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From December email, 2002 Dear Captain, You've done a wonderful service by sharing your knowledge of flying with everyone who is lucky enough to find your website. I never donate money to websites - yours was the first!! Thanks for all your help and hard work on the site, and I'll think of you as I fly across the US skies tomorrow (slow, deep breathing... got it!!). Dear Captain Chance, I’m taking off tomorrow on a trip to Warsaw, Poland, and I never thought I could arrest an air phobia that has randomly come upon me the last 2 years by tomorrow. In a final desperate search for some sort of relief, I came across your website. I just want to say, “Thank You!” This webpage completely reassured all my doubts and worries of flying, and I can’t wait to test out my newfound courage tomorrow. I am now going to donate and get on that bonus page. Just wanted to drop you a line, I have dropped you two prior notes. #1 was after I took the on line fear of flying course. #2 was after I read your book (Wings of Discovery). I finally took my first flight on Dec 19th. We flew on Delta. I did great. He has been trying to get me on a plane for about 25 years. Up until I took your course I had always said I wouldn't do it. After your course I said I would do it but I would tell him when. I did get some Xanax from my MD just in case. And I did actually take some. But I am so excited that I did it, no regrets, no scary parts. I took along your suggestions, visualization, survival guide. But honestly I didn't even need them. I looked at them on the first leg of the flight but never even thought about it on the return. Other than your help...the best thing was my husband..he has already had about 185 flights this year, a real frequent flyer, anyway, he knew everything and he would tell me what different things were and in the airport he knew right where to go, etc. Thanks again, you really have made a difference in my life and his. I can't tell you how many people I have told about your web site. Everyone was so shocked that I was actually going to finally fly. I gave you all the credit, thanks again. I found your web site by googling 'Fear of Flying' and yours was the first hit--I'm grateful. I will fly in two days with my two small children to see my family and the fear has been the rule for me when flying since I was 16 and had my first 'bad' experience. Something terrible happened to me on that flight and the fear became deeply rooted in me. At times the fear has been more manageable, but now, as you say, I have much more to lose these days so my fear has been prominent. As a scientist, I have actually learned all of the equations and physics of why planes fly and a part of me loves to fly, having a deep appreciation for the engineering in general. But then the emotional side of me gets a hold of my brain and the fun ends. For some reason, since the experience I had 15 years ago, I have a terrible feeling that it's my destiny to die in a plane crash. I know how ridiculous that sounds, even as I write it! So each time I get ready to fly, I go through an enormous amount of psychotic mumbo jumbo, thinking it will be my last time alive. Now that I have small children, I DO NOT want them to pick up on this fear from me, because so far, my son at least, loves it. My 3 yr old daughter becomes afraid from the noises but otherwise loves it too. I will try and visit with the pilots beforehand whenever possible, as you suggested. Sorry this message has turned out to be so lengthy, but as you said, writing about ones fears can be quite helpful, and you seem to be a person who has a deep understanding of this. I'm hopeful I can get a grip on this so I can enjoy life more without the fear. So far, I have been able to keep flying because I tell myself to be brave and I selfishly want to see my family and the world. My personal chant is "I am brave", because I feel I must be very brave to keep flying when my fear runs so deep. So I just wanted to write and say a very big 'thank you' for your website. The information and guidance you provide seem invaluable, and I'm looking forward to putting it into practice. I'll let you know how things go... I just wanted to send you a little personal thank you for your help. I was very thrilled to be able to get on that plane to go to Kansas City last week. I knew what most of the noises where and what I didn't know I wasn't afraid to ask an attendant (they were so nice!). I'm happy to say that I'm now looking forward to going to Disney World in 2004 instead of dreading it. I want to thank you again for your help. Your advice really made the difference when I flew recently from Baltimore to Orlando. Do you recall the winter storm that hit the east coast on Dec. 5? Well, that was when I was scheduled to fly out of BWI!! Sure enough, our flight was cancelled and we had to go out the next morning. I had the opportunity to be in the airport almost 24 hours before taking off and I think it really did the trick! Seeing all those people coming and going places (or trying to) and meeting airline personnel and talking with them about my flying anxieties really put me at ease. Once I was at ease, my son (who was also fearful of flying) relaxed and enjoyed himself alot. Our return flight went off without a hitch and we got home safe and sound. (In fact, I had more fear about the shuttle van driver's ability on I-95 coming home!) I'm not saying I won't have problems in the future, but I will continue to go to your website and practice your calming techniques. Thanks so much for taking the time to care about us anxious flyers and providing us with such good sound advice. It made a world of difference to me! First off I want to say a HUGE thank you for your website. I plan on getting your book, Wings of Discovery as soon as I actually get some money together and can afford it. Yes,we all have hard times,this is mine I guess. I am an awful flyer, I hate being up high, closed spaces and to make matters worse I am flying from canada to england with children who are petrified as well. Allthough I have tried to keep an upbeat attitude when discussing flying with my children I assume that 9-11 has left an impact on their young lives just as it has adults. I am going to pass this website on, and study it with my 10year old girl who is so scared she is already sick :( I really hope it relaxes her as much as it has me. Your website and course has educated me so much in the mode of air travel I am actually looking forward to my flight. (allthough still nervous) I actually WANT to fly. I'm so scared of flying that when I order tickets I literally shake at my computer. The last time I flew I booked my flight a month in advance and the entire month before I flew it was on my mind, and I had terrible nightmares. I'm supposed to fly again next month and I haven't even booked my flight yet and already I'm getting nightmares. As I started through your course the thoughts of flying gave me the same reaction, I'm literally shaking in front of the computer, but I did relax quite a bit as read though your online course. I found the sections on how the airplane works and the virtual flight extremely helpful. The sound clips you provide especially put me at ease as I've heard all those noises before and I never knew what it meant. I'm will definitely keep this site in mind as I get closer to flying again and as I take that flight. I've read other fear of flying courses, but knowing your an airline pilot put a lot more confidence in me. I finished your book (Wings of Discovery) last night. Actually it was early this morning..about 2am. Man..what an inspiring book that was. Just awesome, I loved it. I was so tempted to start all over, and read it again, but since I had to get up at 7am for work, I decided that it was probably not a good idea. Hello, I want to thank you so much for your fear of flying web site! I had to go to a wedding in Philadelphia earlier this year and I dreaded it for months, until I took your on-line course. I previously had the worst case of flying anxiety that most people have ever seen, and I resisted taking any fear of flying classes because I couldn't even imagine them working. I finally got to the point where I was tired of missing out on so many events because of my fear, and I was especially tired of traveling someplace, only to have my whole trip be ruined by my anxiety over the flight home. So I thank you, and my husband thanks you. I have posted on the message board quite a few times, and have asked you questions and I have talked with other people. Not sure if you remember me or not, but I wanted to thank you personally for everything you have done for me and other people who are terrified to fly. I had searched the website looking for fear of flying sites, then I ran across yours. Your website, by FAR was the best. And just the fact that it was written by a pilot, made it all the more better. Your online course was excellent, and it has helped me tremendously. You sincerly care about people, it definetly shows. I have heard rumors that you are a pilot for American Airlines. I don't know if you can confirm that for me, but let me tell ya something. I ususally fly United. I don't feel safe in any other airline. It's silly, I know, but that's just how I am. But if every other pilot who flies AA is as sincere and caring as you (and I'm sure they are) I will without a doubt start to fly AA. I just hope one day I'll be lucky enough to have you as my pilot. You are a wonderful, wonderful person and this world is lucky to have you. You are a God send. Thank you for being our angel in the skies. Take care, and happy holidays! Dear Captain Chance, Your course has changed my life. I Now have the freedom to travel the world without the debilitating anxiety I used to have. I just returned from Vermont, next month will be Grenada, and I now have New Zealand in the plans. One thing that really helped....... Meet the Pilots! They were more than happy to see and talk to a nervous passenger. But I just need to remember to ask the flight attendant in the right way. Since 9/11 I guess they have new rules about passengers stepping into the cockpit. I had one flight attendant almost take me down when I started to walk into the cockpit like I owned the place. Everything turned out O.K. though, my wife was able to explain. Thanks again. I am recommending your course to everyone I know. It's amazing, I had to go to Washington a few months ago and I got on the plane and barely felt a thing! My whole attitude has changed, the noises don't bother me anymore, the turning of the plane, it seems to have faded. The turbulence bothers me still but other than that I do okay, I actually am looking forward to trying it again. I can't tell you how helpful it was to know about the plane then to just have someone tell you that it's safer then riding in a car. I always use to tell them "Yeah, but when you crash in a car your most likely going to survive, you crash in a plane your dead". I didn't know you could actually survive a plane crash like that. Your awesome! I will let you know how it goes. Well I made it from Sydney to LAX and back again. I was slightly anxious beforehand (not as bad as usually though) but on the plane I was real calm. Even slept quite a bit. I consider myself to have previously been one of the worst flyers in terms of fear. Not now. I am so so thankful to you for your course. I have made a donation and I bought your book Wings of Discovery (it was a great read). I am actually now thinking of studying for my private pilots license with my uncle here in Australia (he is a flight instructor). All because of our book. Before, I wouldnt even consider getting on a small plane. You are a great guy for helping people like me. God bless you and America. From November email, 2002 Dear Captain, I just wanted to let you know that I have just finished your book Wings of Discovery and found it to be very enjoyable. If nothing else, I want to learn to fly!! It has been my desire to learn to fly for many years, however I have not yet been able to make it happen. I like to fly, however I am pretty uncomfortable doing it on an airliner. I know that makes no sense. I think I am a control freak. I am flying tomorrow and I am a little nervous. This will be the third time I've flown this year, with the only other two times being 1995 and 1975. I'm hoping that the things I've read in your book help me. I really do appreciate the time you spend helping people like me, It is a very noble thing for you to do. Thank you very much. I did the online course last night and finished it this morning. I think it was very helpful, and plan on copying the last chapter - a simulated flight - to read during my first flight in 15 years, to England at Christmas. Just visualizing getting on the plane, however, makes my heart race, and I wonder if an intellectual understanding of flying - the mechanics, the training, the inspections, education of pilots, etc. - can make any dent in that feeling. It remains to be seen, and when I come back from the U.K. in January I will make a contribution. The most helpful piece of information was the 1998 statistic - all those millions of flights and not one disaster. I shall keep reminding myself of that. The least helpful was the peanut butter statistic - I somehow couldn't manage my usual peanut butter on English muffin breakfast this morning, and hope that this won't be permanent! Thanks for your website Captain Stacey . My wife an I are going to California (from Sydney) in 2 weeks time. I was panicking. And started looking on internet for something top help me. Couldn't believe my luck when i found your site (and a pilot as author - even better). I'm still a bit anxious, but feel that you have equipped me with many useful