Dana’s impression of me from seeing me in a video goes to show you how important the role of perception is in our lives.  Can’t build “trust” into keywords on the internet.  It comes from within, the same source that will eventually free you from fear of flying and provide you with easy air travel.

The good news is that fear of flying can be overcome; the bad news is that there’s no magic fear of flying pill.  I was surprised when I first learned how many people search on Google for a fear of flying pill hoping to find an easy way to fly without fear.  Even more surprising has been learning how much shame  many fearful flyers have over taking legitimate anti-anxiety drugs (Xanax, Ativan, Alprazolam, etc).  While no “fear of flying pill” exists per se, I advocate taking prescribed medication after consulting with your doctor as a legitimate and sometimes essential strategy while learning to overcome fear of flying.

Fear of Flying Pill?

The first issue that fearful flyer Dana and I worked on was for her to come up with a game plan that allowed her to integrate the use of her medication with other non-medical coping strategies.  In this way, she could develop a long-term plan for coping with her fear of flying with an eventual goal of flying drug free or at least less reliant on drugs to cope with her anxiety.

All the coping strategies in the world may be for naught if your anxiety causes your mind to race to the point that you can’t remember those strategies when you need them the most. I tell people that there is no prize for seeing how terrified you can become and still get on the airplane.

Conquering fear of flying so that you are free to take advantage of modern air travel isn’t always easy.  It’s a process like the old saying that “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So, until there is a bona fide fear of flying pill, we will have to make use of all the resources available–including the existing prescription anti-anxiety medications, education, coping strategies, self-help resources, and coaching services like those available here at Fearlessflight.com.

With some work and willingness to face your fear of flying, you will be able to become a fearless flying success story, just like Dana!

Related posts:

1. Quick But Strange Fear of Flying Cure
2. Pill-Popping Pilots–Are You Kidding Me?
3. What Puts the Fear in Fear of Flying?

I just ran across something about fear that resonated with me.  In conjunction with the new year, I’ve been doing a lot of reading on goal setting,  and I re-watched a five-minute video of a interview with Florida counselor Ken Donaldson that I saw a year ago that had helped me get my butt in gear and set SMART goals I was able to meet.

When I watched the same video this year, I heard Ken Donaldson say we shouldn’t let fear stand in our way.  Easier said than done!

Ken said instead of using the old acronym for fear, False Evidence Appearing Real, you should begin to tackle FEAR with the attitude of Face Everything And Rechoose.

I especially like this idea when I’m thinking of what I want to do in 2010.  Really, the thing that holds me back the most is my avoidance of things because of my fear.

Because I’m afraid of doing something, I avoid it or hold back or become stuck.  Kind of like what fearful flyers do in response to their fear of flying–they avoid flying or they fly only when they have to or they fly the same terrible old way they’ve been flying for years–scared and miserable.

So I asked myself what FEAR do I have that has caused me to avoid things.  Here’s my short list:  I’m afraid of technology.  I’m afraid of starting something complicated that’s going to take a whole lot of work or discipline.  I’m afraid of not being perfect or not doing something perfectly.

Keeping in mind Ken’s advice on tackling FEAR, I have come up with some goals for 2010.  (1) Increase our marketing of the newly designed downloadable Flight Harmonizer so that more fearful flyers will have the freedom to fly without fear with the help of this amazing audio product. (2) By June 1, finish and publish the book about fear of flying that Capt. Ron and I have been working on.  (3) Focus on continual improvement of our newly designed fearlessflight.com website so that it can be an even better resource for fearful flyers.  (4) I want to keep learning and using social networking tools to find and connect with fearful flyers such as our Facebook fan page.

These goals mean I’ll be facing my fear of technology and fear of trying something new and complicated.  I need to do some rechoosing in 2010 to meet the goals that I’ve set.  I’ll need to remind myself frequently that our mission and passion is to help people become better flyers and enjoy the freedom of flying.

What fearful thing do you need to face this year that requires you to rechoose?  Your fear of flying?  Fear of failure?  Fear of quitting a job you hate?  Fear of starting your own business?

