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Kindergartner's Scissors In His Carry-on, Patrick Narrowly Escapes Extraordinary Rendition
OK, that's a bit of an overstatement, but it is hard to overstate how stupid security efforts have become, as you will see in this week's ASK THE PILOT.
'...But then something incredible, almost beyond belief, catches his eye from deep within the gaping pocket of my zipper case. It's a small pair of scissors. The man's eyebrows nearly spring from the top of his head, as if he's come across a pinless hand grenade or a petri dish bubbling with anthrax. With trembling fingers he lifts the deadly Fiskars for all to see. The blunt-tipped, inch-and-a-half cutting blades glint menacingly ...'
To read the full story, click here: http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2006/09/22/askthepilot202/
Entry to Salon is free by watching a brief advertisement.
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From The SOAR Message Board
Hello all, logging on again after a prolonged busy period to write about a seemingly routine flight that became perhaps my greatest challenge as a fearful flyer.
As many of you have previously read in this space, SOAR helped me to achieve a great victory with a roundtrip to India. Having accomplished something I never thought possible, I was sure that I had come a long way in conquering a phobia that has haunted me for most of my adult life. So when a businesss trip to Denver approached, I felt confident -- better than I had in years.
I took care, however, to run through my strengthening exercises and review selected SOAR segments. Like a visit to the weight room, these added mass to the muscle I had built a few months ago in preparation for my very long haul to Central Asia.
And indeed the flight to Denver aboard a UAL 737 was routine and calm. After a drive to the airport with no anticipatory anxiety, boarding, taxi , and takeoff passed by with no panic whatsoever. Once at cruising altitude, I popped open my DVD player, sat back, and relaxed. I also found time to write in my journal and read a bit. As final descent neared, I enjoyed the marvelous view from my window seat, which was quite calming. Looking down at my hands, I rejoiced that my fingernails would survive intact, rather than getting chewed to bits as in previous, panicky flights.
But the real test came on the flight back. On the morning of the flight, while packing my valise with my own 'in-flight entertainment,' I made the startling discovery that I had lost my prescription of valium, probably on the flight to Denver.
Allow me to explain: I am in full agreeement with Capt. Tom when he says that valium and other sedatives/tranquilizers do not offer a long-term cure to flight anxiety. Other than taking off 'the edge,' they do nothing to help the fearful flyer cope with the elements of flight. But I had always kept a bottle as a 'break glass in case of emergency' measure. And let me also explain that in four flights -- USA to Germany, Germany to India, India to Germany, and Germany to USA -- I did not need valium due to the strength of the SOAR method. I did take Tylenol PM during one flight, but discovered that it causes the fearful flyer to be a groggily fearful flyer and, as such, does not induce sleep.
So, quite a predicament. As I drove to the airport, I knew this would really put SOAR to the test. I felt like Karl Wallenda about to do a high-wire act without a net. Would I make it?
I boarded a UAL 777 at Denver, thanking my lucky stars that at least I'd be doing this on a big bird. Unfortunately, I was seated towards the rear of the plane, which made takeoff extra bumpy and unpleasant. But, the freak-out button was not hit and all was well for the moment. Yes, I was jittery; yes, I was fidgety; but once the in-flight entertainment began, things improved. I was laughing so hard watching the movie 'Nacho Libre' that I didn't have time to be scared.
But after the movie ended, time seemed to crawl by and my mind began to wander . . . what if, what if . . . you really CAN'T fly without valium, you know . . . you're flying WITHOUT VALIUM, and don't you understand the MAGNITUDE of this? Random thoughts like this began to plague me. I kept checking the Airmap, hoping in vain that we were almost there. I took off my watch and hid it. I fought back as best I could: brought out the magazines and books; brought out pen and paper and started scribbling.
But here's the thing: I was not panicking about flying, but the absence of a talisman that I believed helped enable me to fly. I did not lose it, did not freak out. Nervous, yes, but not about flying. In the most rational part of my brain -- trained now through SOAR -- I knew that I would survive. Put another way, I was 'sweating it out': forcing myself to endure a part of life for which I was absolutely convinced I needed a crutch.
And guess what? I made it. No serious incidents, no health emergencies, no lasting damage. When I got to the gate and was reunited with my fiancee, I explained what had happened and said, 'Wow, honey, I'll need to make sure I get a refill as soon as possible.'
'Why?' she asked.
'Well, because--'
'You just made a three-hour flight without valium. You don't need it anymore. You faced down your fear and you're already discounting it.'
That was a bolt from the blue. She was right. Am I convinced of that? Perhaps not entirely. I still think having the fearful flyer's equivalent of a fire extinguisher is a good thing. But I do know that without SOAR, the mere prospect of flying without valium would have prevented me from stepping aboard an airliner. And that's a huge chasm I've crossed.
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