New Numbers For The Free Group Phone Counseling Session




Free group phone counseling with Capt Tom from 10 PM - 11 PM Eastern time. You will need these new numbers for the group phone counseling session on Wednesday nights from 10 PM until 11 PM Eastern  time.

• dial 641-527-4209

• when asked, enter Guest Code: 6337571 followed by #
  
  

Please note that, after entering the Guest Code, you may get a message
that the sponsor has not yet arrived. Don't hang up. Just
wait and the system will connect you to the chat within about
fifteen seconds.

Some using Voice Over IP phones and cell phones have had trouble getting in. Keep trying, or use a different phone.



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Minimal Outsourcing At American Airlines

While most major airlines have reduced their maintenance operations and outsourced that work, American has kept nearly 90 percent of all its maintenance work within the company. Read a newspaper story on this by clicking here.

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American Airlines Pilots and Management Unable To Agree On Safety Program



A dispute continues between American Airlines and its pilots' union over a safety program. The program, which began in 1994, allows pilots to voluntarily report safety-related incidents for investigation without fear of discipline from the company or the Federal Aviation Administration, even if the pilot is later determined to have been at fault in some way.



The basis of the program is that pilots are far more willing to report an incident which involves a safety problem if they know reporting it will not backfire on them. "The very best way to gain insight into a safety incident is to have completely open discussions with everyone involved," said Tom Westbrook, the union's vice president. "If you're in a position of defending your [pilot's] license, you're going to be a lot less likely to sit down and bare your soul."



But American has taken the position that if the incident is also reported by some other source, pilots lose their protection.



The union has been negotiating with American for several months to renew the program with full protection for pilots, even when another person subsequently reports about the incident. American officials are balking at full protection, so the program has not yet been renewed.



See newspaper article at this link.

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A Dream

Sometimes dreams are about frustration. A few nights ago, I dreamed a man was complaining that he was unable to see anything more than a foot away. I told him glasses would help. He insisted nothing would help. He said his situation was special, that he had tried everything and it was hopeless. Finally, I took off my glasses and said, "Try these". At that point the dream ended, unresolved.

It is like that with fear of flying. So many people have struggled on their own, or have tried different things. They think nothing will work.



If you still have doubts, call me at 877 332-7359 or email me at tom@fearofflying.com. I would like to show you that what we have developed will work.

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Tradition



Captain Tom:



I just wanted to continue my seven year "tradition" of thanking you for the wonders your course has provided for me over the years.  I do not fly on business but I do like to take vacations as often as I can to see as many of the far flung corners of the world as possible.  I had gotten to the point where there were no places that I wanted to go that were accessible on the family road trip.  In 2000 after one too many sarcastic remarks from my children as to the existence of a "wonderful new invention called the airplane" I resolved myself to do something about it.  In 2000 I took the SOAR course via cassettes (pre-DVD and iPod).  After discovering that my fear was actually not unique (or was it that Captain Tom was a psychic who had read my mind before I even ordered the tapes), I used the course to work through my fears and took to the skies.  Seven years later I have travelled all over the world and have fulfilled my wanderlust (at least until next week!!).  We just got back from South America and had a great time.  When I first started flying again I would use Xanax and my Walkman (with a bag of SOAR tapes).  Now I have advanced to my iPod and no drugs at all (they never helped anyway, but acted more like a crutch).  The SOAR course worked wonders for me!



I really only need to listen to my SOAR course before I fly.  I used to listen to them during the flight but I have "tamed" my anxiety to such an extent that flying is easy...it's just the pre-flight anxiety which is a problem.  Once I am on the plane none of the old anxieties kick in at all.  I am ready to do the 5-4-3-2-1 drill, but frankly never get beyond "5" before my "non-anxiety" reflexes kick in.



I must confess though that I am still not perfect.  Although turbulence and landings are now non-issues for me, I am susceptible every now and then to engine noise anxiety on takeoffs.  On this trip we took 5 flights where I had no anxiety.  On the last flight, we left Buenos Aires on a 767 at night.  A minute after takeoff , the right engine (outside my window) made a real loud, almost moaning-like noise.  The plane did about six quick right-left, right-left, right-left banks.  It seemed to be losing altitude (although I am sure that it did not).  It then straightened and went on its way for 10 hours without incident.  I am always ready for the "noise abatement" power throttling, but this was different.  I know I talked myself into being nervous, but then I was able to talk myself out of it.  I did feel some sense of inner guilt afterwards.  But in the interest of true confessions I must confess my lack of still being 100% free of anxiety.



But we all need a goal.  Thanks for getting me almost there.  You can be sure that I will be continuing on my quest for 100% freedom from anxiety (if such a lofty goal can even be obtained!!).  Thanks again.  I will report back after my next flight.  And as I am one of your biggest disciples (yes I have my whole collection of Captain Tomisms), please have Lisa send me some business cards as I often refer people to your website.



Thanks!!

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Turbulence Of The Mind

Turbulence puts - not the plane - but your mental and emotional state at risk. People believe turbulence means the plane is about to fall. It doesn't matter how many times I say it: "Turbulence is not a problem for the plane", when in turbulence, people still imagine the plane falling. When imagination gets too real, the distress is awful.

