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 common experience, often manifesting as uncertainty; when it motivates caution and continuous learning, it serves as a healthy and essential component of a pilot's mindset.
Successful flying requires balancing confidence with constant vigilance, recognizing that strategic risk management (e.g., avoiding hazards) is wisdom, not fear, and helps prevent dangerous overconfidence.
Overcoming paralyzing fear or panic involves understanding its root causes, taking decisive and focused action, and leveraging the inherent control available to pilots to manage situations and continuously improve skills.

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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.”