How is it possible to have a fear of flying?

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JCV

In my opinion, it has to do with two things: Understanding and Control. When people drive, even if they are not the one driving the car, they understand how to drive and the rules of the road, so it is easier to relax. When in an airplane, they are not in control of the situation, and they don't understand anything about what is going on around them. Add to that the perception that if a plane crashes it is unsurvivable (not true, by the way), and that is where the fear starts. Once that fear grows large enough, it can be very hard, if not impossible to reason away. I once saw a show about a class for people that had a crippling fear of flying. Know how they conquered that fear? Knowledge. They were taught all about flying, aircraft, even taken on a tour of the air traffic control so they fully understood what is going on during a flight. They were then able to conquer their fears.

I have no fear of flying, but my husband and I used to own a boat...every time we took it out I was petrified. I know a lot about flying but nothing about boating- that lack of knowledge made me feel really helpless!

andywho2006

Fear of control. Fear of heights. Fear of being in an enclosed space. Lack of understanding that a heavy machine can actually fly. I know that flying is very safe and I understand the physics but I still get nervous.

bmi=22

Your "additional details" provides logic that, in your mind, should thwart the fear of flying. Your facts are correct, I believe; however, your assumption that fear is reason-based is not. Fear is often not rational.

G Dogg

Phobia

Roxci

The answer to your question is Gravity. If there was a case where the plane crashed, there is so much ground to cover to make a safe landing. Although there is no risk of a collision with another aircraft some people are just afraid of heights and not being able to escape a difficult situation to which they have no control over.

ARTHUR R

As a child and teenager I used to dive. My favorite, though not thrilling to look at, was a back dive off a 10 Meter board. I knew exactually where my body was in relationship to the ground.

After loosing most of my hearing, Army guns and rock & roll, I can't make a back dive off a 1 meter board without landing flat on my back.

My problem may be the problem many people have with flying. When that pilot pulls back on the stick and the plane goes into a 45 degree climb, I freak out. It all has to do with balance which is controled by your inner ear. I too used to love to fly, I had no fear.

Vertigo will do strange things to you.

leahhy

You love it so of course you would not understand where the fear lies. Just like people who have a fear don't understand how you can love it so much.
Everyone had a fear of something. Some are worst than others and I guess that anyone who does not experience that same fear does not understand what the other person goes through.
In the case of the airplane, I guess the fear would be that if anything happening in the air, then you know you are going to crash and may not survive. You may have 10-15 minutes or longer to worry about what is about to happen. In contrast in a car things would more than likely happen much quicker, with not so much worry time.

rescuemebefore

the reason im afraid of flying is not because of the fact that the plane may crash. Its fear of the unknown. Most people who havent flown in a plane have never flown in a plane and its there first time like me. Or like me they can be afraid of heights.

dragonsong

Human beings are born with only two basic fears: 1) FEAR OF FALLING and 2) fear of loud noises.

I think someone (not you, of course) might have a fear of flying.

JTT Properties

Obviously answerer #1 doesn't know how many people die in cars compared with how many die in airplanes. People are afraid to fly because they are misinformed. You are more likely to get struck by lightning than die in an airplane.

People think if an airplane loses an engine it's going to crash. I've lost an engine in my airplane 3 or 4 times, and I've landed safely every time.

People are always afraid of what they don't understand.

Heinz M

It's like any fear and not rational.

TrofyWife

YOU love it. Some people dont for very understanbdable reasons.
A. There would be no escape should a situation arise you desperately need one.

B. If you crash in a car theres a chance you will survive, if you crash in a plane your going to die, period.

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