I continue to get emails about flights on which there were injuries to people who were not wearing seat belts. Wear a seat belt. You will be 100% protected from everything turbulence can do to your body. Too bad we don't have a seat belt for your mind.

Well, we have the next best thing. Begin the jello exercise as the plane begins rolling down the runway. Continue to visualize the engines shoving the plane through a twelve-mile high hunk of jello. Maintain that imagery until you are back on the runway and the plane slows down to below "jello speed".



Pay attention to turbulence. Memorize what you feel. If you do this consistently, your reticular activating system will learn to ignore turbulence. More on the reticular activating system at this link and this link.



Use the Strengthening Exercise. From your moment of connectedness, imagine a cartoon character on the plane. Imagine that everything is fine. Imagine that because of  turbulence, the cartoon character is imagining the plane falling  (depicted in a drawing over the cartoon character's head). Refocus on your moment of connectedness.



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Aerodynamics Or Magic?



Part of the trouble with turbulence is that flying seems so magical. We don't see anything holding the plane up. This email may help .



I just wanted to tell everyone to believe the scientific parts of the SOAR program.  For so long, I didn't really want to accept or believe the scientific part of flying.  It was easier just to think it was all miracle that the plan stayed up in the air. 



However, I did pay attention and learned a lot from the How Flying Works portion of the class and on my most recent flight, the pilot announced that there was a very strong head wind (150 knots) and that the ride would be choppy.  He'd try new altitudes, but he was pretty sure there would be turbulence.  And yes there was.  Pilots always apologize for turbulence, which is kind of funny as they have no control over it, but want to give the passengers the smoothest ride possible.  So we in fact bounced around exactly when he said he would, and he eventually found "calmer air."  



The very next day my husband flew in the opposite direction (west to east)  His plane was half an hour early to its destination because of a strong tail wind!!  Believe the facts and the science-based portion of flying.  There really are air streams and currents and bumpy air!!  AND, the plane could care less! 

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From The Message Board



There is a recent post on the message board by a woman who is stationed overseas with her husband. She doesn't see how she can deal with flying back to the U.S.



A client replied to her as follows:



Am happy for you, you found this site. Am myself a recovering fearful flyer. I did get so fearful at times that I did pass out at 30,000 feet (back in 2004)! Let me add that it was not easier... For sure not when you regain consciousness and realize you're still at 30,000 feet...



All that is past now thanks to SOAR! And the very good news for you: there is plenty of time to prepare yourself for your upcoming flight in May. My suggestion to you: contact Capt. Tom (he seems to be available round the clock!) by phone or email with your specific worries/needs. He can recommend the most suitable way forward, tailored to your situation.



I tried many (some very costly) approaches to overcome my fear of flying without result until I found SOAR. A few bucks can change your life! It did for me.



To emphasize as you're new to this board: I'm not related in any way to SOAR. I'm only living proof it helps! If you have time, join the Wednesday evening chat and we'll meet there!



Note: if you would like to read the entire thread click here.

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You, Too, Can 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.



Full Length Course



We have the full length SOAR Video Course on 11 DVDs and we have the accelerated FastTrack course. The full length course provides the maximum help possible. More info by clicking here.



FastTrack



FastTrack is for you if you have a flight coming up soon, even tomorrow! It includes three hours of the most important video clips from the full length course. More FastTrack info by clicking here.

Get started now. The SOAR FastTrack 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.

iPod Or Other Media Players

Complete a compact (about five hours) version of the SOAR Course on the go. Download it to your computer. Play it on
your computer, iPod or other media player. More info by clicking here.

Which To Choose

If you are unsure which is best for you, please call me at 877 332-7359 so we can talk it over. You will feel better as soon as you decide to act.

We
are always here to help. As you go through the program, call or email whenever you
have a question or a concern.

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Try This For Anticipatory Anxiety



When you try to forecast how you will feel on the flight, you inevitably will exaggerate the distress you will actually feel on the flight. This is because, when you imagine a one to five-hour flight, you take all the things you think might happen and jam them into one to five seconds. Since each causes a stress hormone release, you cause a huge emotional reaction. Since you are only thinking about the flight and are feeling bad, you figure the actual flight will be far worse.



It is just the opposite. Even if all those imagined things happened, they would be dispersed over time, not jammed into a few seconds. When you start trying to forecast your emotional state, remember it cannot be done accurately. Turn to the 5-4-3-2-1.



Or, try something invented by Jerilyn Ross, president of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Wear a rubber band on your wrist. As soon as you notice one of the anticipatory anxiety thoughts, snap the rubber band once. Jerilyn says this little bit of pain soon inhibits the thought.



I know the 5-4-3-2-1 works. But I'd like to hear from you about how well the rubber band snapping works. Email me about it at tom@fearofflying.com



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Want A Friend  Or Family Member To Try SOAR?



Tell them to call me. I'll give them a guided tour. I'll set it up for them to view some of the videos online. That way they will know how easy it really is to get the help they need. I'm at 877 332-7359 and available from 11 AM until 7 PM Eastern (New York) Time.