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Afraid of night flights

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dalzuandemperor.lyseoibtok	Afraid of night flights	Lead	[-]
Posts: 2 (08/05/08 22:59:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None So I'm flying from Vancouver to Amsterdam and to Helsinki from there on Tuesday. I've been working on the strengthening exercises and my flying has gotten much better. But now that this flight is coming closer I've started feeling a bit nervous and I also didn't want to post this topic just before the flight, because I want to prepare for it early. Plus I still want to enjoy the rest of the time I have in Canada. What really worries me is the fact that the flight to Amsterdam is a night flight and while I know that there's no problem flying in the dark, I still hate those flights. It just feels like I'm trapped in some weird tunnel. I feel more trapped during night flights than day flights. Also I don't like the fact that everyone sleeps, because I just can't. I also feel very lonely when everyone is asleep and the flight attendants are hiding somewhere behind the drapes. I feel like I don't have anyone to talk to. I'm getting way better at flying with SOAR, but I still get nervous and also it's always really sad to leave my dad and leave my favourite country, so it's not only the fear, but also the sadness and loneliness. Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks! -Jesse
Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW		#1	[-]
Posts: 2333 (08/06/08 02:22:03) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Jesse, Think of Linus and his security blanket. We have three. When dealing with uncertainty, we use control of the situation, reassurance by others and a way to get out if things don't go well. These helps us with anxiety when dealing with uncertainty. Fine on the ground (more or less) but you lose these three when you fly. But if you can AT LEAST SEE the ground, it helps you know it still is there. At night, you can't see it. Take a look at the DVD "Staying Connected To The Ground". And, the Strengthening Exercise will build into you the connections that you need to feel less anxious during the flight.
Whoever89		#2	[-]
Posts: 11 (08/07/08 09:18:42) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I don't have that DVD. I only have fast track and strengthening exercises. Are there any other things that might make me feel better? Edit: sorry I have two Yuku accounts of which I use neither and I accidentally posted with this one.
Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW		#3	[-]
Posts: 2337 (08/07/08 11:05:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Well, the main thing is that it will help if you think like a pilot does who looks at instruments. Some give a view like a GPS, so the earth is there is a mapped form, and the signals which produce that map come FROM the ground, so you are always connected. The signals right from the touchdown point on the runway bring the plane right down to the perfect landing spot. You are always connected.
Capn Steve	Night flights	#4	[-]
Posts: 509 (08/13/08 17:02:57) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Jesse -- Your trip is probably already completed, if I'm interpreting things correctly. Still, I'd like to add a few comments about night flying. I have flown extensively at night, over many years. First, as a pilot for a cargo airline (mostly flying at night, when cargo usually moves.) Then, flying red-eyes at AA, generally between the U.S. West Coast and Chicago. I find night flying to be generally tranquil and peaceful. The weather is usually pretty benign. Of course, thunderstorms can -- and often do -- occur during the overnight hours. But - they are easily detected, both on radar and visually (via lightning strikes). Easily avoided. They often tend to die out around mid-morning, possibly re-firing in the mid-to-late afternoon. The view is great. If there are no clouds underneath the airplane, the ground looks like a giant map. Cities can be picked out over 200 miles away. The view of the heavens is superb. Astronomical phenomena, often invisible from the ground, particularly in the bright lights of a city, can stand out prominently at 30,000 feet and higher, where there is essentially no atmospheric pollution. There is a lot less air traffic. So, flying even into a normally busy airport like O'Hare or JFK or Newark won't entail any delays. In short, I find night flying to be quite enjoyable. (As I tell fellow crewmembers, I think that red-eyes have a "certain charm." Not all agree, but many do.) Certainly, night flying is nothing to dread. To the contrary, it's often quite appealing. Cheers. Cap'n Steve
dalzuandemperor.lyseoibtok		#5	[-]
Posts: 3 (08/14/08 23:11:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanks Steve. My flights are over, but good information anyway. Both flights went great! I used the letter for the first time and talked to the captains before the flights. The captain of the second flight actually came to talk to me just before landing in the second flight. Also the flight attendant were really helpful. They changed my seat for take-off for the firts flight so I could sit next to a flight attendant who explained what was going on during different parts of take-off. For the second flight they changed my seat to business class to make me more comfortable. Overall a good experience and I know what to work on from now on. Looks like it's mostly the take-off that bothers me.

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Note from Capt. Tom

I know everyone worries about weather, but pilots really do not worry about it. We simply - instead of worrying about it - completely prepare for it. Before going to the plane, we review the weather at the destination. If it is not 100% sure to be within legal limits when we arrive at the destination, we must specify an alternate airport in our planning documents, and load on plenty of fuel for going to the destination airport, and then if need be, diverting to the alternate airport.

The legal limits are conservative. Even when weather is slightly outside the legal limits, any airline pilot could still land safely. You can rely on the captain never to land when the weather is not legal, and legality limits are reached prior to safety limits.

If you are still anxious, call me and we can talk it over. I'm at 877 332-7359 from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern time.

For effective help, even if you are flying in a day or two, sign up now at www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack and call me when you finish Clip 9 so I can make sure you are all set.

Using Weather Information

If you enter your ZIP Code or City at the top of the weather presentation, it will give you weather for your area. Or, you can enter your destination ZIP Code or City.

Click on the "LOCAL RADAR" button to see whether or not there are thunder-
storms. Keep in mind, however, that we can either fly above the storms when cruising or fly through gaps between storms. During landing, we cannot fly above them, but fly through gaps, or through the area of the storms where the turbulence is least.

Turbulence, though it may cause anxiety, does not mean anything is wrong. Turbulence does not mean danger. The plane can handle far more turbulence than Mother Nature can dish out.

Though flying in turbulence is safe, it doesn't feel safe. And here is where the SOAR programs come in. We can help you feel as safe when you fly as you actually are.

You can see these programs at www.fearofflying.com/store.

For questions on aviation or the psychology of aerophobia, click here to e-mail Capt. Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW.

To contact the SOAR business office (media contacts, brochures, replacement tapes, billing, shipping), click here to e-mail Lisa Hauptner, MS.