Wednesday Chat And Free Phone Counseling

Regular Wednesday Sessions

• Chat 9 - 11 PM Eastern time
  


• Free group phone counseling ...   more »

The FastTrack Guaranteed Program



This is a brand new accelerated, condensed and guaranteed program.

• Accelerated
  
  

You get instant online access ...   more »

Wednesday Chat And Free Phone Counseling

Regular Wednesday Sessions

• Chat 9 - 11 PM Eastern time
  


• Free group phone counseling ...   more »

Wednesday Chat And Free Phone Counseling

Regular Wednesday Sessions

• Chat 9 - 11 PM Eastern time
  


• Free group phone counseling ...   more »

Wednesday Chat And Free Phone Counseling

Regular Wednesday Sessions

• Chat 9 - 11 PM Eastern time
  


• Free group phone counseling ...   more »

Wednesday Chat And Free Phone Counseling

Regular Wednesday Sessions

• Chat 9 - 11 PM Eastern time
  


• Free group phone counseling ...   more »

Final NTSB Report On The 2005 Southwest Accident At Midway



In the final report on the Dec 8, 2005 Southwest ...   more »

An Email From Italy

Greetings from ITALY and only because of SOAR am I here...... I am AMAZED and OVER ...   more »

 



Technical Information About Turbulence



From time to time, there are reports in the press that a plane fell several ...   more »

Testing The 787

In preparation for launch, Boeing is subjecting the 787 to testing equal to three lifetimes of the ...   more »

Am Email About The Amazing Difference

What an amazing feeling to no longer be trapped by my own fears.

I ...   more »

Wednesday Chat And Free Phone Counseling

Regular Wednesday Sessions

* Chat 9 - 11 PM Eastern time
* Phone counseling 10 - 11 PM Eastern time

Additional Wednesday Session

* Chat 2:30 - 3 PM Eastern time
* Phone counseling 2:30 - 3 PM Eastern time
* More info at end of email

To join in, go to www.fearofflying.com/chat.shtml.

==========

From Skepticism And Doubt To "No Concerns"

Hi Tom,

When I took my first post-SOAR trip last November to London and things went so well, you told me it might even get better. I doubted that it could, but guess what, you were absolutely right! After that successful trip, I took 2 trips from Baltimore to Florida without any problems but still not completely sure it would last. No concerns now.

We just got back from multiple flights to get to Vancouver from Philadelphia to go on an Alaskan cruise. On the way there, due to free miles from my husband's innumerable flights, we had to take three flights - Philadelphia to Atlanta, then 6 hours until we could board a plane to Salt Lake City, then one hour until we could go to Vancouver. I looked at this trip as a challenge. I did the strengthening exercise to get prepared and listened to the downloads, and my anxiety levels were low pre-board. In fact, my husband was more stressed than I was on the way to the airport because of traffic delays even though we had allowed plenty of time. We boarded on time, I met the pilot and that went well. We taxied and then waited for well over an hour and a half for take-off. They even broke out drinks, snacks and a movie before take-off to help pass the time. At one point we were finally number 24 in line to take off. I had NO anxiety, just wanted to get the show on the road.

At Atlanta, I handed my letter to meet the pilot to the gate attendant. She said the pilot would probably come to the boarding area since the plane was already there. The co-pilot came out and met both my husband and me, and we had a wonderful chat. He told me to come to the cockpit upon boarding to meet the pilot. When I entered the plane, he was there waiting to take me forward. I got to sit in the co-pilot seat, touch the instruments and pretend to go through a flight. I was leary of doing that, but with their encouragement, I did. Once I got into it, it was fun. I then went back to my seat, which was just behind the right wing, to await gate department.

We were at the gate a while but finally pushed a little away from the gate and the plane stopped. As we were waiting, the flaps on my side of the plane kept going up and down. I looked at my husband and nonchalantly said that it looks like we have a flap problem. The Captain finally came on the speaker and said there was a problem and they would need to go back to the gate and have the mechanics take a look at it. When we were back at the gate, the co-pilot came back to my seat to explain the problem was with the flap indicator. He knew the flaps were working, but the indicator showed that they weren't. He just wanted to check on me. The funny thing is, I wasn't the least bit concerned. I knew they would never take off with a problem that would jeopardize the flight. They fixed the problem, and we took off.

