Fear of Flying

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 bu****it.
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!

31/07/2024

Fearful fliers worry more than usual when thunderstorms are forecast. Next couple of days are forecast to be thundery in the U.K.
Modern planes have sophisticated radar to help pilots to avoid them. And the law requires that planes avoid storms by 25 miles. No need to worry !

31/07/2024

That brave little girl did it!!!!

An absolute inspiration to us all. She was so scared, so scared! And when she got to her destination she said she was pleased she’d come. Kids…I tell ya!
So proud of her.

30/07/2024

Spent a few evenings chatting to a very young lady. She had a bad flight and now, in her words is “terrified” of turbulence.
She’s off tomorrow and the bribes have been flowing thick and fast. Kids don’t have the same mechanisms as adults to deal with their fears.
Since Covid I’ve seen more children than in the 20 years before. This evening it seems as if she’s moving towards taking her flight. I’ve written to the captain of her flight explaining how she feels and she’s just asked me to send her a list of bullet points that we’d chatted about. She wants to go, obviously, but hasn’t had enough experience of life to know how it feels to change her mind. But boy is she brave… kids … I tell ya!

26/07/2024

Just to remind everyone, I have removed the paywall from all but the premium membership levels on the site flyingwithoutfear.com so you can access an enormous amount of help guidance and information from the site.
In exchange maybe you’ll mention me to you friends. They might or be anxious about flying but never mentioned it to you.

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

24/07/2024

Just, by chance, tuned into a TV program about turbulence.
If there’s a way of turning a fact into drama, a tv show is the way to do it. Tim Lancaster being sucked out of a cockpit window had nothing to do with turbulence. His case was mentioned as something that could happen if something that didn’t happen did.
If eye witness accounts and reports are anything to go by trial by jury should be outlawed.
Ground radar can’t warn planes about weather!!! No they are designed to suppress weather ‘returns’ so that they can see aircraft. However planes have weather radar, as you would expect.
My advice is to keep your seatbelt securely fastened when you are seated. Just like they tell you during the safety briefing.

09/05/2024

I’ve just received a message from the person I describe as the zoom lady. It says “arrived safely in Faro”, Portugal via London. She started in South Africa!
What a nice way to start this sunny morning.

03/05/2024

Had an interesting chat with a fearful flyer who had a successful flight. We chatted about the highs and lows of her flight and talked through the strategies she used because: next week she’s flying to the U.K. and then on to Portugal. We discussed pilot duties on long flights and why pilots are allowed to sleep in flight! That should provoke some replies and questions. Don’t be concerned it’s all perfectly safe.

16/04/2024

Whether this is a picture or a mass of IT gobbledegook ...if turbulence worries you it's worth a look.

"https://player.vimeo.com/video/114916082?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479"

14/04/2024

My zoom lady has completed her return flight. We have an appointment next weekend to debrief the flight and organise some more strategies. Well done that lady!

06/04/2024

My Zoom customer has a great flight… she reported “a little turbulence” but otherwise enjoyed the flight. And she read the safety card!

05/04/2024

Talking thru Zoom to an overseas customer who is taking a flight this evening. As we ended the conversation I asked if she reads the safety leaflet … no she said “I’ve already read it and doing it again will make me nervous”

You can imagine my response!
We decided that it was a part of facing the fear, taking responsibility and taking control. And it’s a sensible thing to do.

Well done to her. She said she’d read and listen to the safety briefing. I know it’s seen as tempting fate but that’s just mumbo jumbo! If it were true why don’t pilots carry lucky charms?

Well done to everyone who shows this sort of commitment and courage.

Will report soon.

Keith

26/03/2024

Back from a short break in Istanbul. British Airways looked after us well, so feel my pension remains safe, and pleased to say that the service on board has improved. I hope that’s true for all their passengers.
Maybe I don’t notice turbulence but there didn’t seem to be any in nearly 7 hours of flying. Not my first visit but this time I had a chance to be a tourist! I recommend it. And coincidentally a customer from South Africa is planning a trip there in May.
Don’t forget I’m here to help anyone who doesn’t find air travel as easy as I do. Flyingwithoutfear.com or call me anytime 07539 172646

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

15/03/2024

Sitting at the Departure Lounge Cafe waiting for a fearful flyer and wondering if there are enough people out there to have a small reunion?