Wednesday Chat And Free Phone Counseling
Regular Wednesday Sessions
- Chat 9 - 11 PM Eastern time
- Free group phone counseling with Capt Tom from 10 - 11 PM Eastern time
To join in please go to www.fearofflying.com/chat.shtml. You can also find there a transcript of a recent chat.
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"The Captain Told The Flight Attendants To Sit Down So I Knew It Had To Be Bad"
This is what I hear again and again. So, let's get this misconception corrected. The pilots need to anticipate turbulence and tell the flight attendants to be seated before they need to be seated. Before they can sit down, the flight
attendants have to wrestle those big carts back to the rear of the
plane, and stow them. This is not easy in the first place. It is more difficult in turbulence. And, since the rear of the plane moves around more than
any other part, it can be a real challenge for the flight attendants to do that without getting a finger or a hand jammed between the cart and its stowage slot.
They need to be told to sit early, so they can
get that the carts put away -- and the loose items in the galley stowed -- before it gets bumpy enough for them to risk being injured while doing that job.
After they get that done, there really is no safety reason for them to be seated. But since the cabin service -- at least in economy -- is done with carts, there is nothing for them to do. So they wait it out seated. It isn't because of safety.
Years ago, before carts came into use, the flight attendants were rarely told to be seated. They could walk around the cabin in turbulence without being at risk. But if they were carrying trays, there was a possibility of dumping the contents of a tray -- or a stack of trays - onto a seated passenger.
Seating the flight attendants has nothing to do with safety. Turbulence is not a safety problem. The plane is as happy in turbulent air as in any other air. You might as well be, too.
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"The Captain Told The Flight Attendants To Sit Down So I Knew It Had To Be Bad"
This is what I hear again and again. So, let's get this misconception corrected. The pilots need to anticipate turbulence and tell the flight attendants to be seated before they need to be seated. Before they can sit down, the flight
attendants have to wrestle those big carts back to the rear of the
plane, and stow them. This is not easy in the first place. It is more difficult in turbulence. And, since the rear of the plane moves around more than
any other part, it can be a real challenge for the flight attendants to do that without getting a finger or a hand jammed between the cart and its stowage slot.
They need to be told to sit early, so they can
get that the carts put away -- and the loose items in the galley stowed -- before it gets bumpy enough for them to risk being injured while doing that job.
After they get that done, there really is no safety reason for them to be seated. But since the cabin service -- at least in economy -- is done with carts, there is nothing for them to do. So they wait it out seated. It isn't because of safety.
Years ago, before carts came into use, the flight attendants were rarely told to be seated. They could walk around the cabin in turbulence without being at risk. But if they were carrying trays, there was a possibility of dumping the contents of a tray -- or a stack of trays - onto a seated passenger.
Seating the flight attendants has nothing to do with safety. Turbulence is not a safety problem. The plane is as happy in turbulent air as in any other air. You might as well be, too.
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About 20/20
Many of our SOAR course participants responded to the request from 20/20 to talk with people who have struggled with fear of flying. However, they wanted someone who had to have a certain seat.
None of you who originally responded seemed to have that problem, so last week, I asked specifically for people with that problem. It was interesting to read the emails I got back. Again and again they said the reason they did not have that problem was that SOAR "fixed it" for them.
Here is an example:
You know how we former fearful fliers think. We'll make up anything..favorite seat, safe seat, lucky seat, unlucky seats, color of seats, who's sitting next to us, seat tray broken, seat too small, too big, wrong color, you name it. Your class stops all this "madness" and makes us experience flying just as it is. Take in the whole plane, not a "favorite" seat that's going to save your life. :)
Here's another:
I think the fact that the lady from 20/20 didn't get the response she expected is that your COURSE WORKS!! We all know the entire plane is safe, not a particular seat. I wrote her and told her I like a certain seat but it wasn't for "safety reasons." I can see the angle she's going after, but SOAR graduates won't fit the bill.
I like bulkhead seats because they have more leg room, I get to freely chat with the attendants and see what's going on in the front of the cabin. I've been seated in other areas of the plane and I certainly wouldn't cancel a trip because I didn't get my "special seat."
So its a credit to you and the SOAR program that we aren't wed to a special seat thinking it's the most safe seat. Consider your class an even greater success!! If we were all having our special seats or "Safe" seats, that'd show we were still worried about crashing to the point that seat selection was a major issue. THANKS,
One more:
Hi, Captain Tom!
The reason 20/20 cannot find anyone who will only sit in one place on the plane is because your course works too well!!
Taking a flight this Sunday to Ft. Lauderdale for Thanksgiving. Some preflight anxiety, but manageable.
Thanks so much, again, for your program.
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Anxiety About All Forms Of Travel
One email last week asked me to have more sensitivity for people who have difficulty with all kinds of travel. The person writing said that when I point out that driving involves far more risk than driving, it makes it more difficult for her to take a car trip.
I do understand the problem of being phobic about any form of travel. I do understand why staying at home provides more emotional calming than venturing out of the home. At home, we have two security blankets working to control anxiety:
- Control, and control of things means less things that are upsetting or threatening, and
- Connection, as you have people who can reassure you.
