Helping Someone to Overcome the Fear of Flying

Flying is a fast, easy way to travel - you can span great distances in very little time. But flying can be stressful, difficult proposition of people who have fears of flight. If you are seated on a plane next to someone who is panic-stricken about flying, helping her get through the flight will be the greatest act of kindest she could hope for. And with any luck, she'll be better prepared for dealing with her next flight without you.

1.Find the fearful. It is often easy to recognize a fellow passenger who is afraid to fly. More often than not, she will be up-front about her fear, telling you about it from the outset. She may also be giving physical cues, such as gripping the arm rests, breathing quickly, or tightly shutting her eyes on takeoff, landing, or during turbulence.

2.Draw her out. Before takeoff, strike up a conversation with the seatmate you suspect is afraid to fly. Ask her if she travels often. Usually, a fearful person will open up immediately upon being ask.

3.Listen. It's never good idea to dismiss someone's anxieties with glib reassurances. Give her a chance to express how she feels - what she is afraid of, what she thinks may help. Listen attentively without interrupting. Often, just expressing her fears can provide a release to the passenger. Acknowledge how hard this experience is for her and tell her that you applaud her courage. Tell her that she is not alone - you are by her side.

4.Help the passenger trust the pilot, the flight crew, and the plane itself. Make sure the flight attendant and the passenger meet. Educate the fearful passenger on the nature of turbulence, or ask a flight attendant to do so. Liken the turbulence to a bumpy road - neither will hurt the vehicle.

5.Remind the passenger to breathe. She may involuntarily hold her breathe from anxiety. Suggest she take deep breaths, breathing in through her nose and out through her mouth, which will aid in relaxation and reduce her anxiety. Lead by example. Take deep breaths so that her breathing synch with your rhythm.

6.Distract. Talk about everyday things. Get her focused on something she loves - her family, her job, her hobbies. Ask a constant stream of questions. Bring out a deck of cards, offer the use of your CD player, or share your laptop and play a game. Taking her mind off her fear can go a long way to erasing it.

Safety in Stormy Weather

Being in a plane during a thunderstorm can be unnerving for anyone. Here are some facts to alleviate your seatmate anxieties as well as your own.

-Aircraft radar can easily determine the size and intensity of storms so that the crew can plan accordingly. Storms won't come as a surprise to the crew.

-Pilots generally avoid thunderstorm, but flying through a storm isn't dangerous. The plane is a completely bonded metallic conductor. This means that a lighting strike would not go through the plane. Being in a plane during thunder and lightning is safe, both in the air and on the ground.