pieces of info. I have flown for years. Like many people I started getting very anxious some time in my early 20s. Im now 35 and havent been overseas since that time. Ive done many domestic flights (but mostly in fear). I have done other courses, but your information has helped me refresh my knowledge. Hello, I've done your course and do feel better about flying, just by addressing my fear itself already... But, my biggest fear is a panic attack, but now, I think I can handle it... Thanks for your help to everybody Although I was really nervous getting on the plane I made it back from my trip just fine. I sat next to the window on both flights which made it interesting because I could look out. The only problem I had was with the turbulence but, I just keep telling myself that it was just bumps in the road. I would like to sincerely thank you for making you information available to the public. Had I not gone through the course I don't believe I could have gotten on the plane. My fear of flying is not completely gone but, with all the information I have it makes it tolerable thing for me. Thank you Captain Stacey. I did your lesson and I think it's helped quite a bit. I am still a bit nervous and will have to go through it again - I am flying this evening. I'll let you know how I do when I return! Thank you very much for taking the time and effort to education people. I just wanted to say thank you for your fear of flying course. I have been afraid of flying for around ten years now, after experiencing a terrible flight with very bad turbulence at the age of fourteen. At the time, I felt that the plane was out of control and that we were certainly going to crash. I have continued to fly over the past few years, but suffered from anxiety attacks before, during and after the flights. Believe it or not, I am from the UK and currently find myself in Sydney, Australia, part way through a round the world trip. I'm not quite sure how I got here, but I will never let my fear of flying get in the way of living. So I have decided to try and tackle the problem myself (as my next flight to New Zealand is rapidly approaching!). Your course offered what every person with a true fear of flying needs, a good pilots opinion. I once sat next to a British Airways pilot on a flight and he immediately saw me gripping onto the handles of the seat for dear life. He calmly explained what was happening and what every noise was etc. I enjoyed that flight, because he made me feel safe. I wish that I could sit next to pilot on every flight! I also encountered an excellent Air Hostess on a BA flight to Bangkok, who helped me through every step of the flight. So, friendly cabin crew make the world of difference to someone like me. I like the way you describe flying as swimming through water. That thought will help me more than you can ever imagine, because my problem with flying is that I do not (didn't) understand how planes stayed in the air. I understand that flying is safe, but I always think that the plane I am on will certainly crash. I feel much happier about flying now after taking this course and hope I can gradually get over this, so I can continue to travel the world, which I love. I thought I would have a hundred questions for you but I have none. They were all answered in the course, so I recommend it to anyone who is afraid to fly. Thank you again for your help and I hope that you continue to love what you are doing for a living! Flying and helping people! I am very thankful sir for your website. I haven't seen my family in six years and I am about to get on a plane and travel from SC to CA. I feel confident, after reading your website and "ground" practicing some of the methods that I can not only get on the plane but enjoy the flight experience. Captain, again I thank you and so does my family. Happy Thanksgiving. PS I will be sending you a contribution along with the progress report from my trip. I hope this can help someone else to go and enjoy "our World" You are providing an extremely valuable service to the general public. I personally feel that the noblest effort of human activity is to relieve human suffering. I believe that you achieve this through your website and course. I took your course and also bought the "Wings of Discovery" E-book and was helped ENORMOUSLY by both. Your opening chapter in Wings absolutely captured every emotion people feel in that situation. You didn't sugar coat it and that gave you credibility. It also showed you understood the severity of the problem. I have a degree in clinical psychology and my specialty was anxiety - based disorders. I have done a lot of studying in this aspect of psychology. I recently had to go to Phoenix with my wife and daughter. We flew ATA which I discovered has a perfect safety record ( this helped... believe me). I was an absolute basket case for a few weeks before. I had to go for work but did not want to fly! The course information not only gave me reassuring information but actually corrected false information that I had (e.g. I thought when the engines quit on a jet it dropped like a rock) I also found the fact that the wing was constructed of all one piece also especially reassuring. Armed with this knowledge I was able to make the flight. I personally find it helpful to strike up a conversation with the person next to me. Fortunately, the person on my way back to Chicago had led an interesting life in the Navy and he was a very experienced traveler. From a psychological perspective, anything that forces the mind to attend to it helps to break the cycle of anticipatory anxiety. Playing cards helps also. Your book Wings has whet my appetite to take a ride in an ultralite. In fact, it's on my list of 100 things I want to do before I die. Once again, thank you very much for your work. It helped me enormously. PS If any part of this letter can be used in your work you have my permission to use it without reservation. i would like very much to send you a contribution for the help i have received from your free course and i would likewise very much enjoy reading your book. as it stands though, i have difficulty paying my own rent. i will be making a trip to germany in a few weeks and i have never felt this positively about flying. the hour and a half or so that i spent with your course has done more for me in respect to air travel than i could have possibly imagined. you made it very clear yet easy for anyone to understand. i greatly appreciate what youve done for me. i wont say that i am not nervous but i feel truly better about the experience to come. i can breathe easier now than i could before at the thought of air travel. again, i honestly wish i could make a contribution and purchase the book but my financial situation prohibits that at this time. i hope my deepest gratitude will suffice in the meantime. thank you very much, sir. Thank you so much for offering this on line course. I am terrified or shall I now say WAS terrified for flying. I have flown hundreds of times throughout my life however did not developed this fear until a few years ago for whatever reason. I am now 24 and avoided traveling at all costs due to this fear. I have just booked a flight to Puerto Vallarta and I am for once not dreading the flight. I will be sure to take my papers I printed out from your course and finally be able to RELAX! I am going to Barnes and Noble tomorrow to buy your book as well. Thanks again! Firstly, I must thank you for offering the "Fear of Flying Help Course" on the web. I took considerable comfort when reading the facts about flying and techniques that can be used to help the whole process become much more relaxing. Over the past five years I have become more and more afraid of flying. Taking-off is my problem, cruising and even turbulence don't come close to the feelings of dread I having at take-off, as the plane powers down the runway (the good bit) and lifts off (the bad bit). A few minutes later the pilot throttles back and I feel we're about to fall out of the sky because my mind tells me the plane feels like it has stopped in mid-air. We might then bank left and all I can see is the ocean which in turn seems as though it's getting closer not further away. I listen for every change in sound fearing doom is nearby. However, I now have a better understanding of the training involved by all personnel involved and the rigorous checks performed to help keep the flying public and of course pilots and cabin crew safe and feel more comfortable about the idea of flying. I will be on a domestic flight next week, which is why I am taking your course now. I have ordered a hard copy of "Wings of Discovery" from Amazon books, but alas it will not arrive before I head off and so I have just purchased your e-book version, so that I can begin reading immediately, my hard copy can then travel with me on other trips. If you can offer any guidance to further alleviate by take-off fears I would be very grateful. I would also like to ask if buying both the ebook and hard copy of "Wings of Discovery" would qualify me for access to the special bonus web information. Unfortunately the New Zealand currency is rather pitiful against the US dollar. Many thanks for your consideration. Thank-You so much for offering this fear of flying course. I am scheduled to fly for the first time in 2 days, and I was scared to death. Now, I know what to expect. I feel this course was tremendously helpful to me. Happy Flying! Dear Captain........Juat a very quick note to say............THANK YOU I'm flying out on Sunday to Hong Kong, and I have been in daily panic mode for 6 weeks since I booked the ticket.............I feel calm for the first time in 6 weeks, i seem to "get it" now, I know how it stays up, what the noises are about, how unlikely it is that the plane will fall from the sky.....what causes turbulence........it is........A MIRACLE...... I don't know what happened, but I'm not scared now............. cheers.....i can't thank you enough, i mean to say , there are no words to .....express the gratitude. I wanted to thank you for taking the time ( I know that putting together even a small web-page is TIME CONSUMING ) to put together this fear of flying web resource for all of us scardy-cats out there! You are a very thoughtful person! I am going to buy your book "Wings of Discovery" ASAP and will read it on my next flight. Thank you again for everything! I would like to send you a big Thank- You for offering this course to people everywhere afraid to fly. My experience was absolutely wonderful. We did have a problem with our plane in the beginning of the flight. But, because of your course and the information you provided, I had total faith that the mechanics would do their jobs to the best of their abilities. We ended up having a 8 hour wait for the next plane to become available but all in all, it was a beautiful experience for me. I even took window seats both ways! I highly recommend your fear of flying course to anyone who has a doubt. It helped me tremendously. Soon, we will be returning to Orlando for another visit. I am looking forward to flying again soon. Once again, Thank-You so much for easing my mind of flying. I would have missed out on something so beautiful as flying in the friendly skies! I really enjoyed your course!! I have flown for years, never liked it, was always extremely anxious for days before and during flight, but since 911 became paralyzed about flying. I recently cancelled going to a family event because I had such anxiety about the flight I just couldn't do it. I think I will be extremely more relaxed after taking your course. Thanks again for your help. I may repeat the course several times and I have ordered your book "Wings of Discovery" , but feel now that I could fly without much fear. My biggest fear was always turbulence, that the plane would spin out of control in the air or just fall apart, so your comments in that area helped alot. Dear Captain Stacey, your book "Wings of Discovery" is so good and all you write is what i fear. Guess what? After reading i too wanted to build a plane!! I have just completed your 'Fear of Flying' Course and have found it to be extremely helpful. I have not been on an aeroplane for over 12 years and in January I am hoping to travel to Disneyworld, Florida with my husband and four children because our youngest son lost his left arm and shoulder to cancer a couple of years ago and he has been granted a wish by the Make a Wish Foundation here in the U.K. I have not been looking forward to going onto a plane again but I thought that for my son and our other children's sakes I must go and let them have the holiday of a lifetime so I decided to see if there was anything on the Internet which could help me overcome my fears. Your course has been so helpful and informative - the last time I was on a plane there were so many things I wanted to ask the Flight Attendants but I thought they would think I was silly and it seemed to embarrass my husband that I was so afraid so I just kept all my worries locked up inside my head where they have brewed for years. I found the different sounds on the plane frightening and when the plane dipped or suddenly went upwards I would feel sick. Can you please let me know why the plane shudders sometimes and creaks? I think that you have a real empathy for people who are afraid of flying and also those suffering from stress and anxiety. Not only do I feel more confident about flying this time but my attitude to other worries that I have about life in general have gone from 'What if?' to 'So what!' as you suggest. If we can overcome these fears and worries I am sure that life can be much sweeter. Many thanks again for such a great lesson and I will contact you again after my flight to let you know how it went. I took your fear of flying