You may recall that you asked me to write about my flying experiences after I got my instrument rating, and about how I went from fearful airline passenger to instrument rated pilot. Since then, a number of people wrote to me about how inspiring my article was. I also heard from other people who are now pilots including one lady who is an aerobatic pilot (who was once a fearful airline passenger).
You may also recall that I have been taking an Emergency Maneuvers Training course (the curriculum designed by Rich Stowell at www.richstowell.com
I am now working on inverted flight. Talk about a confidence builder! In fact, much of the fear came back that I had originally experienced as an airline passenger a long time ago, but I was determined to work through it. My motivation: It will make me a safer and more confident pilot. Just before we did a full aileron roll (a 1-g maneuver, and a nice way to introduce inverted flight), I told my instructor, "I don't want this to happen." Then we did the roll, and my reaction was, "Oh! That wasn't so bad!" Then we did a half-aileron roll. That gave me more motivation than ever to lose weight! :-)
Nevertheless, I am learning to control the airplane in these unusual attitudes. I never thought I would do this, and I just wanted to share this with you. It's amazing what determination can make you do.
Now I can introduce myself and say, "Hi! My name is Kevin, and I like to fly upside down!"
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JUST SO YOU KNOW
So many people believe a plane can easily - even spontaneously - go out of control, I should add to Kevin’s article that it actually takes skill and persistence to make the aerobatic plane go simi-out-of-control. I say simi, because you have to keep certain pressures on the controls to keep it seemingly out of control, and if you relax those pressures and let the controls go to neutral, the plane simply returns to normal flight.
And, of course, we don’t do those things in an airliner anyway, but you should know the whole question of “out of control” is about you - not the plane. It is because YOU feel out of control that you come to imagine the plane is out of control.
Fortunately, it is just as easy for us at SOAR to show you have to regain control of feelings as it is for Kevin to control his aerobatic aircraft.
If you want to regain control, just call. 877 332-7359 for me. 800 332-7359 for Lisa.
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THIS WEEK’S INSPIRATIONAL NEWSLETTERS
Just wanted to let you know that I am home from my trip to Spain. It was wonderful and the flights were just fine. In fact I was just asked to go to China this summer and I think I will!! Thanks for all your help.
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I don’t have time right now to give you a detailed report, but we just got home from Ireland and I can’t tell you what a difference your help made in making the trip enjoyable. I can’t say I enjoyed the flying, but I managed it better than I thought I would, thanks directly to your tips and compassionate advice.
If you remember, I called you three days before my flight, and at that point I had decided I just wasn’t going to go - not a good decision, as we were bringing my two-year-old son to meet his grandparents and extended family for the first time!
I was very hesitant at first about asking to meet the pilot, but the gate attendant (Aer Lingus) was very nice about it. However, when she told me to go ahead and sit down and they would come and get me when the pilot was available, I figured that was the last I would hear of it.
Not so. A few minutes later, a cabin steward came and brought me to the cockpit, where the captain introduced himself and the co-pilot, and took a few minutes to calm my fears and also to tell me that it’s not unusual for them to have frightened flyers visit with them before the flight.
Twice during the flight, when we hit just the slightest turbulence, he sent the same cabin steward back to ask me if I was doing alright and did I need anything. I was truly touched by their concern and appreciation of what must seem like a ridiculous fear to them.
On the way back, I gave my letter to the gate attendant once again, and she told me to hang onto it until we were ready to board (the flight was delayed), but then a little bit later the captain actually came and found me out in the waiting area, introduced himself and talked to me about his experience, the weather on the way, and so forth.
He also sought me out while we were on our way to get our luggage after the flight and asked how the flight had gone. It was really amazing, and made me so much more at ease than I’ve ever been before on a flight.
The other huge things that helped were the strengthening exercise and the Jell-O analogy - wonderful tools, and I cannot thank you enough for getting me back in the air after four years and countless trips that I spent terrified before I decided to stop flying altogether.
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IMMEDIATE HELP IS AVAILABLE, EVEN AT THE LAST MINUTE
Capt. Tom Bunn MSW LCSW is both an airline captain and a licensed
therapist. Call (877) 332-7359 or (203) 258-4803
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE SOAR PROGRAM BUT MONEY IS HOLDING YOU BACK.
Payments can be spread out over six months with no extra fees. Contact
Lisa at (800) 332-7359 or (914) 763-9603 or email Lisa@fearofflying.com
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If so, please email me so the newsletter keeps reaching you. Please send
old and new address to:
tom@fearofflying.com
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MESSAGE BOARD ON FEAR OF FLYING
Got to www.fearofflying.com and click on the "message board" button.
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TO GET STARTED ON BEATING FEAR OF FLYING
To order any part of the SOAR Course or the Full Guaranteed SOAR Program,
go to:
http://www.fearofflying.com/begin.html
Or call Lisa at (800) 332-7359 or (914) 763-9603 if outside the toll
free area (US and Canada).