Related posts:

1. Fear of Flying or Fear of Landing

Okay, so yes, I’ll admit it.  Airplanes do crash.  But the likelihood of it happening to the one you’re on is pretty slim.  The latest airplane crash statistics show that your kid has a better chance of growing up to be President of the United States than you have of dying in a plane crash.

So let’s talk for a moment about fearful flyers’ dwelling on the, shall we say, negative side of flying.

Show fearful flyers two newspaper stories–one about safety statistics and another one about a plane crash–and I can bet they’ll read the one about the plane crash and ignore the other one.

Perhaps you want more concrete evidence of their negative flying bias.  Here are two.  The traffic on our crash statistics page gets the most visitors…because of  fearful flyers and their crashing mentality.

My blog titles that are negative about flying get more readers than those with positive-sounding titles. Like the title of this post–did you decide to read it because of that dreaded “crash” word in the title?

Like I said, fearful flyers like to dwell on the bad side of flying–crashing and dying.

In our fear of flying classes, we tell fearful flyers that they have to do something different.  In other words, stop dwelling on the plane crashing and remember about how safe it is.  Capt. Ron is fond of saying, “Flying is the safest way to travel on the planet.”

So how do you change the channel of the airline crash channel that plays continually in your mind? If you need some reinforcement about the good parts about flying–the soaring and the safe takeoffs and landings, then I have just the place for you.

It’s called Flight Level 350. The best way to describe this site is that it’s like a YouTube of Aviation.  Video after video of planes doing what planes do best.  Planes of all sizes and shapes.

I just watched a video of a huge Qantas plane, certainly the biggest I’ve ever seen, takeoff.  It was a beautiful site.  As I watched the takeoff roll, I thought of all the times I’ve heard fearful flyers say, “How can that big piece of metal possibly get off the ground?”  This Qantas plane just gently lifts up off the ground and points skyward.   Without any hesitation or being like the Little Engine That Could “I think I can I think I can.”  This huge mass of an airplane just lifts up and off it goes.

If you have a trip planned and find yourself dwelling on crashing, dying, and turbulence, do something different.  Bring up this site and watch a few videos.  Marvel at the marvelous machines.  Then visualize your flight floating and soaring like the airplanes you’re watching.

And then repeat this mantra over and over: “I think I can, I think I can” and pretty soon you WILL become a fearless flyer!

Related posts:

1. Planes and Fear of Flying the Hollywood Way
2. Afraid to Fly? Then Meet the Pilots!
3. Today Wasn’t A Good Day to Fly

1/16/10 Saturday morning from 10:00 to noon

Go here for Cleared for Takeoff class details and the sign-up page.

Need Help Getting to the Gates?

Related posts:

1. Next Basic Fear of Flying Class 10/24/09
2. Announcing Advanced Fear of Flying Class
3. Piloting the Cleared for Takeoff Class

Our monthly Cleared for Takeoff class met this weekend at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.  For two hours, fearful flyers shared, learned, and asked Capt. Ron about fear of flying, takeoffs, turbulence, and landings.

Capt. Ron  patiently answered questions and made new fear of flying fans  with jokes like these:  “Turbulence bothers me in the cockpit because I have to put down my copy of USA Today!”  One woman told Capt. Ron he should be on Oprah because he’s so “caring and compassionate.”

During class, I always remain in the background, listening to students’ questions, jotting down blog ideas.  Fearful flyer questions are good writing fodder.  But during this Cleared for Takeoff class, I asked my own questions: “Where are all the men?  Are women the only ones afraid to fly?”  The majority of fearful flyers who come to class are women.  Is fear of flying a female problem?  Should we blame fear of flying on the fact that we’re the weaker, fairer sex?  Could it be related to hormones??

Men do go online to order our FearlessFlight Harmonizer. They order downloads of our downloadable Cleared 4 Takeoff class. But by and large, they don’t go public with their fear of flying.

