DRIVING IN THE RAIN

It has been raining a lot here in Connecticut. Tonight driving home in the
rain, I was being quite careful. I started thinking about driving versus flying.
No doubt every airline pilot also drives, and I'm sure if you asked, every
one of them would tell you they feel safer in the plane than in a car - even
though the skills of being an airline pilot carry over to driving and make
them exceptionally good drivers.

I was thinking of asking you to come up with the number of miles you
drive in a year. If you drive 15,000 miles a year mostly in urban and
suburban areas, divide that by 5.4. The result is 2778. In a years driving,
you would have a risk equal to 2778 airline flight.

Then I started thinking how many flights I did a year as a pilot. When I
flew New York to Tokyo non-stops, I did 6 flights a month. Figuring a
months vacation, that comes out to 66 flights a year. So, as a professional
airline pilot, I was 42 times safer (assuming I did no driving) than a
person driving 15,000 miles a year.

When I did New York to L.A. or San Francisco flights, I did 16 flights a
month, or 176 flights a year. So when doing those trips, I was about 16
times safer.

Of course, when I add in the drive to the airport 8 times a month to do
those 16 flights, the driving exposes me to the same risk as 148 flights.
If I add my driving and flying together (expressed in terms of flight) 148
plus 176 equals which is way short of the 2778 flights driving 15,000
miles equals in terms of fatality risk.

Even if you add in a few trips to the supermarket, etc., you can easily get
an understanding why insurances companies sell pilots life insurances
at the best possible rates. We - in our profession - are a better life
insurance risk than you are in your profession.

If we only had half a brain, if it were the left half, knowing that flying is
safer than driving is a 'no brainer'; we would always fly rather than drive
if given the option. But if the half were the right half, we would never fly.
Why? Because the emotional part of the brain looks at that one single
crash that happens once every several years in the U.S. and can't get
past the idea that that could be the plane I'm on.

Logically, we know flying is the way to go. Emotionally, it is no way to go.
But we do have two sides of the brain, and we need to let them balance
each other.

Some seem to think the rational mind should dominate; I don't agree with
that. I think we need to make rational decisions INFORMED by feelings
but NOT DOMINATED by feelings.

How do we keep feelings from dominating? Panic is such an absolutely
awful feeling that - if an airline flight could mean panic - taking the flight
is very difficult indeed. Look at this next email, and then I'll have a couple
more things to say . . .

- - - - -

Hi Tom,

We came home from Disney about 2 weeks ago. I had not flown in
9 1/2 years due to fear of having a panic attack (even though I don't
have them). I just was always afraid to fly, fearing I would want to get
off. So for the past 91/2 years we have traveled via train, and car with
our family. My husband (God bless him) never pressured me to fly.
He was very patient. In May 2005 I decided on MY OWN that I wanted
o overcome this. I contact you and started my DVD's. From the minute
that I started the program, I was very calm, I guess it comforted me
knowing someone was helping me. My flight to Disney was scheduled
for 9/29. I have to say I never 'dreaded' it. I worked hard on the
exercises and did my best. I did go to my regular M.D and ask him
or a tranquilizer just in case, so I had a back up.

The day before the flight I had 'butterflies'..and it was tolerable. I was
so surprised, that was all it was . It just felt like a normal 'nervous
feeling'. I thought I would be flipping out! The morning of the flight, I
was nervous. I did take a half of a pill at the airport. The waiting was
hard. It took the edge off. I met the captain who said that he had been
doing this for 35 years and that he would much rather be in the air
than any where else. the flight was smooth. I was so excited. I did not
feel like I couldn't breathe. I actually looked out the window a few times
and showed my kids how cool things looked. It was LIBERATING!!!

Coming home the flight was not as good, we felt some turbulence and
I was a little more nervous, but I managed through. After I thought to
myself that the turbulence really wasn't that bad. I also remembered
you always saying that turbulence was normal and that the pilots
knew how to handle it.

