First Time Flyer - Advice?

[wontondestruction]

Get a good night's sleep.
Don't eat anything too heavy the day of your trip.
Maybe listen to an audio book during the flight to get your mind off flying.
Lastly, enjoy the flight. You might find it not too bad, then the world is your oyster.

[calf]

Originally Posted by wontondestruction

Get a good night's sleep.
Don't eat anything too heavy the day of your trip.
Maybe listen to an audio book during the flight to get your mind off flying.
Lastly, enjoy the flight. You might find it not too bad, then the world is your oyster.

On top of this, be well hydrated. I have found that I get dehydrated on a flight and feel like garbage afterwards if I haven't had a decent amount to drink before the flight.

[Peanut]

How nervous is nervous? I'm inferring that since you've managed to avoid flying completely for decades, you're pretty nervous? In that case (and as a fellow panicky flyer), I'd suggest getting a prescription from your doctor.

It's a cramped space, with loud noise, you have a total lack of control over the situation, and generally nothing about the experience (security, line-ups, etc) is set-up to make passengers feel at ease.

I personally can handle shorter flights ok. My anxiety really starts to become unmanageable at 3+ hour flights and I just take Ativan. Trying to manage anxiety with alcohol makes everything worse in my experience.

[Machiavelli]

Good tips in here, and I'd like to stress the point already made that using alcohol to self-medicate is never a good idea

[Yamer]

Wow, awesome feedback everyone. I really appreciate it (even the sarcasm), especially the little "what to expect" type notes (sounds, sensation of stalling, natural turbulence). That video on the Beechcraft really helped. It's more cramped than I thought, but no more so than being on a small school bus or large van.

I definitely won't be drinking, but I may consider making an appointment with a doctor to discuss preventative measures for anxiety...just in case. Another piece of advice I received outside of CP was to test the medication at home on the weekend in case I have an adverse reaction.

It's a pretty short flight and it's split in two. I am travelling with a colleague who knows my situation and with whom I get along with very well. As long as the plane isn't too loud, I expect I will probably be chatting most of the trip. I think I'll take some earbuds in the event the sounds become overwhelming. If I switch my phone to airplane mode, is it ok to use as an MP3 player? Or should I pack my ancient iPod?

Even though I pretty well know all the stats, it actually is more comforting coming from people rather than a website...and even moreso from people that are experienced flyers. It's also encouraging to hear from people who like or even love to fly. To compare, most people hate driving, but I actually enjoy it. Even long trips don't bother me behind the wheel. This may be why I am nervous about giving up that control, despite knowing I am giving it over to experienced professionals.

Speaking of which, I will definitely be keeping my eye on the flight crew for body language. Never even thought of that.

For the person that asked, the flights are booked through Air Canada Express - Air Georgian.

[Amethyst]

Phone is airplane mode is fine. I don't know about it on a small flight like yours, but on many flights, that is how the entertainment system is now delivered. (My recent flight to Hawaii on Westjet, I watched movies on my phone in airplane mode, using wifi.)

[Bigtime]

You won't have to worry about inflight entertainment on a Beech 1900. That is the view out the window. Getting to fly in a smaller plane, perhaps being able to see up front and have a much lower cruising altitude could make this the perfect experience for your first flights. I've never been in a 1900 but as a turboprop it will be louder. It is cool to watch the props though and see how the blade angle is changed for different portions of the flight.

[annasuave]

i like flying. I like the physics of flying. I like that the rules of physics that keep the plane in the air are rock solid.

The air pressure under the wing is higher than the air pressure above the wing. This is what gives the plane its lift, and it really is a lot like a boat floating on water.

As the plane picks up speeds down the runway, the air pressure under the wings builds, and the plane WILL take off. It doesn't have a choice about that. Wings + speed = takeoff. When exactly depends on the speed of the plane and the configuration of the wings. You'll be doing a fair lick of speed at take off.

There may be bumps and jiggles while you're in the air. Don't worry. That air pressure will continue to hold you up. There will be a variety of clunks, whines, hums and rumbles in flight. This is normal as flaps and landing gear and whatnot are deployed and adjusted.

Propellor planes can be quite noisy to ride in. However the engines won't need to on full bore the whole time. It's quite normal to hear the engines go quiet in a prop plane. They haven't cut out, or run out of fuel - it's only that full power isn't needed all the time.