Unfortunately, by the time we took off we knew that we would miss our connector, as would many others on that plane. So...we scrambled to make new arrangements for an early morning flight since we arrived late in the evening and spent the night in Salt Lake City - with no luggage. I decided that I did not need to meet the pilot on the flight from Salt Lake City to Vancouver and boarded with everyone else. The flight was absolutely breathtaking. Clear skies and beautiful scenery. I saw Great Salt Lake and the meandering Snake River. I got out of my seat so that I could see Mount Rainier - what a sight! And Mt. Baker - and Mt. Hood. I wasn't sure I wanted the flight to end!!! It was awesome. I realized that flying had gotten even better! I had no anxiety even with delays, mechanical issues, and missed flight. I also didn't have any anticipatory anxiety.

The Inside Passage cruise was fantastic. We even booked a float plane trip as a shore excursion at my request. I was ready for a greater challenge. That day the weather was very misty and then the mountains became more shrouded. I was a little concerned about our upcoming float plane trip but figured the pilot wouldn't chance his life if the weather was that bad. So we went to where we were to meet and guess what, the flight was canceled. That's when I knew I had made it. I was ready to go and the pilot wasn't.

On the return trip from Vancouver to Salt Lake City I didn't meet the pilot and the flight was fine, bumpy, very cloudy, but absolutely fine with NO anxiety. At Salt Lake while in the boarding area the airline was informing a flight that was supposed to be nonstop to Chicago that they would have to land in Kansas City to take on fuel because they couldn't load the full amount due to extreme high heat causing soft tarmac and the air pressure. They stated this would have to happen on several flights. I wondered if it would happen on ours. Notice I wondered, I did not worry. Wow. We didn't need to make a stop, though. On the leg from Salt Lake to Philadelphia we were booked in an exit row because the airline had somehow lost our reserved seating assignment. We found this out just before we left from home and I knew I could change the seat if I wanted to. However, I knew I would be fine in the exit row and the extra leg room would be nice. I read and reread what to do in an emergency. I was prepared to help all those who needed help. In the instructions it states to help hold the slide and I was ready to do that. Somehow taking responsibility to help others was a comfort to me. Go figure! I guess that's because I like to be in control and I like to help others. The flight was bumpy and we skirted numerous thunderstorms. Quite an amazing sight to see the lightning and thunderheads. The only slightly uncomfortable thing was that there was coldness coming from the door area so I had to use a blanket. We made it home without problems.

Tom, thank you from the bottom of my heart. The Alaskan cruise is a wonderful memory - something I thought would have to wait until we could drive there during our retirement years - and my interesting flights have made me realize I am no longer fearful to fly.

All I can say is, from the biggest skeptic, IT WORKS AND KEEPS GETTING BETTER!!! WHOOPIE!

All the best,

==========

Want Flying To No Longer Be An Issue For You?

Start With SOAR Fast Track

* 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.

What you pay for Fast Track is 100% transferable to the complete SOAR Course DVD or CD.

Get relief now. You will feel better as soon as you get started by clicking here.

All it takes is some preparation.

As you go through the program, whenever you have a question or a concern, please call me so we can talk it over.

==========
To Europe With iPod . . . And A Cup Of Water

Dearest Capt Tom,

Well, I just got back from our 3 week European Trip. We flew from San Francisco, JFk (stop over), Rome...after 2 weeks we flew from Rome to Paris, 5 days later flew from Paris to JFK (stopover), San Francisco. Woweeeee! Thanks so so so much for your program. I admit that I was not without some anxiety but I did my strengthening exercises, it surely helped.

In addition, during turbulence I looked at my cup of water and noticed that it really didn't move too much. Your advice is right on! The pilots and flight attendants are always so wonderful and understanding. Can you believe I slept before take off and during one of the flights???? I tell everyone about this program!

Still working on my pre-flying anxiety...but it is getting much much better! I bought the MP4, DVD, CD set...now I can put it in my IPOD! Thanks a million!

==========

About The MP4, DVD, CD Set Mentioned Above

The "Take Me Along" tracks -- which coach you moment-by-moment through your flight -- are now available in several formats:

* MP4 for the video iPod
* DVD for watching on your television, laptop, or portable DVD player
* CD for your audio iPod or car radio

A set of all three is available at $85.00 by clicking here.

To get just one of the disks

* Click here for the MP4 (video iPod) $65.00.
* Click here for the DVD (television, laptop, or portable DVD player) $65.00.
* Click here for the CD (audio iPod) $30.00.



If you need them right away, you can download "Take Me Along" in MP3 (audio) or MP4 (video).

* Click Here to download the MP4 (video iPod) $59.95.
Click Here for the MP3(audio iPod) $29.95.

==========

About The Cup Of Water

Over the kitchen sink, hold a cup of water up high, and as quickly as possible, plunge the cup down about a foot. Momentarily, the water will be a foot above the cup. Then it falls, of course, into the sink.