Why not?  That four-letter word they don’t like to use:  FEAR.  And I’m not talking about flying fear.  A lot of men are scared to admit they’re scared to fly.  It’s about being brave. Being MANLY!  It’s a macho thing not to be seen as a “wuss” about flying.  So many men suffer in silence.  They creatively disguise their flying fear by saying things like:  “I’m bothered by flying” or ”I’m not a very good flyer” or ”I really hate to fly.”

So all you fearful flyer guys, as Dr. Phil says, “It’s time to get real.”  It’s time to bring your fear of flying out of your carry-on baggage.  Again to use Dr. Phil’s words of wisdom, “You can’t get over what you can’t acknowledge.”  And there’s nobody better man than Capt. Ron to help you overcome it once you do admit it.  He gets what it’s like to be a fearful flyer.  He’s been there!  He always begins class with the story of his first flight, which made a fearful flyer out of him until he finally overcame it to become a pilot.

We at Fearlessflight.com aren’t going to laugh at you or embarrass you or shame you.  We recognize that flying scares the #@)?!#! out of you.  You’re actually allowed to be afraid.  And we don’t care whether you’re a man or a woman.  You just have to want to become a better flyer.

About the Author:  Diane Owens has been helping people overcome their fear of flying since 2005.  She writes about fear of flying for Fearless Flight.com and assists Capt. Ron Nielsen in spreading the message that flying is the safest way to travel on the planet.

Related posts:

1. Planes and Fear of Flying the Hollywood Way
2. The Crashing Side of Flying
3. Today Wasn’t A Good Day to Fly

This class covers takeoffs and turbulence as well as presenting strategies for coping with fear of flying.

Although the class is free, please register here so that you can receive email directions to the class.

Related posts:

1. Free Fear of Flying Class

I came across this column called Feeding the Fear of Flying about the writer’s fearful flyer husband.  The couple’s solution to cure fear of flying made me smile and reminded me of what we advise fearful flyers to do.

The writer described her own fear of heights (which doesn’t bother her in an airplane) and told how her husband has tried everything to get over his fear of flying.  Well, not everything, because he hasn’t come to Fearless Flight.com for help to my knowledge!

The one thing that made him feel better was to fly in one of those small twin-prop planes, the ones that scare the pants off me.  Give me a big solid commercial airliner and I’m great.  Put me in one of those little tiny cans, and I suddenly remember MY fear of heights.

The writer guessed that her husband’s fear of flying was less in a smaller plane because he felt more in control.  He could see the pilot.  Not being in control seems to bother 90% of the fearful flyers I work with.  I just spoke with someone earlier today who realized that this was a large part of his fear.

The writer and her husband have read that some airlines are considering putting on one of the radio channels a live voice feed from the cockpit to calm the passengers. Pilots can choose to speak on the PA system when they want, but with this live feed, the passengers would sample everything that goes on in the cockpit.  Meet the pilots…up close, personal, uncensored.

Until that day comes with the Pilots’ Cockpit Radio Show, I’d suggest doing something else to Meet the Pilots.  Ask to pre-board because you’re a fearful flyer.  Tell the flight attendants that you’re afraid to fly and that it really helps you to connect with the pilots.

I just spoke with a woman who followed this advice, and it made a huge difference.  She had flown only twice in 38 years when she decided to tackle her fear. She bought the Fearless Flight Harmonizer, then came to the Cleared for Takeoff class and heard our advice:  Meet the pilots.  She said the pilot was very kind and even took her into the cockpit for a few minutes.  During the flight, she kept her eyes closed, listened to the Flight Harmonizer, and visualized being a cork on the water.  It worked!  Now she’s looking forward to many more trips to make up for all that lost time.

You CAN overcome fear of flying by doing something different.  OR you think of all the things the airlines can do to make you feel better about flying.  I’ve learned the answer is inside you, not inside the cockpit.

About the Author:  Diane Owens has been helping people overcome their fear of flying since 2005.  She writes about fear of flying for Fearless Flight.com and assists Capt. Ron Nielsen in spreading the message that flying is the safest way to travel on the planet.

