complex, but knowing for example that there is a TCAS system that prevents mid air collisions- that even if its a really bad day in the office and a 747 looses all its engines the plane will still fly and is controlable.

My advice is to step away from air crash investigation and just do a little research! Cabin crew are always good to talk to if you are nervous. I've sat and chatted to many, many nervous flyers and on some occasions when we've been going through turbulence have strapped myself in next to them for a bit of moral support! :)

That's good advise, Bunkrest, to stay away from the ACI type programmes. The one I saw on the Helios plane really sent me over the edge I can tell you !

It's great to hear that you take your passengers' concerns so seriously, it may sound silly but it would never occur to me to tell one of the cabin crew that I can be a nervous flyer - although I've managed a flight from Heathrow to Delhi and back on my own before, so I don't let it floor me totally !

In my experience, talking to the cabin crew usually helps. If they can, they'll offer you a good seat - occasionally they'll even offer you an upgrade if there's space. They'll generally come and talk to you during the flight and check you're alright. It helps to know there's someone linked to the aircraft crew who knows your problem!

Please see my comments in the new link for this FAQ regarding sensationalist, incorrect reporting of aviation incidents in even the quality press. They intend to grab headlines and readership, at the cost of inaccuracy, un-evidenced speculation and fueling the fears of the enormous numbers of people who have some level of fear about flying. HH

I've looked up this old thread to place a link to a TV programme listed on a Tube that You might know.

This prog is not technical and for some in this forum, basic and frustratingly lacking in detail! BUT the language used to explain is the kind that the non-technical person will readily understand. It shows what happens on a 'D' check for a 747-400. I Think it will be helpful to the concerned passenger to see how rigorous a check this is and to know that every aircraft - of all types - goes through a sequence of A/B/C/D checks in their working life. Obviously, the example here is a BA machine and shows the best of what can be done.

It lasts an hour but I think it will be interesting and there was one fact I learnt that I did not know before! So that means my anorak is in good condition. :8

If that does not work, go to the Tube of You and search for:
British Airways Boeing 747-400 in D-Check

Resurrecting this a little bit, to add my name to the "nervous flyer" list. I'm better than I was, because I did something that, even a good few months after the fact, I still think is crazy.

I made a film about light aircraft and GA flying. I thought that if I knew more about flying, and met people who do it purely for fun, I wouldn't be as nervous on a large passenger aircraft.

It worked. I still don't like turbulence (makes me feel sick, and do feel a little bit out of control) and I'm always nervous before a flight, but I'm definitely better than I was :)

To the nervous pax on here:

I do not want to worry you, as, as an example, I had 8 driving lessons before being let loose in a car. It takes c. 1500 hours to get an ATPL!!!

So, qwe are trained pro's, fear not.

But if you're still nervous, knowing you've done everything you can, can help you- Here's some things to do to help you.

1. The majority of aircraft 'incidents' take place not in the sky, but on the ground! Mostly smoke and fire related.
2. Do not, for one minute, underestimate, the effect of smoke and fire in these situations. Withing seconds, your eyelids will seal due to the plastic fumes and within a few more, you'll asphixiate.
3. Re above- 2 key things you can do. a) count precisely the seat backs fore and aft towards the emercency exits. Remember these, because if you have an incident, panic will ensue and it'll be as dark as a dark night on the dark side of the moon! b) This sounds silly, but it's true. Carry a large clear plastic bac (ziplock perfect). If smoke and fire happen, shove it over your head. it'll give you about a minute of O2 and it will prevent the plastic in the fumes sealing your eyelids up.
4. LISTEN TO THE CABIN CREW. They are trained professionals, not glorified waiters and they will do their job to the bitter end. I know that.
5. If you don't believe me re above, google Airtours incident Manchester. 90 seconds to destroy a perfectly good BAC 111.

It was a 737-200 and given the explosive disintegration of the engine combustion chamber, "perfectly good" isn't a particularly apt desciption of it!

It isn't a smoke hood, nor is it really a good idea. It doesn't contain any more Oxygen than the ambient air does when you put it over your head. It will (assuming any kind of seal actually exists) quickly start to suffocate you, and bcome hot and dirty. Smoke rises, and that includes into inverted plastic bags. Particulates are likely to be attracted to plastic bags, thereby quickly disorientating the hapless wearer. Best advice would be to cover your nose and mouth with a cloth or handkerchief and get down low below the smoke, which will obscure visibility from the roofline downwards. That is why escape lighting is placed on the floor.

Perhaps you should listen to the cabin crew a bit more! ;)

VST your advice is as helpful as o'leary's advice about seat belts.

Dangerous advice I feel.

Yeah, those ziplock bags usually have messages stating NOT to put them over your head, because they can suffocate you, pretty quickly. := :ugh:

Now, if someone can tell me how to make that "sinking" feeling just after take off feel less weird, I'd appreciate it! (I know it's my brain/inner ear/eyes having a disagreement, but it feels freaky!)

True but you don't need to have an ATPL to be a co-pilot on an airliner! Statistically those who listen to the pre-departure briefs are more likely to survive an accident. So don't try and look supercool and read the paper, pay attention each and every time so that in the event of an emergency your reponses are automatic.

That weird feeling may in fact be the flaps being retracted in which case it will feel like a "sinking" feeling. Next time if you are near a window have a look outside and see if it coincides with the flaps (at the back of the wing) retracting into the wing.