Flying Anxiety - Just How Safe is Flying?

By Marissa Miller

Contrary to popular belief, flying on a commercial jetliner is extremely safe. Yet if you suffer from aviophobia (the fear of flying), that short sentence probably does nothing to ease your fears and anxiety.

According to a study conducted by the Valk Foundation, approximately 40% of people experience some level of anxiety about flying. The fear of flying typically stems from other common fears, such as the fear of heights, crowds, or claustrophobia.

Flying is in fact one of the safest modes of transportation. In fact, more than 3 million people fly around the world every single day without any incident. In 2000, more than one billion people flew throughout the world and there were only 20 fatal accidents. In the United States alone, fewer people have died in commercial plane accidents over the last 60 years than are killed in car crashes in a typical three month period. An even more sobering statistic is that about 115 people die every day in automobile accidents, which equates to one death every 13 minutes.

However, if the thought of flying really makes you extremely anxious and if it is interfering with your life (unable to go on vacations, business trips etc.), consider taking a fear of flying program or course, designed specifically to help people conquer their fears associated with flying. Such programs are typically offered at local airports and taught by pilots, therapists, and other qualified experts.

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