Related posts:

1. Pill-Popping Pilots–Are You Kidding Me?
2. Today Wasn’t A Good Day to Fly
3. The Crashing Side of Flying

Our first task was classroom setup, which may sound unimportant but really isn’t.  Eric and I are both pilots for the same airline.  We actually flew together as Captain and First Officer over fifteen years ago.  After a quick re-introduction, we were soon working together.  Since we had been locked out of the classroom until a custodian arrived, setup time was shorter than we anticipated. Eric and I had to have a plan of action prior to entering the room, and we had to complete the set-up once we gained access to the room.

And why is this so important?  This was actually a perfect demonstration of Crew Resource Management.  Flight crews are trained to be objective, cool, and collected.  We are groomed to be team players.  We are goal-oriented people.  This is, quite possibly, the most important keystone in airline, or aviation safety.

Once Eric and I agreed on the set-up details, we rolled up our shirtsleeves and made it happen.  We even revised the plan as we went along.  This team effort allowed us to have the room ready in time for our fearful flyer students.

Flight crews fly airplanes in the same fashion.  These checks and double-checks and our refined attitudes contribute greatly to airline safety.  It’s not just the pilots and flight attendants who have this attitude:  Virtually all work groups within any airline share these essential characteristics!  It is a fact:  There is no “I” in “TEAM.”

For the duration of the class, I was the camera guy to film Capt. Ron teaching and the fearful flyers’ questions.  This meant that I needed to be in two places at once.  I compromised and placed the camera on the side of the classroom, simply pivoting the camera to view Capt. Ron and the specific student asking a question.

As the class began, Eric listed on a dry erase board some key concerns of the fearful flyers.   After two hours of enthusiastic classroom discussion, Ron wrapped up the formal portion of the presentation, and Eric then took the floor to discuss some specific topics about the Airbus.

Eric has a great deal of experience with both the Airbus and Boeing aircraft, which are both commonly used by the airlines.  He discussed the differences in the various sounds and sensations of flight in these aircraft.  Then he answered questions about turbulence, rain shower activity, and airline flight after dark.

After the class, some students remained to ask specific questions of us pilots.   In effect, we ended up with three independent discussion groups.  The students went  from group to group to get their specific questions answered.

In conclusion, it was a great experience to volunteer at the Cleared for Takeoff class.  It has been said that if you want to learn a subject, then teach it.  The questions of the students and their courageous sharing of their concerns has provided me a new perspective as an airline pilot.  I look forward to volunteering in the future!

Capt. John who has been flying since 1983 and has logged 20,000 hours of flying is today’s guest blogger.

Related posts:

1. Fear of Flying–No Men Allowed!
2. What’s the Big Deal About Takeoff?

Oprah is devoting the next two weeks to Living Your Best Life.  Each day a show covers a specific area; next week are live webcasts as follow up to this week.  Monday was about weight.  Tuesday featured Dr. Oz on achieving better health.  Wednesday’s topic is spirituality.  Suze Orman focuses on money on Thursday, and the week finishes up  Friday with sex.

Unfortunately overcoming fear of flying didn’t make Oprah’s list of ways to live your best life.  So…I’ll offer my take on it.

My perspective on “Living Your Best Life by Overcoming Your Fear of Flying” involves paying attention to Elizabeth Lesser’s wise words.  It just so happens that Elizabeth Lesser is one of Oprah’s spiritual experts for Best Life Week.  An interview with Elizabeth I read on the Spirituality and Practice web site inspired me to write this post.  I recommend reading the whole post, but I’ll summarize two things that struck me in relationship to overcoming fear of flying.

In response to the interview question of “How can pain help us create our best life?” Elizabeth quotes the poet  Rumi who says, “Wherever a pain is, that’s where the cure goes.”  Then she says, “What he means by this is that if we turn and face the pain, and ask it what its message is, we will find the cure. We’re a strange lot, us humans! We tend to resist pain, and therefore we resist finding the cure. Instead of growth, we choose to stay stuck in a situation or a mindset.”

