nervous, need a little hand holding...

[Zach1213]

Originally Posted by KirkWN737

I was struck multiple times today. I was on a flight to Dallas (Love) (from STL) this afternoon and you know what happened there. We were put into a holding pattern but had to divert to Austin after getting close to BINGO and with no end in sight with this storm. The FO saw a couple of the strikes hit the plane. But as you said, it doesn't do anything to the plane really. We diverted, returned to Dallas a little over an hour later, flew to MSY and find myself in a hotel there now. We were struck again on the way down too. The storm messed up my schedule, but now I only have one flight tomorrow to FLL, get home 7 hours earlier and I don't have to commute home from BWI. I was supposed to be in Nashville right now.

Wow, crazy day. I often fly through Dallas (on an unnamed airline that uses a different airport ), and I am counting my blessings that I didn't have to travel yesterday! I don't envy anyone who had to deal with that yesterday, be it passengers, crew, ground staff...bad day all around! I can't imagine the IROPS folks have had a wink of sleep in the last 18 hours!

[kickballpro]

@ Captain Kirk

Have you ever had any run ins with Microbursts?

Love that a thread about a nervous flyer is turning into "stuff that can go wrong."

[SnowshoeCat]

Originally Posted by kickballpro

Love that a thread about a nervous flyer is turning into "stuff that can go wrong."

But with happy endings

When we have a microburst alert at our airport, it can essentially stop traffic for 15 minutes until after the alert passes - and the alert itself can last for a while (I think some of that is airline regulations. If someone wants to go, that's up to them). If it's off the field, they just fly around them.

(I'm obviously not Capt Kirk and I hope I'm not intruding. I just wanted to give you the ATC perspective)

[KirkWN737]

Originally Posted by kenish

Fortunately, you knew it was European:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2R3FvS4xr4

You have to know these things when you're a pilot, you know.
One of my favorite scenes. If you ask Siri on the iPhone "What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?" she answers with "The last person who asked me that ended up in a crevasse." or with "An African or European swallow?"

[SnowshoeCat]

Originally Posted by kenish

Fortunately, you knew it was European:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2R3FvS4xr4

Originally Posted by KirkWN737

You have to know these things when you're a pilot, you know.
One of my favorite scenes. If you ask Siri on the iPhone "What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?" she answers with "The last person who asked me that ended up in a crevasse." or with "An African or European swallow?"

Hysterical - what would we do without the internet?

[KirkWN737]

Originally Posted by kickballpro

@ Captain Kirk

Have you ever had any run ins with Microbursts?

Love that a thread about a nervous flyer is turning into "stuff that can go wrong."

Yes. Only once though. It happened while were on approach to LAX just after intercepting the localizer some years ago. The plane landing ahead us reported about a 15 knot gain in its airspeed at around 50-70 feet AGL. Then at about 200 AGL we experienced about a 15 knot gain in airspeed and lost 30 feet in altitude. We announced go around and aborted. Went into a holding pattern and landed about 30 minutes later. We reported it to the tower and two minutes later the they announced microburst alert with a 35 knot loss on the runway threshold. It was very scary but we knew what to do.
Luckily, we have come a long way in understanding and detecting this phenomenon in the past few decades. The crash of Eastern Airlines flight 66 in the mid 1970's was the watershed accident after which many specialists started to study microbursts and windshear more closely. Since then, unsafe conditions have become fairly easy to forecast and avoid. Most major airports are now equipped with windshear detection technology, as are cockpits. (The planes I fly have two different windshear warning systems.) We are trained in escape maneuvers, and can recognize weather conditions that might be hazardous.

[lrn2cruise]

I will give you a hand hold<3

I do agree with the lack of control. Knowledge is power.

Just think of turbulance as a bumpy road in a car.

I know you say that you dont want to do meds. Have you ever tried just maybe a half or a quarter of a Xanex. Drs can be pretty picky about perscribing it but I am not sure if they can just give you a few pills. A whole one put me to sleep and that is no way to live. a quarter or a half was best for me.

Another naturel anxiety relief that I recommend is a product called Hylands. If you goggle Hylands, you can see their various products. I have used Calms Forte, Nerve Tonic, I use Restful Legs for restless legs and it works well. Hylands is a homopathic product which is all natural

I wish you the best on your trip. Anziety and fear robs us of our peace and joy in life and can be bruttle. The big picture is that you are really ok and you and your family will be safe

[marcb71a]

Been afraid to fly my whole adult life. Didn't fly for about 3 years but with
marrying my second husband he is an avid traveler. Just accept you will be unconfortable. I read a book. Get out of your Mind and into your Life
that was recommended by Oprah for people like me (control freaks)
It has workbook exercises. It really helped

[pkt1976]

I am flying to Europe in the fall for a cruise and I hope you have a wonderful time OP. Thank you everyone who provided the great info to help the OP feel better. I had cancer a few years ago and couldn't fly for 1 year after finishing treatment. I decided to take a short "practice" flight to see if I would have an issue and to feel more confident in the airport since I hadn't flown in years. I was very nervous but didn't want to take the pain pills until I knew if I would need them. I didn't say anything to the flight crew but I know they could see my anxiety. They were very nice and made a point to ask me how I was a few times during the flight. Happily, I had only very minor discomfort on the flight and I feel a lot better about my upcoming overseas flight now. If you can, maybe take a short flight somewhere to build your confidence.

Have a wonderful time!

[IndyDenise]

I just wanted to tell Capt. Kirk thank you for all of your insight on this thread.

I am a bad flyer...very bad and take meds to help me from doing a " freak out"

I have been nervous about my upcoming trip to Rome in May, but I feel better with the info you gave.

Also, I love Southwest. It is my favorite airline. Great, happy, fun employees! I just wish they went to Europe!

Denise

[cherrybear]

I'm also a nervous flyer especially during take off and landing. I never (or very seldom) look out the window. I try never to get the window seat and if I do will ask someone to change with me. If they won't change seats I pull down the shade and practice deep breathing exercises. I also have something that I can read during take offs and landings. Then as soon as possible I get lost in my Kindle book. These things make it possible for me to fly.

[FlyerTalker]

Originally Posted by cherrybear

I try never to get the window seat and if I do will ask someone to change with me. If they won't change seats I pull down the shade and practice deep breathing exercises.

For safety reasons, please don't pull down the shade until you are airborne. Ditto for landing.

Just look in another direction.