News
Bristol - Full - New Date Announced
Published 19 Apr '08
The Bristol course for May is now full. This has been such a popular course with such high demand that we will be running another course on 5th July. Please book soon to avoid disappointment and start the journey of overcoming your fear of flying.
21 years of not flying
Published 16 Apr '08
Dear Peter and the team,
A big thank you to everyone involved with the fear of flying course, the Aviatours Team, BMI flight crew and the often forgotten Air Traffic Control who all dedicated their time to the well being of people like me.
It has been 21 years since I last flew in a plane, I am 42 this year. I am married with two children and have allowed my anxiety to dominate my life.
For me avoidance is comfortable and I can go about my everyday life by avoiding the very things that make me anxious.
The trouble is it also affects others around me. For instance rather than travelling on the motorway for fear of getting stuck I'll take the scenic route. I still get there but it usually takes a lot longer, the wife gets angry because we're always late and the kids get fed up asking "are we there yet"!
The anxiety causes uncomfortable feelings which makes you want to avoid, run away. As Keith the psychologist said no-one has ever died from these feelings as they are a perfectly normal human response. You try telling that to someone overwhelmed with those feelings, no sense is made of it. The last thing on your mind is that this is normal.
What he did say is that anxiety feelings do pass, they do not go on and on into some uncontrollable frenzied panic from which there is no escape and no end.
Once you understand this you realise that the panic and anxiety is controllable. It may still occur but if you stick with it, it can't control you, you control it.
For me the day was a roller coaster of anxiety. We were told not to think about the flight but we all knew where we were going to eventually end up. This was like being in the departure lounge facing an 8 hour delay; your mind has time to play the what if? game with you, you have a chance to run or you have the chance to stay and fight.
I chose to fight and I'm glad I did.
When we got above the clouds and levelled out, looking down on my world below me, because that's where my world was, the country in which I was born and was afraid to travel out of, I felt an overwhelming feeling of wanting to cry. Realy had sunk in that I had just achieved something that I had not done for 20+ years. I could not get that time back. For me it was gone.
At lunch time I briefly spoke to a young lad and his mum (he was wearing kharki trousers). I told him that I too was feeling anxious and so too was my mate who was 6ft 2in and built like a barn door.
I next saw him at the departure gate and became aware that he did not take the flight.
Anxiety makes you feel like you are alone and no-one truly understands how you are feeling because you can't explain it. If you had a broken arm someone is likely to ask how you broke it, does it hurt and can they sign your plaster cast! When you are in a state of panic/anxiety it is not entirely visible, it is perfectly real and it sure as hell hurts.
The positive thing about anxiety is that when you have it you are sensitive to those around you who are suffering a similar experience. Unless you've broken an arm yourself, you can't relate to the pain the person has truly suffered.
I would be grateful if you would pass this e-mail on in the first instance to the mum of the lad I spoke to. (If it's of help then she can decide whether to pass it on to him).
You are probably feeling like you failed but believe me you haven't because you actually got to the departure gate. It took me 20 years so don't give up and keep pushing. It's a fight but when you feel up to it take the next step. I don't regret what I have not achieved in the last 20 years but wish that I had not lost the time. You have time on your side so use it to your advantage.
I don't know if you like sport but my son is only 9 and I'm told is very good at golf. When you are good at something it often involves travelling to places far and wide to show people how good you are. I hope to be travelling soon with my son to show people how good he is, for him to kick arse on the golf course and to share it with him. For me that will be my reward for the lost years.
Good luck and I know you'll get there eventually.
Kind Regards
Derek Warne
Honeymoon
Published 17 Mar '08
Hi all!
I attended the course at Birmingham airport on Saturday 15th May. My reason for attending was that I got married in November and was due to honeymoon in Antigua, but could no board the plane because of my overwhelming fear. It wasn't the best start to a new marriage!!
I booked on the course on the advice of my uncle - also a pilot, but for easyjet.
I can honestly say, I was dreading the course, but at the same time curious as to whether you could help me. I had read the entire internet site and the new blog site - so I felt ultra prepared! Needless to say when I woke up on Saturday morning I felt sick and was determined not to attend.
I arrived at the course and met like minded people of all different ages and felt less of a failure because I couldn't fly. I enjoyed Captain Black's presentation and began to understand slowly that we aware absolutely safe, safer in the air than on the ground! Patricia's presentation put me in a complete state of relaxation before we got on the bus to the airport.