Ah…the “stuck” word!  Whether you’re stuck in a mindset, a relationship, or fear of flying, stuck is stuck and not useful for  living your best life.   Staying stuck is resisting change, and growth is not possible without change.  Staying stuck is saying “I’m not going to fly because I hate what it does to me.”

Being stuck is telling yourself that you’ll never be able to overcome your fear of flying.

Getting Unstuck

If you are going to get unstuck from your fear of flying, you must change whatever you’ve been doing.  Whether it’s actively seeking a solution through a fear of flying program or by confronting the pain of your fear by committing to fly until you’re over your fear, you must do something different. Otherwise, you will be stuck in the same fear that keeps you stuck now at the end of this year, and the next one, and the next.

Elizabeth Lesser wisely offered insight into fear and anxiety during her interview: ” But I suggest a different solution to our anxiety — and that is to relax into the uncertainty. The more we try to control the uncontrollable, the more fearful and tightly wound we become.”   She uses  another critical word in overcoming fear of flying–control!

Fearful flyers want to be in control.  But Elizabeth says that the more we try to control the situation, the more fearful we become.  She suggests that we relax into the uncertainty.  That takes practice.  That takes acceptance.  That takes the spiritual practice of being mindful of the present moment and realizing that the present moment is the only thing we have control over.

So…how will you go about Creating and Living Your Best Life in 2009?  Get a better sex life?  Drop some pounds?  Or…will this be the year you finally lose that flying fear?

About the Author:  Diane Owens has been helping people overcome their fear of flying since 2005.  She writes about fear of flying for Fearless Flight.com and assists Capt. Ron Nielsen in spreading the message that flying is the safest way to travel on the planet.

Related posts:

1. Fear of Flying Is No Joke

• What if we crash?
• What if the plane’s too heavy to get off the ground?
• What if there’s turbulence and the plane can’t take it?
• What if I can’t take it and have a panic attack on board?
• And the ultimate…what if I die?

The Today show featured a segment on seven ways to end  worry.  From this segment below featuring Trisha Calvo, the executive editor from Shape magazine, I learned that seven million Americans suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. You may not have that problem if you suffer from fear of flying, but you likely have a tendency toward some degree of anxiety.

Worry can make you sick.  Time spent in worry is very unproductive.  So you may want to  try some of these tips to see if they make a difference in your fear of flying anxiety.  I’ll summarize them here, but be sure to watch the video below for all the details.

1. Bust your worry with exercise.
2. Focus on your breathing.
3. Cut back or eliminate caffeine.
4. Cut back or eliminate  alcohol.
5. Keep a joy journal.
6. Schedule worry time.
7. Wean yourself off worry triggers.

The last tip about weaning yourself from triggers is something that a fearful flyer can certainly do.  If you find yourself watching You Tube videos about bad landings or turbulence, stop watching!  If you’re focused on Googling plane crash statistics, stop that!  If you’re dwelling on the details of a particular crash, snap out of it right now!

In other words, avoid the stuff that makes you think flying isn’t safe.  Concentrate on a cool flying site instead.   Dwell on all the trips taken by the people who are registered on Flight Memory.com.  You can track the number of flights taken yesterday (without a crash!), the number of miles flown, and lots of other interesting flight data.   And when you yourself become a fearless flyer, you can join and begin to record all your miles!

One of the things Ms. Calvo said on the Today show  really hit home with me.  She said we should learn to take charge of the things we CAN control and let go of the things we can’t.  Like me, fearful flyers admit to being big control freaks, so maybe this is a good piece of advice for all us worry warts and control freaks as we begin the new year.  Let’s leave unproductive worry behind in the old year!

About the Author:  Diane Owens has been helping people overcome their fear of flying since 2005.  She writes about fear of flying for Fearless Flight.com and assists Capt. Ron Nielsen in spreading the message that flying is the safest way to travel on the planet.

Related posts:

1. Top 10 Worries Besides Fear of Flying
2. Fear of Flying Pill–Myth or Cure?