Fear of Flying

05/01/2025

I’m just watching a bit of nonsense on the telly. A group of people are in a difficult situation from which there appears no solution. You might describe the reaction as mass hysteria… well that’s television for you.
You’ll probably seen that on the odd occasions when you’ve been in a less dramatic situation you’ve noticed there’s a bit of group behaviour.
This is called pluralistic ignorance. It’s where no one knows ‘the truth’ of what’s happening but reacts to the feelings and actions of someone in the group (in the belief that that one person knows the truth) so others react in the same way.
Pretty obvious really … but it’s no doubt how you react in a plane when there’s a sudden bump and someone goes
ARGHHH!!!!!!!

31/12/2024

I’m not sure that Facebook is the best place for a detailed discussion about air safety but I like to reassure fearful flyers when accidents happen. So I usually post something.
Through the years these chats inevitably drift towards statistics and individual interpretation of them.
A risk to one person is a challenge to another. The number of people falling on one side of the argument versus those on the other influences our personal assessment. The problem is we select the people whose views align with our own.
If one has a personal knowledge or experience of an event this skews our judgement.
For instance if someone bumps your car in the supermarket car park you’re more likely to park in a different place next time.
The ‘availability heuristic’ is in play. Your thoughts and actions are influenced more by what you know than by what you don’t.

More people survive aeroplane accidents than die in them.

Now you know.

Remember how your bias affects your understanding.

More people survive aeroplane accidents than die in them.

29/12/2024

It is of concern to everyone when we hear reports of accidents. The most helpful thing I can do is avoid making speculative comments however great the temptation.
It’s natural to question the safety of flying when confronted with two accidents over a short holiday period but risk has to be considered more widely and, compared to worldwide road accidents flying remains a very safe, if not the safest form of travel.

24/11/2024

There’s nothing quite like a windy day for the news channels to send a camera crew and hysterical reporter to an airport. Regardless of, gale tornado hurricane or breeze an aircraft is not permitted to land (or take off) unless the wind at the time immediately prior to that action is within specified and promulgated limits. For any aircraft there is an absolute wind speed in which a plane is not allowed to operate. If I recall correctly we could not taxi the Boeing 757 in a wind exceeding 70 mph or so.
Operationally an aircraft is not permitted to land (or take off) with a tailwind exceeding 15 knots, it may vary with aircraft type but tailwind limits are roughly the same. The important wind speed is the one across the runway. Its maximum is about 35 knots depending on the plane. If the runway is wet that limit reduces to about 25 knots depending upon the plane.
So as long as the wind is within those limits an aircraft is legally permitted to land.
However on a gusty day where the wind speed and direction may vary significantly the pilot may deem that during the moments before touchdown the wind may be too variable to keep the nose in the exact position for landing. The wind may vary ( even within the limitations) such that the aircraft is not positioned on the centre of the runway. In these conditions the pilot would/ could elect to Go Around, even if the plane had touched down momentarily.
In the same way that a ship bounces around on waves, so a plane does in the moving air.
There are variations sometimes according to runway condition, type and length. Other variations may occur according to on board equipment.

Any explanation more dramatic than that is pure bull s**t.

But it’s great fun for journos who don’t concern themselves with
explanations unless they involve adjectives like, terrifying, uncontrollable, scary, screaming passengers , worst ever or unprecedented.
Keith

18/11/2024

The CAA UK has just released the report on the failure of air traffic control last year.
 The intricacies of databases are lost on me but I accept that things do go wrong with computers and we live with their rare failures.
Fortunately and unfortunately this ATC system did what it was supposed to do, and did some things that it wasn’t expected to do. But it was all safe! But it reduced capacity by 90% and disrupted 700,000 passengers and cost 10’s of
mi££ions.
There were a couple of critical failure points but neither affected the safety of flights.
A number of recommendations have been made.

Meanwhile videos are in production for the Social networking channel.