I was nervous, but thought I'd get on the plane and find my seat before I made any decision's. I can honestly say that take off has always been the worst part and I would always historically have had my eyes closed and my head nestled in my partners armpit. For the first time, I sat up straight in my seat and looked out of the window.
I absolutely loved the flight and enjoyed the whole experience - even take off! Its not quite so scary when you have your eyes open!! My husband and I are now planning to go away over Easter.
I just wanted to say thank you so much to all of the team for all of their help and support. I feel like a new person.
Thank you again.
Jemma
Gatwick - customer feedback
Published 11 Mar '08
To All The Team,
I attended the course on Saturday the 8th of March and I'd just like to say it was amazing! I was pretty nervous but at the same time excited! When everyone filtered in you could feel the tension, everyone was scared! But as soon as everyone started talking amongst themselves it calmed down. The people I sat with were right characters and we were joking the whole time about our experiences, which was funny, but made me feel at ease!
Then we went into the conference room and Captain Andy Shaw gave us the most information packed, no-nonsence, fun, straight talking presentation that put to rest so many doubts I had in my mind and taught me a lot of new info I never even dreamed of knowing! Just from the Captain's talk it made me feel I could have got on plane there and then! It was something else and I must not forget to mention Tim Lloyd's input too, which made us all feel at ease, due to the fact he had been in our shoes in the past!
Next was Patricia Furness-Smith, the psychologist, who made me laugh so much! She was funny, the way she explained all the technical brain stuff, she told it in a way anyone could have understood and it was funny which helped! Everything Patricia said touched everyone in one way or another, it covered all our fears and phobias! And I'm telling you, what we learned, would help not just people who are scared of flying, but anyone who gets scared or worries themselves into a state! She also knew how we felt because she had a fear of flying when she was younger, so when Patricia was explaining everything it felt heartfelt, not just goin through the motions or preaching!
My girlfriend wanted to come on the flight with me to help me get used to it and I'm so glad she did! Everyone's mood changed a little at the boarding gate, it was back to the nervous tension, but once again, most of the people I sat with earlier started joking and gee-ing each other up! Trying to build each others confidence! People were all doing the breathing techniques, twanging our elastic bands (if you go on the course you'll find out!) As we walked down the jetty and boarded the plane it hit me this is for real!
I got a seat by the wing which I found comforting, always have done. I saw a few tears on people and I think one or two actually left the plane. Just as it looked like we were ready to go a huge feeling of dread came over me and I freaked out and went off! My girlfriend must have been having flashbacks, I'd done this before! but as I stood on the jetty by the plane door a young lady (I didnt catch her name, but you know who you are)spoke to me and asked me who I was with and things like that and I felt like an idiot and a failure but all of a sudden I wiped my tears away and listened to what the lady said "You've come so far, you've done so well, give it another go! You'll end up hating yourself, even if you dont like it at least try?" and with that I started to remember all the technical bits Captain Andy Shaw told us and Patricia's techniques and I just felt better and got back in my seat! The young lady sat with me and girlfriend who had been crying too (poor girl,the things I put her through!)and one of the people I sat with earlier was on the row opposite, his name was Dick, (he was making me laugh the whole day and had an extraordinary reason to be there and if he reads this, I hope he gets to Johannesburg okay and I take my hat off too you!) He looked over and gave me a bit of encouragement and finally we were off! I did it! I couldn't believe it, the weather was rainy and dull but it did nothing to dampen the planes spirit! A packed plane of scared fearful flyers where suddenly up in the air! Laughing, joking, hugging,shaking hands and clapping! It was amazing! I even got up to get a drink, I've never moved when I've been on a plane before so I conquered that as an added bonus! One of the people I sat with in the day was behind me and was going Australia in April and he looked like he really enjoyed it, he was up and down, it was quality! The flight itself was a bit bumpy and on the landing there was a bit of crosswind but I was glad, I didnt want a smooth flight, it puts me in good stead now and with the inflight commentary it helped like you would'nt believe! Once again thank you ever so much, it was brilliant, exhausting but something else! If ANYONE is scared or has doubts, don't leave it like I did, just do it! Its the best thing I've done! The team and staff on the day, thank you for being so welcoming, understanding and for helping us all get up in the air with a newfound confidence!
Sunday Times
Published 6 Mar '08
Good to get a mention in the press and here is an article that appeared in the Sunday Times