course earlier this month and it has helped relieve most of my flying anxiety. The reason I am writing is that I did contribute $30 after finishing the course to gain access to the bonus web page. However, I recently upgraded my internet service version and lost the link to the bonus web page in the process. Please send the link to me so that I get back into the bonus web site. I also purchased "Wings of Discovery". It was a very good story. I sent you an email last week about my flight I was going to be taking, well I did it, it was a little hard, but I did use a lot of your technics and they were very helpful, I specially used a lot of the breathing exercises that you mentioned, I kept telling myself that I was nervous,but I could handle it, the first 20min were a little harder, actually as I was off the ground I felt a little panic, but I immediately said to myself that all I was feeling was anxiety, the rest of the flight I try to entertain myself by reading a magazine and listening to a relaxing tape I brought with me. I will be flying out again on Thursday am and back on Saturday, I am trying to take as many flights as possible so I am able to practice this technics and master them, I really would like to get rid of this fear for good, thank you for your help and where do I send the contribution to? Your online course has already helped to ease my fears though I think I need to go through it a couple more times to absorb everything into my thick head. Also I am going to take your book "Wings of Discovery" on the flight with me. Fear is very resistant to logic you know. Anyway I am flying in a week from LAX to Maui. My whole family is going. I'm almost afraid to be happy as if it will somehow jinx my flight. Thanks for this service I will send a contribution with my feedback sheet. From October email, 2002 I did your course about a month ago as I had to fly for work and it helped me tremendously so I want to thank you. I'm due to fly again next week so I will be doing a refresher on the course. Thanks very much for your help and keep up the good work! A friend of mine told me about your course and I have to say THANK YOU! It is very very helpful and also very reassuring. I am one of these people who notice every noise, every bump and always think MY flight is going to be my last and I will never see my family again! I think that even though I will still be a little nervous, that I will be able to handle the flight much better, I will definately be taking all your information with me and will also try to get hold of your book (Wings of Discovery) to read before I go. Once again thank you very much, my only regret is that you won't be the one flying me to Thailand! I wanted to let you know that my wife and I flew roundtrip from Houston to Calgary and we were both remarkably at ease. Your course certainly helped. We encountered a fair amount of turbulence on the return flight and we were even held in the air for about 40 minutes awaiting clearance to land. Through all this, we did not experience anxiety like I had feared we would. I have just run through your fear of flying course. I thought it was very well presented and the pages downloaded very fast. I feel I still have some way to go to become fully confident about flying, but this course has certainly helped me gain some ground towards that goal. Many thanks for putting this course together. I would recommend it to anyone who has a fear of flying. It's not just what you said in your wonderful course, but how you said it! I am feeling far more relaxed than before with all the things I now know . I will spread the word to everyone!! (went through the course 2x so it sinks in) Hi! I first want to say I thoroughly enjoyed your online course! I waited to the last minute (I fly Friday) and have been "fretting" the whole experience! I never liked to fly BEFORE 9-11, but then was very fearful afterwards. I am taking my children and I didn't want them to see me so afraid. Your course was GREAT! I was addicted to the computer for hours! What really wanted was to "hire" you to be the captain of my upcoming 4 flights! I have submitted a donation via Paypal. What you've done on this website has helped me tremendously in facing some holiday travel coming up. I haven't flown in about 4 years, always flying very uncomfortably when I did, with recent events now having had me feel I may not fly again. In recent days, I've decided to work to conquer this fear, and feel that the time spent reading your sessions has made huge inroads to that end. I'd never considered the perspectives you showed in this series and am seeing the beginnings of change in my own mindset. It's not totally resolved, but I know I can work it out now with a little time and practice. Thank you very much for your lesson. I'm flying from CA to a wedding in Seattle this weekend and now I feel so much better. I was so scared and your words have really helped me. I'll buy your book (Wings of Discovery) as well :) Thanks! I wish to express my thanks to Captain Chance for providing this informative and extremely helpful website. Over the past few years I have developed an irrational fear of flying and shortly after the dreadful events of 9/11 I vowed I would never fly again - even the thought of stepping onto a plane filled me with dread. This summer, as I watched all my friends and colleagues travel to various parts of the world and return tanned, relaxed and happy, I decided I would not let this stupid fear control my life any longer. So, five weeks ago I went onto the internet and booked a holiday for my myself and my boyfriend. The closer our departure date came the more frightened I got. I went onto the internet again, this time to find the names of some anti-anxiety drugs I could maybe take to ease my fears, except instead I found this website! After taking the course, my fears subsided and I even started to look forward to the flights. I wont lie, at the departure airport I still had a major panic attack and refused to get onto the aircraft, but with the help of my wonderfully supportive partner I boarded the plane and almost immediately my fears subsided. I enjoyed take-off, cruise and landing - I did get a few jitters in the air, but they soon dissappered when I remembered how safe flying really is. The best part of it all was the return flight - it was a freezing cold, dark evening in England and there was not one cloud in the sky - I looked out the plane window and watched every city from the south coast to Manchester lit up below me, it was beautiful! Now, I can't wait to do it all again next summer and, who knows, maybe I'll be able to fly just that little bit further by then! I am back SAFE AND SOUND. We flew to Disneyworld on US Air. I have to tell you I was more nervous because of the whole "bankrupcy" thing. We have had out tickets for months (before they filed). That could not have been more wonderful! What a GREAT trip! The flights were all so nice and SMOOTH. The pilots were extremely polite and friendly. Even though we experienced a "little" turbulence, I remembered you saying "turbulence never crashed a plane, think of it as a bumpy road". Your course helped me SO MUCH. I even think my husband got tired of my "Fear of Flying Course Trivia" that I learned. I explained to him every bump, noise, part of the plane, and so on (he LOVES to fly). He just wanted me to be quiet and let him enjoy his flight! My mother (who flew with us and enjoys to fly too) even wants to take your course just to learn more about it! I will send you my "feedback form", I jotted a few things down that still made me a little scared that may help you in your future updating of your course! Thanks for your time, talent, and wonderful course! Having just completed your course and being a self-proclaimed sceptic I'm stunned at how beneficial I found it, and just how much more at ease I feel about flying. My fears centered around not being in control, I have always said "if they'd let me fly the thing I'd be fine!". Whenever I'd say to firends about my fear that if anything goes wrong you don't get a second chance, they usually laugh at this due to the fact that I ride very high performance motorcycles (170mph+ performance) on a regular basis and never bat an eyelid. I'm due to fly from Dublin, Ireland to London, England, and from there to New York this coming Saturday. For the last few nights I've had a tightness in my stomach and been unable to sleep restfully due to tension over the flights, I'm now quite looking forward to it. My worst time is from leaving the runway to when we level out, I'm still a little apprehensive about this but will use all your tips to chill myself out. Thank You once again. I have taken this course before my last flight, but felt I needed a refresher. I have ordered your book (Wings of Discovery) at a local bookstore. Too bad they do not keep them on the shelf. I sent you $ before, so here is a little bit more (sorry it's not much). Thanks for your wonderful online course. Tomorrow my husband and I are flying from Seattle to Heathrow with our five-month old son. I have just completed your course and found it tremendously helpful, particularly lesson 4. Thanks for putting such a valuable resource on the Web. I'm still feeling a bit nervous for the flight (we are also flying from our home to Seattle to make our international flight to Europe), mostly because of the length. 9 1/2 hours in the air - oy vey! I guess it could be longer. And at least it's a direct flight. My biggest concern is that the flight will be 'hard' on my baby. I know from experience (I flew to TX with him when he was just 8 weeks old) that the take-offs and landings often produce painful pressure in their ears and bellies. I nurse my son, so it's my hope he'll be willing to nurse during take-off and landing to help alleviate some of the pressure he'll be experiencing. Anyhow, I digressed. I just wanted to thank you for your Web site. Reading through the lessons has really helped calm my fears. Thank you for the help your course provided in enabling me to overcome my fear of flying. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about the benefits of taking the online course, but it really worked! The flights - my first in twenty years - went well and I even found myself at times, to my great surprise, enjoying the experience. I had moments of panic in the air but I employed the techniques covered in your course and quickly recovered. I also found that it was a great help having some favorite music to listen to on my Walkman, and in moments of uncertainty I repeated to myself the mantra, "planes are built for flying". I think a lot of my fear was fear of fear, fear that I would panic at some stage during the flight. In fact, the worst part of the whole experience was waiting in the departure lounge, particularly on the return journey when our flight was delayed as the plane we were waiting for had turned back "for technical reasons". Thanks again for your help. One of the key things I have learned from the course is that just as one can make oneself afraid, one can also make oneself unafraid. Best wishes and keep up the good work on your web site. From September email, 2002 I have had an irrational fear of flying for a very long time now; mostly it was a fear of the unknown and not knowing what to expect. In the course of 60-90 mins your course has empowered me to see there is absolutely nothing to be afraid off, and even now I feel an excitement within myself to get up there in the sky and look at this beautiful world around us, and also there are many places I wish to see, and you have helped me with my fear greatly... I am planning to go to Hawaii and Oahu, there is something very special I want to see there and when I can save up enough and go, it will be because your rational detailed descriptions for the first time flyer were very helpful! I have had an irrational fear of flying for a very long time now; mostly it was a fear of the unknown and not knowing what to expect. In the course of 60-90 mins your course has empowered me to see there is absolutely nothing to be afraid off, and even now I feel an excitement within myself to get up there in the sky and look at this beautiful world around us, and also there are many places I wish to see, and you have helped me with my fear greatly... I am planning to go to Hawaii and Oahu, there is something very special I want to see there and when I can save up enough and go, it will be because your rational detailed descriptions for the first time flyer were very helpful! Thank you very much, and will send you an email pic of my holiday when I go... Hi I just wanted to say that what impressed me most was your desire to help others feel more comfortable with flying. Because of this and the fact that you make contributions completely voluntary I am definitely going to send one. I have a tremendous amount of anxiety about flying, but, I push myself to do it anyway. I know that statistically speaking I am safer in the air than I am driving in a car, but it's still hard to shake the fear. Thank you for taking the time to create a site where people can learn and possibly help conquer some of their fears. I also was under the impression that the pilot's wouldn't be all that keen on meeting the passengers (don't know where I got that idea...). So, that was also kind of nice to know that they might like a hello from us... Thanks, and I will send my contribution via snail mail. Cheers! Just wanted to send a quick message to say I think your website is great! About three months ago I was completely convinced I would never get on a plane. In fact, I had a long discussion with one of my housemates who tried to convince me it was perfectly safe. I was worried about all the aspects you suggest people may be worried about in one of the