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. 

Which brings me back to Joanna.  Hard work, motivation, and courage.  That definitely describes the key to this one determined woman's quest to overcome her fear of flying.  Just how bad was her particular fear?  She actually admits to being banned from a certain airline because she exited one too many of their flights.  Now she's exiting with all the passengers at the END of the flight! Her secret--hard work to keep taking practice flights, motivation to become a normal flyer who can travel easily, and the courage to face her fear every flight.  But the good news is that with each flight her fear has gone down bit by bit as her confidence level has soared.     

Joanna got a great start during her personal coaching flights with Capt. Ron.  Then on her solo flight, she stopped by the cockpit and told the captain how scared she was about flying.  The flight attendants overheard and put her back between two dead-heading pilots who held her hand and answered all her questions.  Because you can't always count on a seat next to a pilot, a supportive friend agreed to fly with Joanna next time. Guess who they ended up sitting next to?  Another pilot!  

Last weekend, Joanna decided to solo again.  For reassurance she called Capt. Ron's cell phone just before she boarded.  He and I were in a meeting, so he wasn't able to return the call until after her flight.  But that Joanna is a trooper!  She made this flight all by herself without pilot assistance! SHE was the captain in control this time. 

What's my point of returning to Joanna's story?  I want you to know that fear of flying is very real.  I want you to see that overcoming it is a process.  And I want you to know that it does get easier with every flight, IF you are willing to do the work. 

Joanna knows she's on her way to becoming what she calls a "normal" flyer.  We celebrate her success just as we at Fearless Flight.com celebrate every fearful flyer's success when they're able to overcome their fear, bit by bit, step by step.  So here's to you, Joanna.  And Ashley and Patrick and Maria.  May you continue to experience many happy landings!