Overcoming the fear of flying

[windowshopper2010]

Andy,

Keep up the good work.

There is a really well run "Fear Of Flying" Course run out of Sydney that is well worth considering. You are doing a great job on your own but I don't think you will truly conquer all you need to in order to help you achieve your goals.
Fear that is "good" is necessary for sure, but an "irrational" fear that could end up holding you back is worth getting outside assistance for.
I think they have courses in Brisbane also and it's run by the Women's Pilot's Association" or similar. Try searching on the web for "Fearless Flyers".
I think it's aimed for travellers but suspect it could be useful with the "cognitive" stuff one of the other posters was talking about.

Good luck with the training.

[Andy_P]

Well I am proud to say the trip home was uneventful! No real fear this time, other than some sweaty palms! Been talking myself through it all day, telling myself its no different to the Cessna when I am in control. Even observed a good crosswind landing by the pilot when we touched down in Brisbane!

I spent 1.2 hours in the air with the aero club in noumea, in a C172S. I was in control the whole time. Good experience, made a few errors. Coming into land at Noumea Magenta airport they have a displaced threshold due to some mountains. I was about 200ft to low as I turned final (they have really widely spaced circuits due to noise abatement rules) and too low as I landed. I managed to stretch out final, only due to no crosswind, less flap than I am used to and slightly higher approach speed based all on the instructors advice. FWIW, they normally have a solid crosswind, so final is 20º flap and 70knot final.

One thing I still need to deal with is turbulence. After take off from Noumea Magenta, we tracked toward the NE (about 030 IIRC) over some mountains. IT was pretty rough. We are spoiled down at YRED, because its all flat terrain, and whilst you get a few thermals, its not like flying over mountains. So I am still really scared in these conditions, but stepped up to the challenge and just dealt with it! I feel good about it now, things are getting better!

I have another thread about flying in Noumea, I will post up some details there about the club and the fantastic instructor I flew with. Highly recommended. Fying there is a lot like Cairns in Aus, there is lots of coral reefs and small islands to look at. If you are ever there and you want some details, please PM me.

[Andy_P]

And this is why we do it:

BTW, over water there, most calm, I am calm.

Please resize photos to 800 x 600.


And that is only half of it.

[Pace]

Andy Superb shots That water looks delicious As an avid Scuba diving enthusiast yum yum

Pace

[Andy_P]

Originally Posted by Pace

Andy Superb shots That water looks delicious As an avid Scuba diving enthusiast yum yum

Pace

Yup, water is good! Being an avid sailor, I feel comfortable over water! Unfortunately, no one will let me scuba dive because I am a chronic asthmatic (CASA had an issue with that too), but I have use a snorkel and seen some great places on the Great Barrier Reef when I use to sail on yachts in the Whitsundays.

When we left Noumea Magenta Airport, I was glad to get over water. Puts my mind and ease, and at low altitudes it makes for more comfortable flying.

[Pace]

I am a chronic asthmatic (CASA had an issue with that too)

Andy I wonder if this is a clue to your problems with confined spaces rather than a Psychological base as such.

Might be worth posting a question in the Medical section as I am far from an expert but in a light aircraft you have ventilation control and light in a large aircraft you have many passengers, circulated air and no control.

just a thought

Pace

[Saab Dastard]

Andy, please resize the photographs to no more that 800 x 600 - not everyone has a widescreen panel!

Thanks

SD

[JEM60]

Many years ago, learning to fly, climbing away for a spinning exercise, I admitted to my instructor that flying scared me a little from time to time. His comment?'Good. Then you will treat it with the respect it deserves' I discovered then that a little fear will keep you safe, much better than complacency!!.

[Andy_P]

Originally Posted by Pace

Andy I wonder if this is a clue to your problems with confined spaces rather than a Psychological base as such.

Might be worth posting a question in the Medical section as I am far from an expert but in a light aircraft you have ventilation control and light in a large aircraft you have many passengers, circulated air and no control.

just a thought

Pace

Its a control thing for me. I dont do well in any form of transport as a passenger.

Originally Posted by Saab Dastard

Andy, please resize the photographs to no more that 800 x 600 - not everyone has a widescreen panel!