early lessons! About two months ago my boyfriend wanted to take me to Rome for a weekend, but I thought he was out of his mind!! I hadn't flown for 15 years and was definitely not getting on a plane!! Then, one of my friends said I should try it - she'd flown lots of times and was convinced flying was perfectly safe. Anyway, just out of interest, I half-heartedly did a search on google for web pages about flying. I found your site and after about two hours of reading it decided flying might be safe after all. Two weeks ago I flew from London to Italy for a week and despite being absolutely terrified when we got into the airport, I somehow managed to force myself onto the plane! It wasn't too bad! I even enjoyed some of the great views out of the window! On the way back I was hardly worried at all. Anyway I just thought it might be nice to hear that your website is doing its job! I have to confess that I am a student at the moment, so I'm sorry I haven't contributed anything to your fund. When I have some cash to spare I will buy your book, Wings of Discovery and definitely recommend it to anyone else. I used to hate the experience. Hyperventilating on take off and landing. Hot flushes during turbulence etc etc. Just returned from holiday in Ibiza and actually ENJOYED the flight there and back. I realised that my fears came from not being in control and also fears about aircraft safety. I looked around at takeoff and was suprised to see that most people seemed more nervous than me! I knew that if we hit turbulence, there was nothing to fear and actually wanted to experience some. I took my pulse when landing at my destination. It was a normal, relaxed 72 bpm. On the return landing I did the same and actually lowered it to 60bpm. I can't wait for my next trip. Thank you very much Just a short note to express how impressed with your website I am. Like many people I don't (or haven't ) enjoyed the run up to a holiday, as the main thing on my mind is the flight to my destination. My girlfriend gets excited buying clothes and visualising warm days and hot nights! I see the airport and the door of the plane closing.The noises and movements that filled me with dread last time I flew.then a large part of the holiday is spent dreading the journey back home. I realise after going through your course that my Phobia is based on 2 key aspects, 1) mechanical failure. Partly due to the fact that I'm an engineer. So I deal with failure all day.How I wish my industry had as many backups and checks as yours.(But then I wouldn't have a job I suppose!) 2) Media reporting. By far the most significant part I think. splash coverage of the accidents plants a strong negative image in many millions of minds I'm sure. all those many millions of safe flying hours every year and we hear about the few seconds of mainly man and machines cohorting to produce a problem. Thanks for producing such a informative and friendly site. I can't make a donation at this moment, as my credit card took a bashing booking the holiday!. But I have forwarded a link to your page to my friends. And posted it on my web site. After going through your course, all I can say is I wish all my life could be as safe as sitting on a plane!!! I have just finished your ' Fear of flying course'; and must say that I am impressed with what I have learned here.I have not flown in 29 years, due to a fear of all thee unknown bumps and so called bruises on that particular flight at the young age of 17.I swore then I would never board another aircraft. But am now due to fly south in a 10 day's to meet a very special man I have not met in person yet (online dating thing), so I will accomplish this journey as I feel I will have conquered not only my fear of flying, but also my number one phobia which is snakes, as I am travelling to one of the world's largest snake infested states. So this both in one day, not too shabby for a girl who has avoided theses things for near 30 years hey! I think what you are doing here to help people such as myself is a wonderful thing, keep up the good work.I will send you a note on my return as to my adventure of flying once again really for the so called first time .....thanks to you. I just wanted to say many thanks for your great course! It was wonderful to find such a helpful tool before my flight to Chicago tomorrow (from Vienna) which has been causing me a lot of stress. Now I feel much better! Just wanted to say thank you for all the time and effort you put into developing this course...I just made the decision to fly over Christmas break. I need all the help I can get to over come this fear of flying. Your course has given me lots of positive things to look at. I feel a little stronger in the ability to actually get on the plane and go! THANK AGAIN! P.S. I'm also going to buy your book Wings of Discovery! Thanks so much for creating your on-line course and making it free. I was able to do the whole course in 3 days during small breaks at work, very convenient. The course addressed all of my concerns. I don't have any flights planned, but in case I go on one it is comforting to know that I can click your link and reread and printout any parts I would need to review to get ready. Again, thanks for your efforts, you really did help me. After vowing last year never to fly again, I have just had a wonderful holiday in Cyprus thanks to the confidence installed in me by your fear of flying course. Two five hour flights with no more than some apprehension at take off each way, because I now understand how the aircraft works. Thank you very much. I am due to fly out in 4 days to accompany my sister on her first holiday in 10 years - a 4 hour flight .. the most I could manage ever before was a couple of hours - the typical white knuckle passenger! So scared I was almost on the point of saying I dont want to go.. but how could I spoil this for her. In panic and desperation I looked for anything that would help and found your site. Wow what a difference it made to read your pages. I can honestly say I am no longer terrified, or even apprehensive. I feel much more positive and in control of my fear... I cannot thank you enough. I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU for your website and the help it gave to my husband, who was always a nervous airline passenger, but since Sept. 11, said he would never fly again. We had a trip planned to Arizona next week and he said he was not flying, his fears were just too overwhelming to get on the plane, so I was going by myself. But after he did some research and taking your Fear of Flying course on the web, he feels much better about his nervousness with air travel, and has now decided to go. This is a great course you have constructed and is really a help to people who need some reassurance. We're flying American for this trip, don't know if that is your airline, but hope to see you one day on a future flight. Thank you! Just wanted to add to the chorus of praise for your Web site. I have a flight to Las Vegas tomorrow that's going to require me to switch planes twice. That's THREE different flights each way. Needless to say my stomach has been in knots for about a week now. While the visualizations and relaxation exercises are not exactly my cup of tea, what I did find helpful was getting the facts from someone who pilots a commercial jetliner for a living. I find comfort in knowledge. So learning the basics of flight, how an aircraft works and what the odds really are of being in an accident was a tremendous help. It's an odd thing to get my head around that in the course of getting up, shaving, feeding my dog, eating a peanut butter sandwhich, driving to the airport and flying to Las Vegas that the time I'm at the LEAST amount of risk is when I'm on the airplane. But statistically that's the case. It just doesn't FEEL like it's the case. But that's the power of logic over emotion. In any case, thanks so much for this Web site. That knot is out of my stomach for the first time in days. I wanted to update you and tell you my great news. My husband surprised me with a trip away last week, which involved taking 3 flights in total. Previously this would have meant being overcome with fear and panic before, after and during the flight However I took copies of some parts of your course as well as the checklist/cheatsheets and read/re-read them whenever I felt I needed reassurance. I am really pleased to be able to tell you that it has been a long time since I have felt so relaxed while flying. I felt much better knowing what every noise was, how the plane flies and what makes it fly and kept reminding myself that the cabin crew would not be doing this job if it wasn't safe. Even turbulance didn't induce as much fear as before. My calm, rational state even rubbed off on my son who was not afraid because mum wasn't either. I was able to answer any questions he had about the plane and reasurre him if his imagination started to run wild. Amazingly I even enjoyed the whole experience of flying for the first time, particularly as we got to watch the new Spiderman movie on the way home. I don't think I will ever be 100% free of fear of flying, there will always be some degree of what if?. But I worked very hard to be rational about my fears and not let my imagination rule over fact. And it worked. I'm still amazed at what I have achieved. Even my husband is glad the whole 'gripping his arm too tight for the whole flight' thing is gone. Knowledge really is power. Thank you again for the course. I just sent in my donation and wish to add a personal note of thanks. I especially appreciate you addressing the issue of flying by "choice". One tool I also use is that I can cancel at any time to give myself permission and indirectly acknowledge I fly by choice. Younger as a Boeing employee, I loved flying. But once I quit flying often, and as you mentioned got older and more appreciate of life, fear slipped in. You reminded me of all the layers of airline safety that actually do not exist in any other part of my world. Also, I am very touched that you offer this to people who cannot donate. I believe in Karma too. I thought the course was excellent. This will be my first time ever! going out of the country and flying. *grin* but I found your web page through a search engine in MSN. I think its great! You have done a fantastic job. My fear was of the unknown but now I have seen the plane, your control panels and seeing and hearing what happens during before and after flight helped me so much! Thank you. Hi. I just took your online course and sent you a small donation. I want to thank you for all the detailed explanations, especially regarding turbulance. I have been a flight attendant for a little over 5 years and for some reason have recently developed a fear of turbulance. I had some moderate/severe turbulance on my last flight and I was even thinking of taking some time off from flying or bidding only turns. (For some reason I'm more scared doing trans-atlantic). I now have a much greater understanding of what causes turbulance. I think it's kinda ridiculous for me to be afraid of something so closely related to my job. I also don't know why this only started a few months ago. It was hard to admit to myself and when I got home yesterday I told my girlfriend about it too. Your site was a big help and if it gets bumpy on my flight Monday I'll know more about what causes it. I will reccomend it to any pax that tell me they're afraid of flying. I really enjoyed everything you have provided to help with flying. Flying is one of my least favorite things to do. I will be flying on Sept. 11. I am so thankful that I found your site and learned a great deal from it. I feel better about knowing how the plane actually works. Thanks for providing such valuable information and I will let you know when I get home how the flight went. It is a mandatory conference I have to attend to remain licensed, otherwise I would have chosen another day to fly. Thanks again. I really enjoyed your book, Wings of Discovery. I read it in double time and the FAQ's were relevant and helpful. I was delighted to read that the Fall was a smooth time to fly. I will be keen to read it again, perhaps on the flight. This really is tremendous. When we saw the 215 dollar round trip to NY we HAD to go. I could never have flown at the last minute before your course. I needed a good month or two to get into a complete panic. LOL. So now (with the NY round trip and our recent trip to the Caribbean) I have taken 8 planes in just more than 30 days. That is more than I have flown in the last 10 years combined. That is a miracle. Thank you for everything. I have to write to thank you so much for you fear of flying course. I've been afraid to fly ever since my first flight in high school, and twenty years later, I'm still afraid....that is, until I took your course. After 9/11, I swore I'd never fly again, but I felt as if fear was taking over that part of my otherwise rational thinking. I found your course on the internet after searching "google" - and took it right away. I'm glad to say that I just returned from an LA to Houston flight with my 2 year old son, and had virtually no problems! My husband is so grateful as well....now he might get to take us all to Hawaii afterall! You really put things into perspective, especially with the statistics. I've read other books on flying fear, and even read material on different planes, manufacturers, and the physics behind flying, yet nothing put me to ease as much as your course. I highly recommend this to anyone with even the slightest trepidations about flying. If it could help me, it can help anyone. I used to have mild panic attacks, and even take valium just to board a plane! Those days are gone forever, hopefully. Thank you for giving me my freedom to explore and have