Use that on the plane to measure how much the plane really moves.

* Open your tray table
* Hold a cup with some water in it against the tray table
* This causes the cup to go where the plane goes
* If the plane drops a foot, the water will be a foot above the cup
* that never happens

Even when you are thinking the plane has moved several feet, the water remains in the cup, proving the plane has moved only inches, or less.

==========

A More Scientific Proof

This following email is from a doctor.

Hi Captain Tom,

I am basically of a scientific mind. So, I went to first principles of physics and tried to figure out what is turbulence and why is it that if the plane only jumps less than an inch, we as passengers think it's a lot more like a roller coaster.

By applying physics, it turns out that the jumping around that passengers experience when the plane only moves a vertical distance of less than 1 inch is real and not imagined. Hard to believe, but here's a simple experiment you can do to convince yourself that if the plane moves vertically n inches, the passengers will jump n-squared inches. To put it another way, if the plane moves vertically up by 3 inches, the passengers will be thrown up a whopping 9 inches (that's almost a foot.) And, in all flight situations in which I experienced anxiety, I don't believe that any jumping even came close to that.

Here's an experiment you can perform in the comfort of your home that should allow one to better understand turbulence.

Take a soccer ball (representing the aircraft) and place a tennis ball (representing the passenger) on top of the soccer ball. That is, the tennis ball is perching on the "north pole" of the soccer ball. Support both balls with your hands. I support the tennis ball on the top with my left hand, and place my right hand palms up on the south pole of the soccer ball. Stand upright as you are supporting both balls. Then, simultaneously release both your hands (don't push any ball, just move your hands away), and let the balls drop.

As the balls drop, the tennis ball and soccer ball are moving down together (up to this point you are basically repeating Gallileo's experiment that he conducted from the Leaning Tower of Pisa). The fun starts when the soccer ball hits the ground. The soccer ball will behave pretty much as you expect. It will bounce back up to almost the height it was released from. But, watch out for the tennis ball. It will bounce almost to the ceiling. (When I tried this experiment with my daughter, the tennis ball almost knocked the chandelier).

I think this is precisely what's going on with turbulence. A very small vertical movement of the airplane (soccer ball) gets magnified into a large vertical movement for the passenger (tennis ball).

The physics of this experiment is simple, but too long to outline in this email. However, the experiment above is easy to perform and seeing the tennis ball fly is more fulfilling than going through a bunch of physics formulae.

==========

Listening To The MP3 Course While Walking Her Dog

I always get permission before including emails in the newsletter. When I asked this writer for permission, she replied, "Please feel free to use what you'd like. Since so much stuff is just hype these days, when I find something that really works, I like to spread the word! "

Dear Tom,

I'm actually flying on Thursday to Las Vegas and I've been "reinforcing" myself. When I walk my dog several times a day, I take my MP3 player and listen to them. Since I purchased them, I've flown 3 times with no medication - a first for me in many years! When I find myself getting the anticipatory anxious "butterflies," I find one of the tracks that address the issue and listen to it. During my last flight, we hit some turbulence (which has always been my biggest problem). I did the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise and was so surprised how much it helped. In fact, the man sitting next to me was kind of "white knuckled," and I wanted to tell him about it. I've also told my son (who is absolutely terrified of flying and takes Xanax before every flight) about this program and encouraged him to check it out. I told him about the visualization of the plane in jello during turbulence and he told me that it really helped him during his last flight. (I have to share his fear with you, which makes me laugh: "It's not the flying that bothers me. It's the crashing.") I am really looking forward to the day that he and I have no anxiety and can both even enjoy flying.

This program has helped me so much and I want to thank you for the care that you give to your clients. Since I have tried everything from self-hypnosis to medication, I was very skeptical about the claims made on the website. I've been promised the same kinds of results through other programs. But, this WORKS!! And, it's not just a matter of "send me your money and you'll never hear from me again." I read the newsletters you send and appreciate the way you keep in touch with your clients.

Thank you again and I'll let you know how my trip goes this time. You can be sure my MP3 player will be charged and ready to go when I get to the airport!

Warm regards,

==========

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, and you can further load it into your video or audio iPod.
Want more information? Want to see a video clip of the program, or hear an audio clip of the program?

* VIDEO - Click Here for more information on the compact version for your video iPod. $299.95.
* AUDIO - Click Here for more information the compact version for your audio iPod. $199.95.
* "Take Me Along" is included at no extra charge.

=========

Why All The Delays

That is the subject of Patrick's column at Salon. Read it by clicking here http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2007/08/17/askthepilot241/

==========

New York SOAR-FEST October 6th

The New York SOAR-FEST will again be at le Zie, a Venetian Trattoria located in the heart of the Chelsea district of Manhattan.