You might notice some odours in flight. Sometimes the recirculated air can smell a bit fuel-y. Bleed air, they call it. Don't worry. It's normal.

If you fly in winter conditions, do not be alarmed if the wings get de-iced, then deiced again. And again. And again. The pilot isn't worried. The weather isn't that bad. You have to take off within a certain interval of deicing. If there's any delay at all on the tarmac, you get deiced again is all.

The plane makes some extra sounds and rumbles approaching landing. There can be some broad turns and swings, too. Some hard candy to suck on can help you depressurize your ears better. If nothing else, it's a nice treat at the end of the flight.

Sometimes the tires can chirp or squawk on landing. A bump is quite normal too. Keep your mouth closed, and your tongue out from between your teeth, just in case.

You'll be fine. There's nothing wrong with an Atavan if you think you'll be anxious. Or a gravol. I'd skip the booze though. Listen to the inflight instructions and "Bon vol".

Whether you like to fly or not, the best part of the trip is always getting off the plane.

[skudr248]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Drinking is actually a terrible idea, especially if you take any thing like an Ativan or the like, alcohol is a disinhibiter not a sedative, it will make it massively harder for you to stay calm and ignore you natural anxiety, at the worst it will turn you into a blubbering idiot demanding to be let off in front of 100 complete strangers.

Hahah what the hell? No it won't! Booze is awesome for coping with flight anxiety, obviously you don't need to get black out drunk but after 2 to 3 drinks you're fine. But from red deer to calgary to med hat, honestly with that first flight to calgary all your fear will go out the window when flying onwards to med hat.

You're chance of survival anyway is way higher flying in a turboprop than a 737 jet. But honestly go to flight aware on Google and look at how many flights are happening in the world at that time with no issues, I always do and it makes my anxiety go away, and a few drinks ��

[Aleks]

You can PM me any questions too, I fly on a king air 200 for living, having logged hundreds of flights regularly short haul (30min-90min), often multiple times a day, so I can help out with any and all questions you have 😎

Main point, don't fly on an empty stomach, that makes you nauseated. Drink water throughout, that helps. Small planes are more abrupt with bumps and everything, which I find preferable to the big planes for air sickness. Winter is a great time to fly, its so much smoother. Look at the horizon and enjoy the view. Your flight, the plane, everything is A-OK here in Canada, we have great safety standards.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00A using Tapatalk

[GreenLantern2814]

Eat a pot brownie.

[Yamer]

Well, I thought it worth updating everyone.

I went to my doctor and he prescribed Ativan for my nerves. I didn't get really nervous until bed time the night before, so I had a pretty crappy sleep. I took one of the pills at about 1 the following day, and the flight took off a little after 4:30. It worked for the most part.

The take-off was intense as I didn't expect them to hit the gas like they did. However, once I was up in the air and was able to look out the window at the incredible scenery most of my worries melted away. It was about a 23 minute flight from take-off to landing from Red Deer to Calgary, so it was a fairly brief exposure to the process. Landing was interesting, as it seems everytime those planes start descending they shimmy and dip like crazy. That was a little off-putting, as was when they hit the brakes.

It was dark for the second leg to Medicine Hat, so I didn't have the scenery to comfort me. I just put in my headphones and let the Tragically Hip take me into the Hat.

Coming back yesterday it was light and clear out, and I got some amazing views of the country and Calgary as we flew over and then through the southeast tip of the city. My face was glued to the window, and I took a video I might post and share on YouTube of the city and then landing.

Gold star for me: I didn't take any Ativan for the return flights. And, although I didn't really believe everyone, I have kind of caught the bug in the sense that this experience has completely opened my world. There are so many places I want to visit, and I just got over the biggest personal hurdle. Well, apart from cash and time.

Once again, thank you to everyone who gave me some great advice and encouragement!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Over the past 15 years the survival rate of those involved in a plane crash is an astonishingly high number. Like 98% of people in a plane crash survive.

That stat has to be a little misleading, no? I would assume that's likely factoring in the majority of "crashes" which are minor and on the ground. For crashes that happen anywhere past the first 30 seconds of take off the fatality rate would have to be significant and certainly not in the high nineties.