Keith

08/11/2024

I'm busy working on videos for the TikTok and youTube site and so far my research has revealed that 20 year olds say it's not too late at 40. The 40 year olds say it's not to late to start at 60.
No mention whatsoever of 80+ year olds which I think is very ageist.

I'm going to annoy the hell out of all of them!

Meanwhile here's a nice picture of the sky in Italy six years ago.

09/10/2024

I’ve made 80 pages of notes ready to start making videos for both youtube and Instagram.

I’m finding it hard to go glitzy and razzmatazz tone in the modern idiom My two youngest granddaughters quite enjoy putting make up on grandad and I wonder if that might make an impact!
A nice cloud scene might appeal to some I think.
Might keep it low key and rely on folk like you spreading the word for me.

03/10/2024

After 25 years of what I’ve been doing I need to update my “stuff”.

As I mentioned I’m planning to set up a you tube channel so I’ve been checking out the best way to attract viewers.

It seems that simple hooks like ‘5 ways to overcome your fear!!’ or “7 things they won’t tell you about flying” ‘Cure your fear today!’ are tried and tested methods of getting followers.

Overcoming a fear of flying isn’t like that… it’s more serious than gimmicks but doesn’t mean it can’t be approached with a sense of fun! Overcoming a fear is hard but not impossible, in fact for some it turns out to be simple, others need a strategy that works for them each time.

My values are:
Honesty
Openness
Trust
Committment
Presenting facts
Understanding feelings

What I want is success for people.
I don’t need commercial success

What should I do to present this effectively in the modern world?

How do I change a serious minded but fun loving old man into an ‘influencer and YouTuber’?

20/09/2024

https://shorturl.at/W6Lbb

If you're anxious about flying or you wonder what a pilot's life is like then you'll really enjoy this read. An unusual and entertaining autobiography from a pilot who talks more about the funny side of flying rather than the adventures we might expect. The operational side of the job is explaine...

19/09/2024

There’s a lot of free information on my website at flyingwithoutfear.com

It’s worth signing up for membership, at the moment … there’s only a charge for the premium membership but the other levels still offer more help than any other site on the internet.
I’m working on a YouTube channel at the moment.
I’ve had the website for over 20 years but even at the tender age of 80 I realise there’s a need to stay ‘with it’.
Please support the channel, when it’s available AND please tell your friends.
It’s almost certain that you know someone who’s anxious about flying … they just haven’t told you!

16/09/2024

A preliminary report has been published regarding the ATR plane accident in S America.

It seems that the pilots failed to use the de-icing equipment correctly.

Modern aircraft have very efficient wings. Formula 1 enthusiasts will be aware of the advantages of streamlined structures. A matter of a millimetre or two in ‘shape’ can make an enormous difference in performance.
When an aircraft encounters icing conditions, that is to say moist air and temperatures below 0 deg C, ice builds up on the front of the wing and tail plane.

The presence of ice seriously affects the efficiency of the wings.

There are different methods of removing ice, for example hot air from the engines can be directed along the vulnerable areas to melt it.
On the ATR aircraft, rubber strips inflate and deflate to break up and remove ice.

(Imagine trying to remove dry mud from bicycle tyres. If the mud gathered when the tyres are deflated just pumping up the tyres will break off the dry mud.)

It appears that this crew failed to respond to the ice warnings that tell the pilots when ice is present and to operate the de-icing system.

As a result the aerodynamics of the wing were upset to the extent that the wings could not support the plane.

Warning: Google is good for directions and restaurant opening times. It is an UNRELIABLE source of information for aviation and medical conditions.

Keith

Overcome your fear of flying with Captain Keith Godfrey at Flying Without Fear. Our specialist courses can help you overcome your fears and anxieties.