Thanks

SD

Meh, too much effort.

[KNIEVEL77]

Andy,

What is it do you think that is helping you overcome you fear............is it quite simply 'exposure therapy'?

And I came across this a while ago which I found very interesting.

http://www.hampshireplans.co.uk/AOPA/article.pdf

[Andy_P]

Andy,

What is it do you think that is helping you overcome you fear............is it quite simply 'exposure therapy'?

And I came across this a while ago which I found very interesting.

http://www.hampshireplans.co.uk/AOPA/article.pdf

Its hard for me to say. I think that is the realm of a psychologist. But, if I was to guess, I think perhaps exposure combined with me being forced to deal with the fear using rational thought. I doubt the process that causes the fear will ever go away, but what I am learning to do is find ways for me to manage it, rather than letting the fear manage me.

BTW, its this fear that is holding me back. It took me just over 30 hours to solo, and its going to take me a lot longer than most to get to that point where I am capable of doing my GFTP check flight. But one thing I am more adamant about than my FI's, is that I need to be comfortable with it all, even if they deem me competent. I wont take that check flight until I am happy with myself.

Great article BTW.

[kevinb3]

Nice article but how did you go with your medical ??

[Andy_P]

Originally Posted by kevinb3

Nice article but how did you go with your medical ??

I got a class 2 medical, so not as strict as class 1. The only issue I had was due to my asthma, which is classified as chronic mainly due to the drugs I have to use to control it. They did test me for it, and they can tell if your asthma management is under control. Once the DAME does his stuff, it goes onto CASA medical team for review. Obviously they were happy with it, because they issued the medical albeit after bit of a delay.

[Andy_P]

Good weather today, should have had a chance to finish up my solo circuit work, but nope, could not get my **** together..

I walked away today, typical type a personality trying to figure out what went wrong. Not a single solo circuit, the whole time knowing every single mistake I was making but for some reason unable to correct it. I will dwell on this for weeks to come now.

Pissed off, I get home and dive into my books. Do some revision in stick and rudder. Still not sure. I think as stick and rudder suggests, I am relying to much on landmarks to sense altitude and speed. Not focusing on the aspect of the runway. Speed on final is a big problem too, I think its related. Today, the big difference, I have been landing on 25 a lot, today on 07.

[EMB-145LR]

Only just stumbled across this thread. It resonates with me a lot. I used to petrified of flying to the extent that I wouldn't get on a commercial flight. I found that simple exposure in baby steps is what helped me to overcome my fear.

Believe it or not I went from being terrified of flying, to being an airline pilot! Today I fly the ERJ-145 in the USA and I'm moving on to the EMB-175 in a few months.

[A and C]

fear of flying...... Some help please ?

Perhaps someone might be able to help my wallet, it to has a fear of flying but it exhibits this by trying to hide in small dark places each time I walk into a flying club.

Perhaps one of the Psycologists on the forum could help my wallet open up to the experience of flight ?

I was hoping the female touch would work but I think my wife is being far to gentle with my wallets aversion to flying and just seems to encourage the negative behavior towards flight that my wallet exhibits.

[Andy_P]

A an C, my wallet is developing a fear of flying at the moment!!

As for me, finished up my solo circuit work today, and definitely my best circuits and landings yet. Unfortunately, I cant fly twice a week any longer, down to just a day on the weekend. However I have made the call to book the aircraft for a double slot, so an hour dual in the training area then come back and do an hour solo in the circuit. Its working wonders with my confidence at the moment, so I would like to stick with it for a while.

Also got a personal tour of the tower and radar centre for YBBN today. The radar centre takes care of most of Australia's air traffic, as well as a lot of pacific islands. I am yet to work with ATC, but it was great talking to the controllers and learning about how they operate. It's given me a great perspective on how I can interact with them when I start flying in controlled airspace. It was also great to see how the flight plans are used.

[Andy_P]

I must be doing ok in the 172. Today, doing some solo circuits, was behind a guy in the pattern. He flew the worst base and final I have ever seen. I think I would be grounded if I did that with my instructor(s) in the right seat. I slowed right down on downwind, and when I finally turned base I maintained 1000feet. Turned final at 1000 and still nailed the landing! Normally I would be at about 600 feet turning final.