fun travelling - as it should be. Just found your free course online and found it exactly what I need because I have read and learned and understood the causes and cures for fears and anxieties until I am blue in the face but NOWHERE could I find anything on what it LOOKS and SOUNDS like to be in the plane itself!! Now your Lesson 5 has shed new light on the unknown for me!! Now I am 44 and never flown, despite fascination with aircraft! I understand the principles of aerodynamics so that doesn't bother me. I have always been claustrophobic, though, and that is my main fear. I have researched on the Net into all sorts of technical details to help understand flying and safety. But, as you know, it is the reality of getting on a plane for the first time that is the deterrent, the mental switch needs to be flicked so I say,"Hey, I WANT to do this!!!" And I love to travel and meet interesting people!! I shall return again and reread your course and I will contribute as soon as I go back to work very soon (substitute teacher!). Keep up the brilliant work! From August email, 2002 Good morning -- just took that short flight from Reno to LA and it was probably the best I have ever had. My son could not believe how I was smiling when I got off the plane. I did relax. Actually listened to the plane take off. I was nervous, but much much better. Perhaps for me the best part of your course was listening to the sounds in the relaxation of my home. Being able to assure myself everything was normal. And when I feel that fear coming I will just reread the course or the book, Wings of Discovery. (Barnes and Noble have just shipped, and thanks again for the ebook.) My daughter-in-law will be taking your course now. I couldn't wait to tell her about it. I really enjoyed your course and can't wait to use it on one of my next flights. Being a travel agent and having flown many times before (and loved it), my family and friends can't believe that all of a sudden I was terrified of flying. I would let all of my free tickets go unused. I'm going to have to use one now just to see how I do. I am also going to make sure I tell other people that I know of who are afraid of flying about this class. I loved it. Thank You so much...... I left a message on your message board about my successful trip - but I wanted to thank you again personally. I don't think I would've done so well without your website, book, or kind words to me in your emails. My husband travels on business all the time and he was shocked at how scared I really was....He sat across from me and held my hand when we took off..and I had tears in my eyes repeating over and over "I can do this". Fear is a terrible thing, and I am not a fearful person in real life about everyday things. I'll admit I will never "love" flying but it wasn't that bad...and I know we will go again on a trip and I'll just redo all I did to prepare for my flights. Life is too short to be so crippled by fear, and so many of the things "Mark Thomas" (Wings of Discovery) thought I did too! I am very proud of myself and aside from having my babies, this was one of my braver moments! :) By the way, we had a GREAT Vacation! Take Care and God Bless You... and I will look in on your website to see if I can help another worried flyer like me! :) PS: Your book Wings of Discovery is so great, inspiring, funny and well written! Four months ago I had just cancelled a cross country trip due to anxiety. After reading your program over and over again, reading your book, and thinking positive thoughts, I was able to fly no problem. I actually really enjoyed it!!! For seven years I have flown, but always with great anxiety. It sounds funny, but I look forward to my next trip back East in December. Thank you and please keep doing what you're doing becuase it honestly works and once someone realizes your message, the whole world opens up for them. I realized that I had made myself somewhat of a prisoner in my own mind, limiting my travel, and ultimately limiting my own life. From your program I learned a key message: the obstacle is purely mental and can be overcome, but the individual must themselves possess the desire to conquer their fears. You know what, it's funny, once you start conquering your fears a feeling of unparalleled freedom spreads into your life. Thank you for your help and please continue your work because it is very effective, You have given me my "wings" back. Thanks. Thank you so much for all your effort in putting this course together, it has been more helpful than you will ever know. Although I can't afford to fly very often, when I have had to it has been such a traumatic and scary experience. All I seemed to do was think about death, crashing, bits falling off the plane and every possible worst case scenario. I knew I needed to do something about it as I don't want to pass the fear onto my son. He is already displaying some signs of fear so I hope that now I know how to deal with my fear that I will set a better example for him. Your course was not only helpful but very interesting. The part where you discuss media coverage of airline disasters just rang so true and I now know not to assume that all planes are going to crash just because one does. In fact I am now interested in reading more about flying as this seems to be the best way of overcoming my fear of it. Thankyou again for this course. Although I cant afford to send you a contribution for it now as I don't work I will definately send one when I can. The help you have given me is priceless and I will recommend your course to anyone I meet who has a fear of flying. You have not only helped me but further improved my perception of your industry. Just finished you 'fear of flying' course and it was fab. I have tried to fly before but have turned away at the airport. I have booked myself onto a short haul flight and cant wait. I feel so confident now even though I am flying on my own. Thank you for taking the time to develop this website I am sure it will prove to be so beneficial to me. I will let you know how it goes. I think at the age of 40 its about time I took control of my life and not worry about things that I cannot control. I have just completed your online course and have found it very helpful and reassuring. The web site is a great idea - I found it by chance simply by typing in 'fear of flying' using the Google search engine. I have also visited some of the interesting links on your bonus page. I will be making my first flight for over twenty years and I would really like to overcome my fear of flying so that I can visit some of the more distant places in the world I have always wanted to go to. I was especially taken with your explanation of how an aeroplane stays up in the air, and the idea of the air somehow holding the plane up and becoming thicker with the speed of the plane appealed to me. I read most of the letters you got for July, and for you to put those online was such a great idea, because besides your website, I now know I'm not the only one who has a fear of flying. I know you get A LOT of e-mail, but I had to send you one myself, because it just affected me so much. Because of your website, I have a whole different outlook on flying now. I went online today looking for self-help for fear of flying and your website was the first one I clicked on. I have been reading it and printing everything out for the past 4 hours! I am 28 and I LOVE planes.. I love to look at them, watch them fly, listen to the engines, but I am deathly afraid of flying up in the air in one and I've been like that for over 10 years. When I want to go anywhere, I always choose to take the bus or drive. After reading everything on your website, I've decided to fly once again! I don't like long flights but for some reason if I take an hour flight, I'm kind of okay, probably because of the shortness in time and I know I'm getting off of that plane REAL soon. I've decided that after reading your website, I am ready to try a long flight again! I've been planning to see my family for years and haven't made an effort to do it because taking the bus or driving takes over 6 days away from the vacation, so, by the time, I get there, I feel like I have to turn around and come back home. I need to put a stop to this fear! I have always wanted to go to Seattle for New Years and I've decided to go this year! I've even gone as far to make the reservations a non-stop flight. I've flown 3 times in my life but had panic attacks, breathing problems, white knuckled it the whole way, and actually hyperventilated. I even stock up on Dramamine so I can take one after the other if I get nervous. I think I took 6 the last time I flew a 4 hour flight. It's embarrassing to not be in control, as I'm sure you've heard many say. But, I now look forward to my flight and I've even made a 3-ring binder with everything from your site and I plan to buy your book, Wings of Discovery soon. I'm sure I'll reread everything a hundred times, and when I do fly, all your info will be with me. I just wanted to say THANK YOU sooooo much for putting something out there that isn't extravagantly expensive for us college students. :^) Thanks again!!! Take care and God Bless! I leave in 3 days and I have been working so hard to be calm and try to be HAPPY about my vacation. (ha) Of course I see the the humor in this, which saves me sometimes. I read the first 2 chapters of your book, "Wings of Discovery", I will try and read much more tonight....I laughed at the first chapter, when he describes his anxiety and imagination on the plane ride - you have captured alot of our "fears" I have been trying to practice relaxation breathing techniques, and I printed your lessons out which I'll carry on board the flight. You use humor in all your writing, which really helps! I hope someday to be a "normal" traveler...and I will be glad to help anyone out on your message board once I figure this one out for myself! thank you again....you do God's work really....You help so many people, many probably don't even contact you directly! :) I had a trip to Mexico to look forward to in August, but was deathly afraid to fly, until reading through your course. Well, my husband and I went to Mexico! It was beautiful! We had the time of our lives! The REALLY BIG NEWS is that I was not afraid on the flight! Not at all! By the time the trip date was upon us, and after reading and re-reading over various helpful portions of your informative course, I found I was actually looking forward to the flight! We had a connecting flight to Mexico and another to get back home, so there were 4 airplanes to board and I did great! I was armed with information that helped me keep perspective. My heart wasn't pounding, my palms weren't sweaty, I was not a nervous wreck, and I wasn't waiting to take a sudden "nose dive"! I knew how the plane fly's, how it stays up, and I knew how many experienced competent people are involved in each flight! I understood turbulence, and why they happen, how normal they are, and also, I could look out for certain types of clouds, and actually anticipated when we might have turbulence! It was great! On the way back from Mexico, we missed our scheduled flight and had to take another. Ordinarily, I would have thought the worst! I would have assumed that the flight change was some sort of warning message from God, because we are on the wrong plane! However, I was not concerned. I knew these things happen too. Anyway, after we board our connecting flight in Miami, and we are pulling out onto the runway, we stop. Pause a while, and then get pulled back! They found a nail in the tire of the plane and needed twenty minutes to change it! What?! Change a tire? On an airplane?? And how the heck do you even find a nail in something THAT big?! Clearly, this is another opportunity for me to panic, and run screaming to the nearest bus station, but, no. I remained calm, and grateful that they had found this problem before we lifted off so they could take care of it. Yet another testimony to their competency. I believe that my husband was very stressed by all these delays, and I was able to reassure him, a little. I did it! I REALLY DID IT! I experienced air travel with awareness and reasonable caution, but without irrational fear. And, I cannot wait to do it again! Thank you, soo very much! