I just returned from my daily end-of-the-day drive to the mailbox to send Fearless FlightKits out into the universe.  With every Kit I send a wish that this fabulous product will assist the person who ordered it in overcoming their fear of flying.  Last week I mailed one to Singapore.  Today's mailing included one to Connecticut.  Fearful flyers are everywhere. 

What's the scariest part of flying for you? Courtney discovered that it was the hours leading up to her flight, not the flight itself that ruined her day. 

So how do you deal with what's going on inside you the day before your flight?  Even though Courtney left me a voice mail, it was easy to hear her anxiety and fear in her shaky voice.  She had called in the morning for a little reassurance for her flight later that evening. When I called back, she told me she was doing better but clearly she was really anxious about flying for the first time in two years. 

Our monthly Cleared for Takeoff class met yesterday at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix.  For three hours, fearful flyers shared, learned, and asked Capt. Ron about fear of flying, takeoffs, turbulence, and landings.  Capt. Ron earned six new fans as he patiently answered questions and made them laugh with his jokes: "Turbulence bothers me because I have to put down my copy of USA Today!"  One woman told Capt. Ron he should be on Oprah because he's so "caring and compassionate." 

If you read my previous blog post about fearful flyer Joanna--oops, let's make that former fearful flyer Joanna--you know that she's had some successes and failures in her quest to overcome her fear of flying.  It hasn't been a snap-your-fingers, get-over-it-now road to fearless flying.  That's fear of flying, for you.  It CAN be overcome, but it takes a lot of hard work and motivation and courage. 

The first time I flew with Capt. Ron and a group of fearful flyers, I heard him say, “It’s okay if today isn’t a good day to fly.”  A strange statement coming from a man who’s helping people to get on a plane rather than remain grounded in their fear, I thought.

What’s the story of Gracie Mae, the cat who recently flew round-trip from Fort Lauderdale to Dallas, have to do with fear of flying?  Well, I love cats and I work with fearful flyers, so let’s see if I can make a connection.

Delta is trying to be the Miss Manners of the airlines by releasing 25 humorous videos called “Planeguage:  the Language of Traveling by Plane.” 

According to an Associated Press story out of Atlanta, Delta created the videos to show passengers the acceptable behavior when “confronted with delicate social situations.”  The article says that the humorous videos are being introduced on flights and are online (although I couldn’t locate them online to check whether or not they’re funny).   

Maybe my military background made me appreciate the video sent to me by a friend and fellow former military pilot. Below.  I couldn’t help thinking about the relevance for people with a fear of flying… 

Making your list and checking it twice?  Trying to figure out what you’d wish for if the angel from It’s a Wonderful Life confronted you instead of Jimmy Stewart?  If you suffer from fear of flying, your Christmas wish list likely includes fearless flight, not silent night. 

If you’re worried about flight delays almost as much as you’re worried about flying, the government is here to help with at least one of those fears.