I was chatting to the guy on the ground, he was nervous to go up in the conditions (20 knots, probably abut 5 crosswind). It was testing my limits, but I did 5 circuits with the instructor and he was happy for me to go up solo. Flew another 5 solo before my nerves got the better of me. Very gusty. I was outside of my comfort zone, a good test for me. I had the plane for another 40 minutes, but decided to call it quits. The last thing I need right now is a scare to destroy my confidence, which is currently at an all time high!

[Andy_P]

Not sure if I took a step backwards or forwards today. Early morning flight to learn forced landing, not to bad. Was going to follow up with some solo circuit work, but opted to postpone till the afternoon till some of the seabreeze came in, hoping to get some crosswind practice. Crosswind landings are the only thing now holding me back from a training area solo, and besides some basic instrument flying I am very close to doing my GFPT checkride.

So I trot off home, do some reading, watch a few youtube vids. For those learning crosswind tecnique, I highly reccommend the University of North Dakota videos: The UND AeroCast - YouTube.

Well the sea breeze came in alright. 20 knots gusting 25. Using runway 07, the wind was about NNE (025), so about 14knots of crosswind, gusting (Correct me if I am wrong, did that using my mental crosswind calcs!!). I decided to head back to the aerodrome an hour before my booking to observe some people doing crosswind landings (as I did yesterday also). Anyway, I think that was a stupid move, because all I did was scare myself to the point were I did not want to go up. Yup, that good old feeling came back, making me feel sick. No where near what it used to be like, but still there nonetheless.

But, I convinced myself to go anyway. Yup, still sweating, but I went up and managed about 5 landings before I decided to call it quits. Instructor was pretty happy with me given the conditions, and he was happy for me to keep going. Baby steps, I am getting there. Once in the cockpit, I was not anywhere near as nervous as I was on the ground. I have to stop over thinking this stuff, its not doing me any good, and its not doing my training any good.

My only real issue today was a little to aggressive on the controls, probably holding off a little to long considering the gusts. Also once I had touched down, not enough aileron. When training at this stage, they have me crab down to late final, then side-slip maybe at about 100 feet, if that. Its working well, because I have enough time to fine tune my position and it give me plenty of time to manage gusts as well as get ready for flare and hold off. One thing I can say, that gusty conditions really teach you the need for good footwork. I know Chuck says the C172 is lazy, but its plenty for me at this point. Had I been in a super cub I would have tossed it in long ago I suspect!! I hope Chuck reads this post as I would love to hear his (or anyone elses) thoughts on the difference between the cub and the C172 in this regard.

Anyway, I am not sure if today was a step forward or back. The nerves are a real problem, and days like today make me wonder if I should just call it quits. I know I have to deal with these situations, and fear overtaking my ability to control the aircraft in a emergency worries me no end. I am going to push on at this stage, but I am a realist, so if the time comes where I decide its not working out I wont hesitate to pull the pin.

[Andy_P]

Managed to get signed off on Steep turns over the easter weekend. Along with incipient stalls, I thought this might hold me back. Only have to do 45 degree turns for GFPT (first stage of PPL in Aus). We tried pushing on to 60 degree (required for PPL) turns but I cant quite deal with the increased g force just yet. I am pretty sure I will get there though, just need to get out and keep trying.


I am starting to feel pretty confident now, really starting to get over the fear. I have done about 5 hours solo time in the circuit which has boosted my confidence a great deal. Recently, every time I go up with the instructor, I book the aircraft for an extra hour of solo circuits afterwards. Add to that conquering steep turns (to the point where I am actually starting to like doing them).

Its odd, the last hour of solo I did yesterday, I was climbing and turning onto crosswind I realised how relaxed I was. I also notice now that I can make my radio calls whilst starting to turn base and final. I used to have to do before I turned, so I could concentrate on flying. ITs all becoming automatic now.

So it just goes to show, it is possible to get over an irrational fear! I continue to surprise myself each time I go up. The more I fly, the more I am developing a unhealthy obsession with it.