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!