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you very much for producing such a wonderful site for fearful flyers, just like I used to be. I found you website to be very informative and has eased my angst for my next flight considerably. I am a single mother and am taking my son on a trip for a 'cheap & cheerful' visit with relatives back East. Although I cannot afford to contribute today, I will be sure to send a donation to your organization in the future as I believe every little bit helps, and you certainly have helped me to feel more comfortable about flying. Thank you very much for choosing a profession that you love, take obvious pride in doing each day and sharing your knowledge with others. This is just a quick message to say thank you for your GREAT course. We loved it and I'm going to try it out on Tuesday when I fly. Actually my partner is worse at flying than I am (he's so nervous it makes me feel worse!), so we did the course together and were both really, really reassured (especially by your tone and the brilliant fun graphics) - (do we have to be children to send a drawing to the pilot?). I must say, I did still come over all scared when I heard the aircraft noises, some psychological thing we must build up I suppose, but I will try to remember and identify what all the different noises are on my next flight. Maybe you could expand this section to include more noises like the "dings" inside the aircraft like that whooping alarm thing that sometimes goes on for ages. Anyway, hopefully that will help me. (Actually I always listen carefully to the tone of the pilot's voice to see if he sounds confident...and I love progress reports especially if the weather is a bit bumpy and they're explaining that it won't be long etc.) We will definitely buy your book, "Wings of Discovery", recommend your site to our nervous friends, and after the flight I will mail you a contribution for your great course. Thanks again and many, many more happy hours flying up there. PS I must remember to drive more carefully to the airport... I took your Fear of Flying course, and I thought you'd like to know that it really did help. I was so scared of the flight I thought I would have to cancel. I read and reread everything in your lessons and on the webpage, and decided I could do it. The part that helped me the most was the turbulence and landing info. Take offs were still a bit of a problem, and I was very glad when the entire flight each way was over, but I was much more comfortable than I thought I could ever be, on a plane. I spoke to the captains, and the flight crews, and that helped, also. Thanks. Your little course helped this white knuckler a lot. Wow, THAT was amazing. No one, (not even you) could have convinced me that I could take 6 planes in 8 days with about 30 seconds total of anxiety. And that may be overstating it! Not only that, for the first time in 21 years I took every flight without any alcohol or caffeine (I'm addicted to diet coke in real life...rum and diet coke on airplanes!) After going through your course for the 2nd time I KNEW that I had all the logical tools to help me. I had no problems on any of our six flights...one of which was an ATR 72. In fact I laughed (I actually LAUGHED!!) when I saw that plane and knew that I was going to get on it and be OK. I met with captains and co pilots on three of the flights, was invited to come in and sit down in the cock pit before one of the flights and EVERYONE was so nice and full of information and answering my questions without hesitation. I was so overjoyed that while we were ON vacation we started to plan the next one in November. As before, I cannot thank you enough for getting me started on an incredible adventure! I would just like to thank you for all your help. Without it there is no doubt that I would never have got on a flight again. I did everything that you told me to and the flight went like a dream, no PANIC ATTACKS like before. We even had a very bad storm coming home, although a little nervous it quickly passed when I read through my cheatsheet. I am now looking forward to my next flight in a few months time. From July email, 2002 I wanted you to know I ordered the book, Wings of Discovery as soon as it came out and just finished reading it over the weekend. It was really good. I also completed the Fear of Flying online course several months ago and have recently gone back through it. All I am waiting on now is the actual first flight...I haven't planned it yet. The first chapter of your book probably sounds exaggerated to some folks but that is exactly how I have played myself, over time and time again... Any way I wanted to tell you I have really been helped by your support and I hope I'll soon be writing to tell you I flew and loved it. Just a quick note to say thanks for the fear of flying course, I have to fly in a couple of weeks and was feeling rather nervous. However after going through your course I do genuinely feel more assured. I am hoping I will be a less nervous airline passenger as a result, I will let you know how it goes. Thanks so much for getting "Wings of Discovery" here so quickly. I read it quickly and was able to picture the beauty of flight. And it is packed for another reading on the plane, right along with my cheat sheets! I'm sure this is not the first time you have heard this..but the first chapter? That's all about me. LOL! Thanks for the e-mail and your support. It means a lot to me. I wanted to tell you all about my flight to Las Vegas. Well, it just so happened that my fiance had to take another flight and meet me there so I had to fly alone to Las Vegas. There was no stopping me because I knew we were getting married and I was still really excited as well as nervous about the flight. Guess what...I did really great. The flight was actually really nice. I rode through the little small bumps just like you told me and did not hold on to the arm rest. Surprisingly, there was not too much turbulence except for when we began out final decent into Las Vegas. It was a little rough, but not unbearable. You had already told me what to expect and I truly appreciated it. The wedding and the trip were wonderful!!!! Las vegas was a blast.... Thanks for the course!!! I'm going to take it a few more times and also buy the "Wings Of Discovery" book this weekend. Whew!!!! My first time flying. Thanks.What a wonderful self help course. I'm not sure I would have been as calm if I hadn't taken this course.I can say I highly recommend this course but the words just do not express how helpful it was for me. No money in the world could do what your cource just did. I fly tomorrow, and am so glad that I stumbled upon this website. THANK YOU. I would contribute more, but I am broke. If I win the lottery, you WILL see more $$. Thanks. Thank you so much for your website/course. I feel like it's helped me get back a very important part of my life - the love of travelling. Since it's after midnight and I don't want to wake up my family, I wanted you to know that I'm going to send my contribution tomorrow when I can have my credit card in front of me. I can't put a value on peace of mind (which you've helped provide), so I'll try to do it justice. Thanks again, and take care. Dear Captain Chance, I'm glad I decided to search the subject of "fearful flying" on my computer this morning. I am flying on the 31st of this month and I am extremely anxious about flying, but I just completed your course and I really feel much more informed than before. I think this is a wonderful course and I'm glad to see it out there. I had no idea there were things like this available to me. I will utilize a lot of the information. I love being able to listen to the sounds of the aircraft, being familiar with them helps. Thank you so much! I just wanted to write to you and tell me how much you helped me. I'm due to fly to New York with my parents and sisters in two days and I was really nervous about it- in fact, I have been for months and haven't slept at all during the past week. My mom planned to take me to the doctors to get some kind of tranquilizer to keep me calm during the flight, but after taking this course, I feel so much better that I've told her not to bother! I've been scared of flying for nearly my whole life and this is the first time I have been able to to look forward to a flight with excitement instead of terror. Thank you so much for making this course, I'm sure that it has helped hundreds of others who were just as, if not more, scared than I was. I plan to buy your book and make a donation to the project as soon as I can. Thank you again! Captain Stacey your webpage has really helped me my flight is in 2 days and Ive been totally preoccupied with it. It will be my first flight since 9/11. But after reading your quiz I think these upcoming flights will be much more enjoyable and I can focus on the important part which is my vacation. Thanks again. Good evening. It's midnight and I can't sleep right now because of a flight 7 months from now! I just read through your course and it is by far the most relaxing, straightforward, and humorous site on the internet (well, at least of those that I have found so far) I've been flying since I can remember. I used to laugh at the people on the plane who were anxious, scared, or nervous (everything I am now) I loved sitting in a window seat. I liked the feeling of take-off, when your body is forced back into the seat and you could see the front of the plane magically rise up. Last month I had to drape the blanket over my entire head and body to escape the reality. The kids on the plane were laughing at me :-) So, right now I'm pretty screwed up in the head. I literally start sweating from my hands, feet and other areas when I hear a plane in the sky, turn on CNN, or watch any movie with a plane, explosives, or anything of that sort. But reading your site is helping me a bit. I like the info on how air is like water. The analogy of sticking your hand out a car window really makes me envision how "thick" the air can be. Sometimes I feel like there is no air up there and "How in the world is this plane staying up?" I also thought that turbulance was free falling like 30 or 40 feet and that it damages the plane. Not any more. It also helps to know that the plane automatically stabilizes itself when the pilot lets go of the controls. Not like pilots need it or anything, it just makes me feel that there is something else trying to get me landed safely and comfortably. Thank you so much. Your pages have gave me some confidence. Maybe I can sleep now. I know you must get hundreds of these "thank you's" but I truly wanted to thank you myself. I was so amazed how this really, really helped me. My daughter, my 2 grandsons and myself decided to take a vacation. Being so fearful of flying my daughter got on the internet and found your site. Now mind you, she is as afraid as I WAS however she did not have time to take your class but I decided to try it because I felt I had nothing to lose so I did and I cannot believe what a difference it made in my attitude about flying. I must admit that when I got done with the class I thought well, this was a waste of time but I did print out the itinerary and used it. The day we left for the airport I was the same as I had always been (I don't fly much because I was so scared) shaking and trying to keep calm because of my daughter and grandkids but I was so scared and like always I managed to get sick before we got on the plane. But once we sat down it was as though everything changed and I wasn't afraid at all and at that point in time I wasn't even thinking of the course. Before we took off tho' I did get my notes out and read them over a couple of times just to brush up on some of the noises that would take place and what they meant and what the "dings" meant for the flight attendants. I was really so relaxed that I would have fallen asleep however when you have a little one sitting next to you that is impossible. I had never had such a wonderful experience in flying as I did that day and even though we did run into turbulence I was still never afraid because you had explained what happens when you come across that situation, and I must admit I had never been through that severe of turbulence before and I was still calm. My daughter on the other hand was so scared. I felt sorry for her and tried to explain what was going on but unfortunately it didn't seem to help but she did notice how I was doing and was thoroughly amazed (me too!) We then spent 10 days on vacation and then there was the dreaded ride home. Now normally I would have been a basket case but not this time. I didn't even get sick!! I was ready to go. When we got home my husband couldn't believe what a difference it made and I asked if we could go to Vegas some time soon, that I was ready to fly. So you see, you really did make a difference in my life and how it really is possible to concur fears, even though at the time I didn't know I did until the time came to walk onto the plane then it all became clear what you did for me. Again, thank you for putting so much of yourself into this site. I believe it truly is a blessing and I have recommended it to alot of people. Take care, and Happy Flying to all!!! Thanks to you, my knuckles will not ache so much after my next flight! The level of detail was very helpful. Even more about how well-built, well-designed, the aircraft are would be appreciated. I am VERY grateful to you for offering this course. Many, many thanks for the obvious effort you have made for us "nervous flyers." This course, the links, and your book, Wings of Discovery (which I intend to buy), are all needed and most welcome. A million thanks for your incredible on line course. I have had a HUGE fear of flying for several years. Finally, it kept me from getting on planes altogether. I was so phobic that I was afraid to take a fear of flying class lest it lull me into a false sense of security and then I got killed in a crash. (can you follow that line of reasoning??? ) My oldest daughter lives in New York and she has asked me many times to come visit. I kept putting off making any real plans. Finally she called me on it. She said, "Mom, you're never going to come, are you?" Within days of that conversation I made a reservation. And then I found your course. I flew to NYC. Not only did I do it, but I will fly again. When I was little, my dad flew a little single engine Cessna and I loved to go up with him. Thank you for re-teaching me how magnificent flying is and for teaching me a whole lot of new stuff too. I had some nervous moments but they were not of the white knuckle variety. A good example of putting what I learned to the test was this situation: Leaving Kennedy the weather was hot, humid and thunderstorms were predicted for spots all over the northeast. The plane sat on the runway for quite some time both because of heavy traffic and also because they had to keep tweaking the flight plan because of the weather. In the past I would have taken this information and used it as fuel for the fires of my phobia. Because of your course, I was able to experience it in a completely new way. I saw the delay as proof of how carefully the pilots and all the ground crew were treating the weather. I knew that we would