You don't have to be in the SOAR program. It is an opportunity for anyone interested in flight anxiety problems and solutions to get together for dinner.

Meet other people who feel the same as you do about flying, and to find what great, imaginative, and intelligent people they are (just like you, right?).

Dinner is at 7:00 PM. If you can, meet us at the bar at any time between 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM.

At le Zie, we will have a really private dining room upstairs, separate from the main part of the restaurant.

The price: $62.50 total per person (includes service and taxes), a bit more than last year so as to include wine.

The room accommodates 24 people comfortably at one large table. If this is important to you, please reserve now to avoid missing out, as the space is limited.

The Menu

Appetizer:

choice of:

o Mesclun Salad with Lemon and Extra Virgin Olive Oil or
o Tricolor Salad with Sauteed Shitake and Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, White Wine Vinegar Dressing and Shaved Ricotta.

Entree:
choice of:

o Homemade Tortelli filled with Ricotta and Spinach with Asparagus, Butter and Sage
o Linguini with Clams, Garlic and Olive Oil
o Baked Salmon with Horseradish Crust with Sauteed Spinach
o Chicken Porchetta roasted with Rosemary, Oregano, and Fennel Seeds, served with Mashed Potatoes

Desert
choice of:

o Tiramisu or
o Panna Cotta with Fresh Strawberry

Coffee or Selection of Teas

Red or White Wine

Cancellation: if you need to cancel, please call me (877) 332-7359 at least by Tuesday October 2nd. Cancellations after Tuesday can not be refunded unless we are able to find someone to take your place.

There are several parking garages in the area. Free parking on the side streets is usually available after 6:00 PM. Please read the parking signs carefully.

How To Sign Up For The New York SOAR-FEST

Just go to: click here.

==========

Where To Stay In New York

If you don't find a hotel you like at a reasonable price, try a "bed and breakfast". For a link to a bed and breakfast referral service click here,

==========

Wednesday Night Conference Call On Flight Anxiety

9:00 PM until 10:00 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 on a conference call dealing with flight anxiety.

Instead of typing, we can just talk.

* Listen in to the discussion.
* Take part in the discussion.
* It's your choice.

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

* Eastern Time: 10 PM until 11 PM
* Central Time: 9 PM until 10 PM
* Mountain Time: 8 PM until 9 PM
* Pacific Time: 7 PM until 8 PM

As simple as 1, 2, 3.

* 1. Dial 1-641-594-7500
* 2. You will hear, 'Thank you for calling the Conference Center.'
* 3. When asked, enter this pin code: 681956 followed by #

For Your Convenience The Following Info Is Also Displayed Where You Enter The Chat At: http://www.fearofflying.com/chat.shtml

The Additional Chat Is At 2 PM New York Time

Which Is:


o 7 PM in Dublin, Lisbon, London,
o 8 PM in Cairo, Cape Town, Paris, Prague,
o 9 PM in Athens, Beirut, Jerusalem, Nairobi
o 10:30 in Kabul
o 11:30 in New Delhi

o 1 PM in Chicago
o 12 Noon in Denver
o 11 AM in Los Angeles

Just go to: www.fearofflying.com/chat.shtml
Chat will be for thirty minutes

The Additional Group Counseling Conference Call Is At 2:30 PM New York time

Which Is:

o 7:30 PM in Dublin, Lisbon, London,
o 8:30 PM in Cairo, Cape Town, Paris, Prague,
o 9:30 PM in Athens, Beirut, Jerusalem, Nairobi
o 11:00 in Kabul
o 12:00 midnight in New Delhi

o 1:30 PM in Chicago
o 12:30 PM in Denver
o 11:30 AM in Los Angeles


To join the Group Call:

1. dial the country code for the U.S. which is: 00-1
2. followed by the area code and number in the US which is: 641-594-7500
3. when asked, enter 'pin code': 681956 followed by the # sign

Depending upon participation, we will decide whether to continue on following Wednesdays, or not.

Flying After Thirty-Eight Years

Dear Capt. Tom,

I just wanted to tell you that I "FINALLY" got on a plane ...   more »

Flight Attendants' Complaints

With crowded planes, pay cuts, and long days, flight attendants are not without reason to snarl. Please ...   more »

The Egocentrically Arrogant Mind

Remember Copernicus? He was the first to assert that Earth is not the center of the ...   more »

There Are Old Pilots, And Bold Pilots, But No Old, Bold Pilots . . . And Then There is Bob ...   more »