Thank you so much for helping me. I will fly again. I will have to
prepare again and I am sure I will be nervous. I am certain that it will
take more flights to get me more comfortable (like anything else!).
But I DID IT!!! and that was the hardest part. I will hold on to the fact
this flight went well and it was a good experience! God bless you
and your work to help people overcome this fear! I am sure I will be
in touch for the next one. Take Care!

- - - - -

OK. Just the possibility of panic - even though she didn't have a panic
disorder - made flying out of the question, until the Strengthening
Exercise taught her how to train her emotional mind to manage itself
automatically.

When you are ready, we'll be here to help. Most of the time, when you
call, you'll get a live person (Lisa or me) on the phone; people are
surprised about that. But she and I are dedicated to this, and if you
decide you want to start the program, we will be with you all the way
through, and with you even afterwards when you fly.

I always ask that you let me know when you are flying, so if you need
to call for a boost, I'll be sure to answer my cell phone.

If you want to start now, go to:

http://www.fearofflying.com/store.shtml

and read our recommendations; if you have questions, please call me
at 877 332-7359 or 203 258-4803 (I'm available from 10 AM until 7 PM
eastern time). Or to reach Lisa, call 800 332-7359 or 914 763-9603.

ONE MORE THING

When you consider how you exposed yourself (by driving) to 2778
flights, consider also that nothing happened. You exposed yourself
to the risk of 2778 flights and you are fine. That's how safe it is to
take 2778 flights a year.

==========

Hello Tom,
I just returned from my Las Vegas trip. My wife and I flew from
Providence to Chicago - Chicago to Vegas. In total we had four flights.
I had no anxiety, and actually enjoyed the flights....I remember
somewhere in one of you letters, or maybe on the video you said that
after you meet the Captain the exercise will kick in and you may not
even know why you aren't anxious. That was the case with me. The
Captain from United actually came out to meet me in the boarding area.
The Jell-O analogy worked well for me! Thank you for your program; I
don't think I could have done this without it.

==========

ONE OF OUR GRADS WHO IS GOING WANTS YOU TO KNOW
ABOUT THIS

Every year, the Dalai Lama meets with scientists in a panel format
to discuss different topics. This year, the topic is meditation and how
it can be helpful in addressing both mental and physical health
issues. Meditation can be a very powerful tool in one's life, and I think
anyone dealing with flight anxiety may find it helpful. I am a fellow
SOAR participant.

At this conference, which will be held in Washington D.C. November
8 - 10th, numerous physicians and psychologists will speak. In
addition to discussing the physiology and such of meditation, speakers
will share how they are using meditation in treatment of stress, physical
pain and suffering, anxiety and depression, cardiovascular disease
and more. There will then follow panel discussions of the presentations.
The Dalai Lama, as well as a Christian contemplative, and several
others are on the panel. The purpose is to foster better understanding
by all of the interaction between meditation and science and the
challenge of living a full and healthy life.

If you would like more information, go to:
www.investigatingthemind.org/schedule.sessions.html

==========

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE HOW FLYING FEELS?

To get started, please just go to:

http://www.fearofflying.com/store.shtml

==========

IF YOU ARE NOT SURE, CALL ME

I'm available from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern Time (same as New York) at
877 332-7359. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call (203) 258-4803

Or email me at: tom@fearofflying.com

==========

FEAR OF FLYING BLOG

All the newsletter from the past year or so are at:

www.fearofflyingblog.com

plus some photos of last years New York SOAR-FEST and blogs
by Bonnie, Cap'n Steve (AA captain) and others.

==========

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BLOGGING?

Oh yes, what does 'blog' mean anyway? It is an abbreviation of web log;
a few years ago, a few people started just putting their daily thoughts on
an Internet site; they called them their web log. That got shortened to 'blog'.

If so, please submit your blog to tom@fearofflying.com