only take off when they felt sure it was completely safe. That change of thought is a miracle. Thank you for your work which, ultimately, is an act of compassion. I look up and see a big jet overhead and I think "what an awesome and beautiful machine." This course is excellent because it details turbulence and the whole flight experience a step at a time!! I have flown before, but I am always nervous. I haven't flown sive September 11th, but I am getting married in Las Vegas this weekend. I feel more comfortable because I have read over your course twice now since Saturday. I will try to remember the key points to rlax and enjoy the flight to try to come to grips with this fear. Afterall, on the other side of it, I will be getting married. Thanks so much for this.....I know it will help me this weekend. I will recommend it to others as well and will be sending a donation. From June email, 2002 I feel I must thank you for your excellent fear of flying web course. I have always dreaded flying. Once at the airport I can feel my stomach start to churn, and the walk down the airwalk into the plane I always associated with the tunnel of death..... once on the plane I would sit frozen in fear and sweat, my head not moving, reading "life jacket under your seat" messages infront of me for the duration. Having read your course I am pleased to say that all this has gone, I took your advice that the journey is a time to enjoy life luxuries. I flew on holiday this year, enjoying the in-flight films, eating the meals, and even looking out of the window! Your explanation of how the planes fly was such a help to me.... i was fortunate enough to have a window seat by the wings and explained throughout the journey what all the "bing sounds" were and when the flaps would change on the wings to my girlfriend, who could not believe how much I had changed - she thought she was sitting next to someone else. Again may I offer you my sincere thanks, you have really changed my life for the better, and please feel free to use this email as a testimony. Thanks for your website and training course!! As I went thru your website and read different Testimonials I noticed that I wasn't the only one who had such a phobia and totally frightened to death of flying. Your training course surely taught me a lot of things and am looking forward to trying them on my next trip. Captain Stacey Chance thanks and a donation for your website is forthcoming. Thank you for your email about your book. I am soooo grateful to you and your amazing course. I was due to take my first long-distance flight since childhood in May this year, a fourteen hour flight from Cape Town to Amsterdam, and then a shorter 1 1/2 hour flight from Amsterdam to Munich. I was **really** anxious, to put it mildly. In the end, there were only two things that got me onto that plane: desperately missing my fiancé (and wanting to celebrate his birthday with him the day after my arrival), and your course. In the weeks preceding my flight, I read through your notes again and again, and did a lot of visualisations and "imaginary flights". I visited other websites, read everything I could about fear of flying, spoke to friends and family members. I was still anxious when I got onto the plane, and it was really full, so I felt a little claustrophobic. But I had such nice people sitting next to me that we chatted quite a lot throughout the flight, so my anxiety evaporated. And I got such an adrenaline rush from the take-off - it was absolutely awesome! I kept hearing your words: "On takeoff, see if you can enjoy the feel of the acceleration. These jet airliners have lots of power, and can really move!" I actually whooped with the thrill of it when we were airborne!! Once we were cruising, I noticed that quite a few of the passengers got up and moved around, particularly some elderly people who walked up and down the length of the plane. So I didn't feel bad moving around a bit too. KLM has this 'In Flight Exercise Program Video' which they show from time to time, and that was fun! I also had a small bottle of an aromatherapy blend with me (lavender to relax, eucalyptus and frankincense to open my chest and nose and help me breathe, tea tree to protect against getting a cold, as so many people do after flying), and used that a lot. I drank as much water as I could, and tried to pay attention to everything going on around me. There were so many of your phrases in that Lesson 5 covering the Virtual Flight that kept going through my mind - everytime there was a ping or a whirr, or any unusual sounds or vibrations, I knew what it was. ***Thank you for explaining everything so well!*** Four weeks later, when the time came to get onto the plane back home, I wasn't frightened at all! On the short leg from Munich to Amsterdam, we flew in a small boeing 737, and had rough turbulence all the way. Thanks to your course, I wasn't afraid of 'falling out of the sky' or engine failure or anything, but my stomach really objected to all the bumps and sudden drops. Unfortunately the nausea didn't go away, not even when we transferred to the larger boeing 747 for the flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town. And *that* pilot really gave us a smooth take-off, flight, and landing! If I hadn't felt nauseous for the whole 14 hours, I would have really enjoyed this flight. So next time I'll have to do something about that! Thanks to you, I have successfully completed my very first flight overseas. My fiance and I had the most wonderful time, exploring Germany together, and I have brought so many amazing memories (and hundreds of photos!) home with me. I soooo much want to visit Europe again! THANK YOU!!! Wow! What a difference a day makes! I've always been afraid to fly! Three years ago, my then new husband convinced me to fly for our honeymoon, and we've been flying annually ever since. Still, I've been just soooo frightened, each and every flight. It's gotten much worse since September 11th. My heart pounds the whole flight. I'm a nervous wreck before we leave and can hardly focus on anything except my last will and testament from the moment I board any plane! That was before the Fear Of Flying Course. Now, I'm am preparing to go with my husband to Mexico, which will require four airplanes altogether (round trip total flights), and I can hardly wait! I am actually more focused on being in Mexico, than the flight to GET to Mexico! What's more, I'm looking forward to the airplane trip itself. I've learned so much about air travel that I'm now WANTING to fly! I can't believe this about myself! Thank you, soooo much for making all this possible for me. Thanks for the e-mail about your book - I haven't yet visited the site to see whether I can order it in the UK but I shall do so once I have sent this mail. We went to Bermuda and came back .. safely! .. and your course helped me tremendously. I won't say I was fantastic on the flight, but I did feel much less traumatised than before about the turbulence (ironically, we had more turbulence on the outbound and inbound flights than I have experienced on any flight in the last 10 years). I think if I had to identify one fact from your website that benefited me the most it was your description of the air being "solid" for a plane. I did indeed open the car window when travelling fast and was amazed at how dense the air feels .. so I multiplied that by the speed of a Boeing 777 and it was outstandingly reassuring. Thank you so much, not just on my own behalf but on behalf of everyone else you help with your website and now with the book, Wings of Discovery. I`M BACK FROM ALL MY FLIGHTS . WHEN I DID THE COURSE I WAS NOT SURE WHAT I WAS AFRAID OF AND NOT SURE READING YOUR COURSE WOULD HELP . I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS BEYOND HELP AND FLYING WAS A THING OF THE PAST FOR ME. WELL, NOT SO. WHILE SITTING ON THE PLANE, EVERYTHING THAT FRIGHTENED ME CAME FLOODING BACK, ALL THE WHAT IFS,ETC. BUT TO MY DELIGHT AND SHOCK YOUR COURSE GAVE ME ALL THE ANSWERS I SAT BACK AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS AND ENJOYED THE FLIGHT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I CAN`T THANK YOU ENOUGH . ONLY FOR YOUR HELP I WOULD NOT BE FLYING. I want to thank you soooooooo much for having this website. I had noooo problem of flying here to New Zealand, after what happen to WTC and having my daughter every thing changed my folks bought our tickets and I was afraid the thought of flying would be wonderful! but yet terrorist still appeared in my head over and over again. Even tho my husband made me read every thing about quanta's being the safe it still didn't help until last night I got on the web and did a google search " how safe is flying" I went threw many WebPages and saw a link that was you're. After going threw you're course at 11pm-1am lol reading and going threw every thing helped me sooooooooooooo much! and I really thank you! if you where the captain on my flight I would give you a big hug lol. Now I can show off my daughter to her grandma and grandpa :) thanks a billion Captain Stacey Two weeks ago I came across your site, I was due to fly later in June and over the past few years my fear has got worse and worse to the point that I felt like cancelling my holiday, I read everything that you had written and I just wanted to thank you, I actually got on the plane without a double brandy, didn't nearly break my husbands fingers on take off and even ate the meal (which I don't usually do, I normally just sit there paralysed with fear until I get off). Just knowing how the plane worked and what all the noises and bumps were, and the calming down method that you gave was brilliant. So thank you so much. I can't even tell you how great it is that you have put this information where someone like myself can easily access it. I am flying in 6 weeks for my wedding. Instead of dealing with things I should be, like getting a dress or even sending out the invitations! I have been focusing on how terrified I was before September 11th and how now, I would rather make a slit in my shin skin and take a spam key and roll my skin in that, then to get on a plane. SAD! My neck has had a continuous aching knot in it and I think I am starting to lose my hair. Great start for the happiest day in my life. Thank you, because I now feel better, I have been sitting at work now all morning reading through the stats and the entire plane process and I gotta tell you, I had no freaking idea what you guys went through. I thought you just went to a couple of classes, drank some vodka, looked out the little windows and hoped that things were ok in the plane. I didn't know you actually checked the plane yourself. AMAZING. I am sorry I could ramble for a while. I just wanted to tell you that I have flown maybe 10 times in my life and in that 10 times, I have had 2 aborted landings and the 2nd one, when we finally did land was so hard I got some whip lash any way that is why I am afraid and will probably remain afraid but this really helps a lot. Just wanted to thank you. I will tell you how it goes. This is the second time I have taken your Fear of Flying course. The first time was after an unsettling flight one year ago and it made me feel so much better about flying. In two days I am going on my first flight since that time and I have just completed your course again. This time was just as enlightening as the first and now I am excited about taking my holiday and the flight! I found the information about 'how' the plane actually works extremely informative and reassuring. I have told my friends about this course and will complete the feedback form. I am the person that spoke to you about flying to Florida. it was a great success!!! The flight there was really smooth, and although we had a lot of quite bad turbulence coming back i managed to remain calm and just watch the telly!! Thanx again for your help Thank you very much for your site. It was helpful and often times funny. I feel a lot more comfortable about my flight after seeing your page. I found your course one night and read through it, printed what I needed and reread it the night before I left. I had to change planes 3 times in one day and the same on the way back. I took my music, I closed my eyes and told myself that every noise, every little bump was supposed to be! I can't thank you enough for this course...the last time I flew I almost broke my husband's fingers with my grip! I did everything you said to do, avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol...and I did lots of visuals. The night that I came back was at night, on a smaller plane and I did great. All I can say is thank you for probably changing a part of my life that has been a mystery. I even spent a couple of hundred dollars with a therapist 4 years ago because my husband and I went to Mexico. I also shared your website with a couple of people at the meeting that shared their fear! Also a lady at the airport was flying to be with her Mom for surgery and this lady was scared to death to board the plane...I told her about you and she wrote it down...I won't take any more of your time but you had to know that I also pretended that you were right over my shoulder telling me that everything was working the way it was designed to! When the plane lifted off, I remembered that it is the happy time for the airplane....enough! Thank you!!! Out of curosity I did your course and felt my body tense and my palms get clammy and felt sick. Once you explained the functions and sounds of the planes, including the weather I loosend up. Your sense of humor made me realize I can't predict my future and that I was being ridiculas. I think it is wonderful to see just a regular employee of a profession that has taken so many blows be so proud of his job that he tells the whole