Confronting the Fear of Flying

Sometimes nerves, when properly reined in, can be your friend in the air.

LeRoy Cook

Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 01:21 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Kimberly Johnson

Whether admitted publicly or not, pilots may occasionally encounter fears while flying, as well as harbor doubts about their motivation for flying an airplane. [Credit: iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Fear in flying is a natural, often healthy emotion that promotes vigilance, continuous learning, and skill improvement.
It is crucial for pilots to differentiate between constructive fear (which drives risk management and action) and destructive panic (which causes paralysis).
Managing fear effectively involves taking immediate, focused action in challenging situations and addressing uncertainty through further learning and practice.
While confidence is essential, it must be carefully moderated with constant vigilance, as overestimating one's abilities is more dangerous than underestimating them.

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Every once in a while, some nonflyer will casually say to me, “Ever been afraid while you’re up there flying?”

One supposes they are looking for some juicy description of a desperate situation fraught with daunting danger, culminating in a near-escape from certain death. My usual come-back is, “Well, I don’t recall ever being truly afraid, but there were some times when I wished I were somewhere else than where I was.”