Hello I'm new

[Maria Chumas-Baker]

Hi there, Maria here.  I'm new to this and wanted to say hello.  When I was younger I flew all over the place but as I have got older, my fear has got really bad.  Going to Geneva on Friday for 6 days on business.  Help.  Have done it several times before but still find it very difficult.  It's loss of control as I'm a bit of a control freak and organiser.  Help and Hello Guys.  Maria x

[Anna]

Hi Maria
I'm new to this site as well! Have been it really helpful to read about other peoples feelings. I'm going on the course featured on this website in July so fingers crossed it will be the first positive step to helping me. I hope all goes well for you on Fri - keep us posted with how you are. I would love to visit Geneva one day - have never been but is on my list!!
Take care
Anna

[Sarah]

Hi Maria,

I have used this site once before and always come back to it for some reassurance, i will be flying on Friday too for 4 days business in Italy from Dublin, then 2 flights on the way home- bergamo- leeds/bradford, then Belfast city , i will be thinking of you on Friday, like i say to myself over and over again it will be fine. Yes i have got 'the fear' but i am learning how to cope and each time flying seems to get a little easier, 1 glass of wine, ipod on, magazine and deep breathing gets me through. Il just keeping thinking of captain Keith and the useful info on the site when i am jetting off! Enjoy your flight x

[Maria Chumas-Baker]

Hi Smithy51. Soz, thought you were a bloke until I saw you pic. Yeah, I have to have a glass of whisky before I get on the plane and then I am relaxed. Just one will do. I stick my ipod on and try and read or do my sudoko. Am going to Geneva on business and so should really be looking at my papers. Will grab my husband's hand, as usual, and shut my eyes at take off. It's so silly really but think it may stem from a flight I took from L.A. to London with PanAm back in 1979 when we had a "hot start" while taxying and there were flames and smoke coming out of the engine. Have also watched too many plane disaster movies and get so uptight when there are major plane crashes. Oh well, you have a great trip to Italy and back. Enjoy your flights too.
Maria x

Smithy51 said:

Hi Maria,

I have used this site once before and always come back to it for some reassurance, i will be flying on Friday too for 4 days business in Italy from Dublin, then 2 flights on the way home- bergamo- leeds/bradford, then Belfast city , i will be thinking of you on Friday, like i say to myself over and over again it will be fine. Yes i have got 'the fear' but i am learning how to cope and each time flying seems to get a little easier, 1 glass of wine, ipod on, magazine and deep breathing gets me through. Il just keeping thinking of captain Keith and the useful info on the site when i am jetting off! Enjoy your flight x

[Captain Keith]

No watching disaster movies PLEASE!! They always do more harm than good and never state the truth.

Captain Keith

[Sarah]

Hi Maria,

How did you get on going to Geneva? All my flights went fine, yes i was nervous but managed to control my anxiety and even managed to take a window seat on the flight back to Belfast. Italy was great : )

[Maria Chumas-Baker]

Hi Anna, thatnks for your message. I am still trying to get the hang of using this site so excuse the delay in replying. The trip to Geneva went well. I actually went up into the mountains near Sion which was fantastic. Did some business all day Monday which was exhausting. Flights were good, although going out we had a lady pilot from London City who thought it was evening even though it was only 08.40 am so this was a little worrying. She did a lovely landing in Geneva though. I was very very nervous, as usual, but got through it. Hope the course goes very well for you in July and try and visit Geneva sometime.
Take care Anna,
Maria xx

[Maria Chumas-Baker]

Hi Sarah, yep the Geneva trip went fine although have been back nearly a week and have been stacked up with work. Our lady pilot out of London City thought it was evening though when we took off and it was only 08.40am. That was a bit worrying. I always tell the stewards or air hostesses that I am a nervous flyer. This helps me because they are so nice about it. I was still very very nerous but I took a window seat on the way back and watched everthing that was going on with the engines under the wings of the plane. It was a small 100 seater plane with 2 engines under each wing. The views were fantastic coming back over the channel and the east end of London into London City. So glad your flights went fine. We will get then and then maybe we can all take a flight together and have a great time. What about it.
Maria xx

Sarah said:

Hi Maria,

How did you get on going to Geneva? All my flights went fine, yes i was nervous but managed to control my anxiety and even managed to take a window seat on the flight back to Belfast. Italy was great : )