Aviophobia
Aviophobia
Join us on our adventure in the sky– literally a bus with wings that operates in a way that is not naturally possible. That sounds fun, right? Some people generally have this thought while others don’t think twice about hopping on an aircraft.
Aviophobia, sometimes alternately called aerophobia, is characterized by an extreme, debilitating fear of flying, whereby sufferers will do anything to avoid air travel, and if forced to fly, can suffer from mild anxiety to full-blown panic attacks. Although aviophobia may seem to be a fear of flying, in most cases it stems from a few other psychological conditions. That may seem a bit daunting but don’t worry, you’re not alone! Aviophobia can be triggered by a number of additional phobias and is honestly more common than you may think. So let’s take a look at the psychological links behind the fear of flying.
Methods of treating aviophobia include systematic desensitization, cognitive-behavior therapy, virtual therapy, hypnotherapy, and medications, as well as taking aviation education. Since a blog post can’t give you therapy, we resorted to some tips and tricks! Oh..and a brief lesson that can hopefully alleviate some of that tension.
Aircraft Tips and Tricks
1. Facing Your Fears (Exposure Therapy)
Exposure-based therapies work by gradually exposing the person to the object or situation that frightens them. In general, people with a fear of flying tend to avoid it. This means that they do not have the opportunity to learn that, very often, their fears or anxieties do not come true; or, if they do come true, that they can tolerate them because they are not as terrible as they imagine.
2. Breathing and Reassurance
Breathing techniques and positive reassurance that all is well may seem simple, but its one of the easiest and effective method to ace your fears! Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people to change how they think about things they are afraid of. In CBT, people learn to question negative thoughts and emotions to see if they are realistic and helpful. If they are not, then these thoughts must be corrected so that they don’t develop into negative behavior patterns.
3. Fear of Flying Course
Sound silly? Not really. Many airlines now offer a 1-day course to help people conquer their fear of flying. The course is aimed at people who are too frightened to get on board as well as those who suffer from anxiety while flying. For some people, the opportunity to meet trained airline pilots and ask them questions about the airplane and their experiences of flying can help to put their minds at ease. For others, the chance to board a plane without the dread of a real flight helps them become more familiar and relaxed in the environment; it can prepare them for the real thing.
4. Technology
- Huge shoutout to technology for being on our sides! The internet is littered with virtual experiences and information about flying safety. But let’s give you a head start.
Fast Facts about Flying
● If out of 760 million passengers 100% flew and lived last year
● Flying s the safest method of travel, with less overall accidents versus any other method of transport
● Aircrafts have to go through multiple tests before being sold. These include:Wing flexibility testing, Ingestion testing (incase of a bird strike), Windshield testing, water intake test, Temperature and altitude testing, Velocity minimum unstick testing and Brake testing.
Fast Facts about the Pilatus PC-12
● Lowest accident rate over any aircraft
● Used in Government and Military Operations for it’s durability, versatility and control
● Swiss quality combined with a proven engine: The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop engine is one of the safest aircraft engines ever built – and a proven engine is an absolute must for a single-engine aircraft.
5. Identify Irrational Thoughts, Positive Vibes Only
Negative and catastrophic thinking can contribute to your fear of flying. Learn how to recognize these negative thoughts when they happen, then practice replacing them with more realistic and helpful ones.
6. Recognize Triggers and Talk About it
When you think about flying or when you experience anxiety during a flight, pay attention to the thoughts or situations that preceded your fear. If you begin to notice that certain aspects of flying tend to trigger feelings of anxiety, you’ll be able to better plan for how to deal with those situations when they arise.
7. Educate Yourself About The Flying Process
Learning about how airplanes work, why turbulence happens, and what various sounds and bumps mean can help make flying less frightening. Check out the fast facts listed earlier!
How Flying Private Helps with your Fears?
Aviophopia doesn’t just come from anywhere, like many phobias, they stem from something deeper or are a combination of weighing factors. Some factors accounted for are Acrophobia, agoraphobia, claustrophobia, enchlophobia and Germ or Social phobia. Don’t know what they stand for? It’s okay we didn’t either. Acrophobia is the fear of heights. Agoraphobia is the fear of unfamiliar environments, especially one you think is out of your control. Claustrophobia is the fear of tight spaces, or being confined to a place where movement is limited and enochlophobia is the fear of crowds.
Although flying private can’t help with the acrophobia or agoraphobia, our team can surely close all the windows before you board and give you time to ease into the new environment! Oh look, another reason your lifestyle experience coordinator comes in handy! We can surely accommodate for your flying needs, even if that means staying on the ground for just a bit longer. At LIVT we fly the Pilatus PC-12, the 9-seat suburban in the sky! With one of the largest cabin spaces, flying private means you are in contact with less people and have way more leg room. Meaning claustrophobia and enchlophobia can say goodbye! But what about the germs? Don’t worry, we got you covered. LIVT practices above industry sanitization and deep cleaning standards. Our members safety and health is our priority. To learn more about our safety and cleaning procedures, read our previous blog entitled, “Fly with Confidence: Safety, Training, and Sanitization”.
At LIVT we try our best to help, we give you access to a lifestyle experience coordinator that can answer any burning questions you have. Your safety and wellbeing is our priority. We understand it can be scary, so feel free to reach out! The fear of flying is something that can be conquered with the right tools and help. Don’t let fear stop you from going on a memorable foreign vacation, enjoying time with family overseas, or making the most of international business opportunities. You can do it! We believe in you!