Overcoming anxiety and fear when flying on an airplane is a common problem that a surprising number of people have, considering how commonplace flying has become as the world becomes a smaller place. This fear can be overcome easily through a few recommendations and reminders.

A simple and effective solution was put forth by Allen Carr in his second book “The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying” that I have had the opportunity to read with the hope of conquering my fear of travelling on an airplane. His first book was also quite effective and was titled “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking” which we have also done a quick summary for and has helped me a lot as I used to smoke for 12 years, but have since quit after reading the book as a testament to the power of his explanation.

I am a strong believer in this author, and when I started to have problems flying I made a simple decision to read ”The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying” to win myself over again!

Before I never had any problem with flying. I truly enjoyed flying to different countries and experiencing the onboard entertainment systems. But after a recent car accident, I started to panic whenever I was onboard an airplane! One day I realized, that I would not be able to use airplane if I did not read this book.

As my first language is Russian, I tried to read this on-line, or download it, and this was not possible. So I was finally able to purchase this in an internet shop for a reasonable $USD 12.00 and after waiting 10 days the book was finally in my hands! After reading it in a day, it helped me to start enjoying flying.

I know a lot of people have this fear and I hope that I will be able to explain everything that I have learned from this book so that it may in turn help all those who have the same fears.

The main idea of this book is how to overcome your fear, worries and enjoy life.

Allen Carr gives the following 9 recommendations (some may apply to other problems aside from flying):

1. Follow recommendations
2. Make yourself free from preconception
3. Start in a good spirits
4. Think positive
5. Take action!
6. Enjoy
7. Don’t avoid thinking about upcoming flight
8. You have to capture situation
9. Don not be the Pilot, let the professionals do their job

Fear is a natural and normal emotion. It helps to instinctively protect the precious life that we have and shows sensitivity of our mind. Fear of flights is rational. But with our false misconception, fantasies, mass media brain washing, we only make our fears deeper. We have to just understand that our fear is fake and to get rid of it.

First, we think that flight is not normal as human beings were not born with wings. The laws of physics suggest even a car or boat w speed 250km/h could take off, and hat swept by the wind can fly because of a broad brim. But airplane has some advantages that a simple top hat does not:

1) Airplane generates its own propulsion with modern jet engines, and can control its speed and navigation
2) Airplane can adjust the wings, rudder, and aileron for changes in flight
So, it is not miracle that thousands of planes made of aluminum alloy and composite materials could take off from land and stay in the air as this obeys the natural rules of the universe.
But what if the Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines powering your plane fails? The middle index of possibility is less than 1 in 10 million.

SOME IMPORTANT FACTS TO KEEP IN MIND:

1) ENGINE PROBLEMS – Airplane have 2-4 engines, and EVEN if something happened its can fly with just 1 engine.

2) WING FALLING OFF – What if a wing suddenly falls off?! Worry that in w speed like 800km/h the wing might fall off the same like worry, that with speed like 16km/h your arm could fall, which is impossible!

3) TURBULENCE – A lot of people are afraid of turbulence. It is not dangerous. You may compare this with ride on a cobble stone road. It is uncomfortable, but not dangerous. Pilot utilize th planes weather systems to avoid patches of turbulence. But if u get into this zone – just shake yourself up and have fun as if in an amusement park ride!!

4) HUMAN FACTOR – Always remember that not everybody can be a pilot, they have been trained and are chosen from the best of the best. Even if the captain is incapacitated, the backup pilot may fly the plane. If there is also problem with the backup pilot, the airplane can be flown by auto pilot. But it is really impossible as this only happens in Hollywood movies.

5) FEAR OF HEIGHT – People think that they have this fear when onboard a plane, but it is not fear of height – it is in fact the fear of falling down from heights. Life was given to us not just to exist, but to live with a passion! Just enjoy the specatular view out of your window! I can guarantee you it is more comfortable to do in the airplane than from of the top of Mt. Everest where you would freeze without the protective shell of the fuselage.
So when you take your next flight, please try to keep in mind that flying on a commercial plane is not dangerous! Just imagine how many other things could happen while you drive your car! Firm objects, other cars, crazy drunk drivers, slippery road etc. On an airplane all this things are absent just clean route through the stratosphere!
Below statistics should further justify the safety and reliability of commercial flight.

DEATH BY: YOUR ODDS
• Cardiovascular disease: 1 in 2
• Smoking (by/before age 35): 1 in 600
• Car trip, coast-to-coast: 1 in 14,000
• Bicycle accident: 1 in 88,000
• Tornado: 1 in 450,000
• Train, coast-to-coast: 1 in 1,000,000
• Lightning: 1 in 1.9 million
• Bee sting: 1 in 5.5 million
• U.S. commercial jet airline: 1 in 7 million

Sources: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley

Mass media also has a tremendous impact on our susceptible human brains. For example, the London Underground at rush hour would be jam packed with people, it would be extremely difficult to breath, even if the train was stuck for 30 minutes in tunnel, but you will not feel like in a trap. However, if it will be the same situation the next day after fire in “King Cross” station, you will not feel comfortable, you will be really scared! Anything could happen that is minor, but it gets blown up because of mass media sensationalizing it and make us scared in future to use some kind of transport.

The fear of flying is only a psychological problem, based on misconceptions. It will disappear only when you realize that it is just a false idea! But people are different, some are irrational and they like to make problems for themselves, swimming against the stream….
Open the shell and you will discover inside a beautiful pearl!
For myself I can add that it is our choice to see glass with half of water half empty or half full. To be pessimists or optimists, we have to be owners of our minds, but not slaves of our thoughts. We can control our lives and turn to any side. The most pleasant victory it is not to advance somebody, the most important victory is to excel yourself!

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Remember life is way too short, don’t let it pass you by. Enjoy Hour Philippines!

Sincerely,

Lord and Aksana
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