07/09/2024

Just relaxing on a Saturday morning watching some you tube videos about aviation.
What is wrong with people? Evacuating aircraft WITH THEIR CABIN BAGGAGE, stopping to FILM rescue services.
Airlines should identify and ban these people from ever getting on another aeroplane.
If you’re ever told to evacuate a plane
GET UP and GET OUT

03/09/2024

60 years ago today I took my first job as a pilot. So much has changed. Flights are infinitely safer, faster and more efficient. Right now over half a million people are airborne… on jumbo jets alone.

If you want a good book to read to take your attention away from your anxiety try this one.

The Other Side of Fear…a Pilot’s Life

If you're anxious about flying or you wonder what a pilot's life is like then you'll really enjoy this read. An unusual and entertaining autobiography from a pilot who talks more about the funny side of flying rather than the adventures we might expect. The operational side of the job is explaine...

30/08/2024

Another week another terror at 30,000 feet.
I’ve never seen such a morbid collection of experts talking such drivel. One pilot claiming that it’s harder flying out of the U.K. in the morning because of inbound flights from North America “you have to listen out for your call sign to answer in case ATC call you”.
You have to do that on any and every flight.

Some jerk claims that because the pilots don’t know what’s happening they are in a state of chaos.

(This is not how cockpit management works. And 25 years later it’s even better than it was then)

Passengers “didn’t know what was going on”. What a mindless statement… if the pilots didn’t know … how could the passengers? Why do they even bother to say such a thing?

Pilot asks the question “what do you do first?”.
I can answer that for her … you fly the aeroplane. Then you make sure the plane is going in the right direction, i. e. not into the ground or hill or sea and make sure you are at or recovering to a safe height and speed. Then implement the appropriate checklist.

This program is first class idle drama and bulls**t.
No wonder the TV companies don’t ask me for my opinion.

Well done to the cabin crew, the co pilot and those on the ground who made it possible for this plane to get to Southampton in a very short period of time.

A less dramatic appreciation of the superb professionalism shown in this event would be far less audience gathering. And therein lies the problem.

Call now to connect with business.

16/08/2024

‘Terror at 30,000’ on channel 5 right now gives some excellent accounts from survivors of the accident involving a British Midland 737 accident in 1989.
The crew mistakenly shut down the engine that was working and ended up relying an engine that had failed.
As a direct result of this accident, procedures that were in a period of transition were implemented more rigorously.
Notably engine failure procedures were reinforced. Checklists are now used methodically without interruption and both pilots are required to identify the ‘problem’ engine before taking action. Pilot roles are defined as pilot handling or pilot monitoring and very rarely are switched in flight. Full use of automatic flight systems are part of the Standard Operating Procedures.
Human Factors training is part of ALL basic, advanced and regulatory testing.
The official accident report cites other contributory causes.
Followers might be interested to know that I continue to train pilots in Human Factors and help to train pilots to become training pilots.
If and when I lose interest in flight safety I’ll retire. Don’t hold your breath. Meanwhile…

10/08/2024

The video of the plane crash in S America is being shown on most news programs.
As always the investigation will take months, and only then will the real cause be known.
For my own part I cannot imagine how a plane can get into this situation. At some stage the plane must have stalled … the recovery from which is normally straightforward. There’s no value in speculation, although I’m tempted …just to ease some worried minds.

02/08/2024

21.00 hrs Chan5

Terror at 30,000 feet is a tv program about a landing accident, so it’s very badly titled!

What a load of garbage.

I don’t doubt the sincerity and pain of the passenger accounts but they have no bearing on the cause of the accident.
Eye witness accounts are notoriously inaccurate and distorted and influenced by the outcome.
A blend of fact and emotion doesn’t do justice to either viewpoint.
Avoid these programs if you’re at all anxious about flying.

01/08/2024

Just had a very excited phone call from a young lady who overcame her fear and who is now on holiday. I was the excited participant! So happy for her.

I know it’s not about me, but you can’t help enjoying someone else’s success on this scale.

I’ve often wondered, while trying to compete with BA and Virgin and EasyJet, whether it’s worth the effort.

What a thoroughly daft thing to wonder when you get days like this!