Why else is being at home calming? At home, there have many experiences with family members. The home itself is permeated with moments with family members. Every gift, every photo, the kitchen table, and dozens of other physical things connect with something which is not physical -- the feeling of being with someone who is important to you.
The problem is, the house is not portable. To travel, we need to permeate the inside of a person's brain - not just a room in a house - with moments which are calming. Being at home gives a person a psychological connection to these calming memories of family members, even if they are not present. To travel, we need to build that inside the mind. Otherwise, there must be a calming person physically going along.
The Strengthening Exercise establishes the kind of security blankets that exist inside the home (due to association with important people in ones life) to planes, to cars, to elevators, and so forth.
While it is true that travel involves some degree of risk, it is easy to forget that staying at home involves risk. Actually, it may not be a case of forgetting, but a case of intentional self-deception. Why? The quest for emotional safety is of such overriding importance that reality is easily sacrificed. All the person may know is that feeling safe comes only through absolute physical safety. Since absolute physical safety does not exist, it has to be provided by illusion, such as the illusion of control.
Build Something Calming Inside
Really, when the question is sensitivity to people who have difficulty with all kinds of travel, I am more likely to say, "Do you really want my understanding, or do you want to fix this?" it comes down to a question of how much ability to regulate emotions is -- or isn't -- built inside. If it isn't there, why not do something about building it inside.
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Fix The Flying Problem Now
Get started with the program that works. SOAR
was established in 1982 because no programs existed which could help
people with moderate to severe difficulties. Even today, no other
program offers help that is effective except for mild difficulties. No
matter how difficult flying is for you, we can help.
Get started now. The SOAR Fast Track program can be on your computer's screen in two minutes.
- Fast Track is inexpensive.
- Fast Track gives you the most help possible in the shortest time.
- A twenty-minute private session and unlimited group counseling sessions are included.
- What you pay for Fast Track is 100% transferable to the complete SOAR Course DVD or CD.
Getting started may be difficult, but you will feel better as soon as you do by clicking here.
We
are always here to help. As you go through the program, whenever you
have a question or a concern, please call me so we can talk it over.
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This Week's Hopefully Inspirational Email
I include these emails knowing full well that they are only met with the belief that SOAR can help others, but "nothing will help me". Yet, it is the only way we have to try to dispel that belief. That's why I include "hopefully inspirational " in the heading.
Dear Captain!
Your course has changed my life!!
From 1994 to 1998 I traveled the world on business. Flying was never a problem. In late 1998 I had one bad flight from Columbus to Chicago. Looking back it was just a bit of turbulance. But the fear I experienced on this one bad flight made me quit my job and stop flying.
After almost 10 years of absolute dread at even the thought of flying I was determined to get my old life back. I booked a trip for my family to Disney World in FL. I thought that such a large expense would "force" me to get on that plane. Well, 3 days before the flight I made an excuse that FL would be way too hot for my two young boys and canceled the trip. The thought of even being in an airport was too much for me. My wife has not yet forgiven me.
Right then I knew I that I couldn't overcome this fear on my own. That night I found your course online and ordered the complete package right away.
Prior to taking your course I would be overcome with anxiety when thinking of flying. After taking your course I was ready to travel the world. My first test was a trip from Chicago to Los Angeles for a cousin's wedding. My family actually placed bets and was sure that I wouldn't make it past the security at O'Hare.
Not only did I make it to L.A without so much as breaking a sweat, I slept like a baby on the flight back. I was as comfortable on the plane as I am in my own recliner at home. This is no exaggeration. It was truly that easy.
Captain Tom, you have changed my life. You have given me and my family the opportunity to experience the joys of travel. For this I am forever grateful. Thank you!
Sincerely,
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A Compact MP3 Or MP4 Version Of The SOAR Course Is Now Available For The iPod
This compact program is approximately five hours long. It downloads immediately to your computer where you can watch it or listen to it. Then, you can also load it from your computer into your video or audio iPod and complete SOAR "on the go".
Want more information? Want to see a video clip of the program, or hear an audio clip of the program?
- MP4 Video - Click Here
for more information on the compact version for your video iPod. $299.95.
- MP3 Audio - Click Here
for more information the compact version for your audio iPod. $199.95.
- "Take Me Along" -- which sells separately for $29.95 in audio and $59.95 in video -- is included at no extra charge.
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Fact And Fallacy of That iPhone Commercial
This is Patrick's subject this week in his column. He will give you the real story on weather delays, and a behind-the-scenes look at how flights are planned and dispatched. To read the full article click here.
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Wednesday Night Conference Call On Flight Anxiety
- 9:00 PM until 11:00 PM Eastern time
Join our regular 'chat' (where we type what we want to say).
10:00 PM until 11:00 PM Eastern time
Join in by phone for a free group counseling session with Capt Tom.
Want to know more about:
- How flying works
- Turbulence, and why it is not a threat
- Controlling anxiety, panic and claustrophobia
We'll talk about this and more every Wednesday night
Enter The Chat At: http://www.fearofflying.com/chat.shtml
- Eastern Time: 9 PM until 11 PM
- Central Time: 8 PM until 10 PM
- Mountain Time 7 PM until 9 PM
- Pacific Time 6 PM until 8 PM
Free Phone Counseling Session
- Come on the chat for instructions on how to join the phone session.