Pilot shares surprise tip to beat fear of flying — would this work for you?
While some like it rough, most air travelers prefer a perfectly smooth ride at 30,000 feet in the sky.
However, should an airbus hit a few bumps, this pilot says his hack will help fretful flyers get over the hump.
“Afraid to fly?,” asked Captain Steve, an American Airlines aviator of his 862,— TikTok viewers. “You’re not alone. A lot of people have a fear of flying, and it’s usually due to turbulence.”
The pro wingman went on to explain that turbulence, a sudden jolt caused by changes in air pressure and flow velocity, is “no big deal,” and likened the phenomena to the choppiness of river currents.
“Sometimes it’s real smooth like a lake, sometimes it’s a little more rapid where the water picks up speed,” he said. “Sometimes it’s really rapid like white water rafting — well air currents are no different.”
Captain Steve’s words of comfort notwithstanding, mid-air turbulence, for many, is a bit more frightening than a rough stretch of water.
A recent AirCanada flight from Vancouver to Singapore hit some “major bumps” that sent passengers flying around the rattled aircraft.
And Eden Garrity, 31, a flight attendant in the UK, was left with a broken leg that was fractured in seven places after her plane endured a severe bout of turbulence.
Researchers claim the potentially dangerous disruptions are occurring more frequently due to climate change.
A 2023 study found that over the North Atlantic, which is one of the busiest flight routes, the total annual duration of severe turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020.
Moderate turbulence increased by 37%, and light turbulence increased by 17%, per the report.
But those numbers shouldn’t put people off from flying altogether.
Instead, Captain Steve says having a pre-flight chat with the in-flight crew can put even the most terrified trekker’s mind at ease.
“Before you take-off and you’re boarding the airplane, ask the flight attendant if you can go up and visit the pilot,” he suggested. “Ask ‘em about the route of flight, tell them that you’re a nervous flyer.”
The airman assured that his colleagues would gladly map out their travel plans, including any foreseeable bumps, to reassure worrywarts that all will be well.
“That reassurance will make all the difference next time you fly a jet airliner,” he said. “Fly safe.”