world. Thanks so much for the confidence as you are now my own personal hero. God bless you for the Fear of Flying online course. It answered so many of my question. I have a specific fear of landing when I hear the sound of what I thought was the engine shutting off. Now I know that all these sounds are normal. I love the idea that air is fluidy, like water. I've never thought of it that way, and it's extremely helpful for me to understand this. Also very helpful to me was reading about the professionalism of the flight and ground crews. I now know that planes do not fall out of the sky if the engine fails and that turbulence will not cause us to crash. My family and I are flying to Disney World next month, and I was dreading it because I was so very fearful the last time, enough to cry when we took off. But now, I feel free! The course was so complete; I can't see how it can be improved. It's perfect. Thank you so much. I'm sending you a contribution because you have helped me so much, and the money I send is worth every cent. My flight went very well. Thanks to your course, I could comfortably fly for the first time in over 10 years. It was easy! Whew! I even introduced myself to the pilots, which was probably the hardest part of the whole course. I'll be sending you my written feedback form in a few days. All of my fears centered on plane malfunction, so knowing what certain sounds meant (and that they were supposed to be happening) REALLY helped. I can't thank you enough for putting together your course. From May email, 2002 I have been studying your Fear of Flying Course online before my flight. I just wanted to let you know that I found this course to be of GREAT help in overcoming and dealing with the fear of flying. The pictures and sounds that you provide are WONDERFUL in preparing for each stage of the flight experience. The Cheatsheet tools were very nice in that they gave me something short and to the point to take to the airport with me to study directly before the flight. The thing that helped me the most was the belly breathing. Whenever I felt my heart begin to race and my body tensing up, I took a deep belly breath and said "Relax" on the exhale. This allowed me to relax the tense muscles and I was able to enjoy the flight more. All in all, I was very pleased with the help that you provided and I think you are doing the Fearful Flyer a great service. Thank You. I found your on-line course about a week before I left on vacation. My nervousness about flying was making me miserable. I've been scared to fly for many years now. I soon discovered all I needed was to understand a lot of things about flying, and that understanding took away my fear. It was amazing how quickly your course was able to do this for me. I flew standby because my brother works for an airline, and was able to thoroughly enjoy my flights, one especially because I was put in first class! The noises, turbulence, et cetera that used to terrify me didn't matter at all because I understood what they were and realized they were normal. I can't thank you enough for your course. You helped me so much and I'm sure help many, many people every day. Thanks to you, I had a wonderful vacation and look forward to a lot more fun vacations and trips that no longer have to be overshadowed with worry and fear of flying. Thank you again so much. Well, thanks to you I made it. I used to fly everywhere and love it, and I'm not sure what happened, but I started to get panic attacks, then I started to get them in everyday situations so I was put on medication for them. The last flight that I had taken was in February 2000 to visit my parents. I cried and prayed the entire time I was on the plane and dreaded going home on the plane. I considered renting a car and driving. - I was supposed to go to London the next month and just didn't even try to get on the plane - I just swore them off. Finally this year I realized that I was missing out because of this. Here I am in the travel business, a world traveller from teenage years, and I refused to fly - so I started reading a lot and came upon your website - and I read it over and over again. So I said - this is it, and I went with my father and met my boyfriend down in New Orleans. I shocked my father as I read along from your handouts what was going on with the plane and I was so relaxed! I talked with the pilots and they were really nice about it - and I just had the best time and plan to fly again really soon! I also got engaged while I was down there, so that was an added bonus as well. I made a contribution and please keep up the good work, you are really helping me fight this! Thank you! I took your fear of flying course a couple of time before I flew to visit my parents. It was a all day trip both ways. We had some turbulence (which had always scared me). This was the first trip in years that I wasn't frightened at all - not even of turbulence. I want to thank you soo much for helping me get over some fears that were starting to impact a lot of areas of my life. Every time I fly now I'll take a refresher course. Thanks again and keep it up! My whole life (not that long yet) I have been scared of flying! Now we are talking terrified... A few years ago I met the love of my life but of course he lives in the USA and I live in Europe! Due to my fear of flying I haven't been able to visit him or his country. But this New Years eve I made a promise that I would get over my fear of flying and get myself over to him... Said and done, I asked my friends for help and one of them sent me the link to your site. That was 2 months ago... I lost count of how many times I have read every word, seen every picture and listen to every sound. Last week I managed to go on my first plane ride for over 5 years. In 49 days I will board the plane to the USA. All my fears aren't gone! But instead of missing out many fantastic things in life, I can now look forward to them! As you saw, I count the days until I will leave...not due to fear, but to the fact that I now KNOW I can take this flight, enjoy it and be happy and proud about myself! I know I couldn't have done this without YOU! Especially the sounds have been an amazing help for me! Now I can recognize each sound and understand WHY! You are in my prayers for helping me live my life a little bit more. I am forever grateful to you and I will recommend your site to everyone I know that feels uncomforted with flying! PS. If my love asks me to marry him, you will for sure be invited! ;) Many many hugs I just completed your course and already feel so much better about flying. I am about 40 years old and have never flown. I have always done whatever possible to keep from flying. But I’m going to bite the bullet and fly for the first time ever in June. Unfortunately I’m not in the position to make a donation at this time but hope that soon I will be able to. Could you please provide me with the link to the webpage, I would greatly appreciate it. I am actually looking forward to flying now that I have completed the course. I will definitely recommend it to everyone. Thank you so much for providing this course on the web. For years I have had a fear of flying, of having no control, yet although I have realised that ( captains are well educated people and would not fly if it was any way dangerous ), this thought in itself offered no commiseration's to myself or to my fears ---- that is until I read your web page and realised that it was mainly "fear of fear itself" that troubles me most - mind you being honest I was afraid of flying and falling out of the sky also - because of personal circumstances neither myself, wife or children will be flying in the foreseeable future, but I feel confident that if the opportunity arose then I would behave more calmly than ever before, You're work is great & it saddens me that I am unable to offer any form of financial assistance to a worthy cause, I hope you accept my sincere gratitude as payment and for anyone I meet who feels fear or afraid of flying then I will pass on your web page address with great pleasure . You have started me on the journey to enjoying flights once again .. something I have not been able to do for over 11 years! I am due to take a 7-hour flight with my husband and two daughters, all of whom love flying and whose journeys I have been spoiling with my fears, and this time I feel I can make them proud of me. Thank you so much for your generosity. I have found even more to help me on the bonus webpage. Thank you so much for caring enough to set up this wonderful website! I feel better about flying, although I am still a little scarred :). I think it will pass with practice. Thank you again for your compassion and courage for us all! I have an upcoming flight within 4 hours and while I was drinking my coffee and packing up, I felt this unpleasent, sneaky feeling coming right from my stomach up to my heart.Then I sat down on my chair and started to surf on internet to ease my fears and thinking about what the heck I am gonna do if I end up dying in a lousy plane (LOL). And I found your page and read incredibly fast and I felt incredibly good. At least I know that I have great chance to see my loved ones again. While I was reading, I was laughing and crying at the same time:-)... That was odd but fun. Lately, I don't see many people like you who has a great talent to explain things in a professional but also funny way. I am a Turkish woman so I am sorry about my english but all I can say is, thank you for your wonderful gudiance to our fears. I will try my best to have a pleasent flight. I hope our Turkish airlines pilots will be as friendly as you. Hope you the best flights on earth.. Thank you so much for getting back to me! I can't tell you how much it means to someone like me to have you, a Captain, taking the time to help soothe my fears. The pilot on my flight was brilliant and handled things wonderfully. I am always worried about mechanics, never a pilot. I trust the pilot completely and have often done as you suggested and stuck my head in the cokpit and I watch the faces of the flight attendants and as long as they appear calm, I know it is all routine. I suppose it is as you say, I am soon to be engaged and am very close with my family. Suddenly, at this age the precariousness of life is evident and in these times when there seems so little respect for life; the fear of dying and leaving those I love is strong. Of course I would like to only ever fly on your planes! Since this is impossible I will keep what you have to say in mind. You are a very generous person and your kindness has trully helped me face my fear which is really all that can be done. I wish you the best, and of course: safe flying! As someone who flew regularly for 15+ years, it was difficult to accept my fear of flying. I need to fly for a friends wedding, and getting out there has caused some real pyschological problems. I knew something had to be done, and quick. So I have just taken your online course and it was really helpful. It is comforting to know that people in my age group (early 30's) develop the same problems. More importantly, I would like to thank you very much for providing this well written, inciteful website for people in my position. It is a great service. You will recieve a donation in the mail. Keep up the excellent work. Just a quick note after the first flight since I took your course! What a pleasure (especially for my traveling partner!) to fly like "normal" people again! I flew without any problems whatsoever. I asked to meet and talk with the pilots and they were GREAT! On my flight home we flew through some pretty rough turbulence. Although I didn't much like it, I reviewed my check list and even had a copy of your web site that I had printed off. I got through it with no problem. The pilots were also able to change altitude and the flight was so smooth that it seemed we were sitting on the ground. I can't thank you enough for the help you have given me with my flying! I have and will continue to recommend your course to everyone I meet! For over a year I had been dreading my honeymoon simply for the flight. I hadn't flown for over 3 years and just seeing a plane go overhead would make my stomach turn. I'd be hard-pressed to believe there are people who feared flying more than myself. Mechanical failure, human error, heights, claustrophobia, loss of control, fear of sickness...you name it, I feared it when it came to flying. (yet I'm normally a very rational and fearless person) The ONLY thing that got me on a plane last week, was the knowledge that my new wife would be devastated if we didn't get to go on the honeymoon we had dreamed of for a year. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you so much for your online course. I now understand the safety of the industry, the principals of flight, and most importantly, the fact that my fear was just that. Fear. Fear brought on by my own imagination. While I was quite anxious during takeoff...I managed to slow my breathing down and get hold of my panic attacks. Once I realized I could control my symptoms the fear went away. The flight home was even easier. We're already planning trips to visit family. Last week I climbed a great pyramid. Who knows what's next. It's nice to know that whatever it is....the possibilities are limitless and the entire world is within my reach. From April email, 2002 I just came back from Spain. And indeed flying is the safest way to travel. With the information from your course I saw more the professionality of the crew and the pilots. Anyway, I felt a positive stress-feeling but no fear. Who know's maybe some day I fly with your company and with you as pilot. I have never been in America but I would love to visit it. So, thanks again for everything! While I had been flying the last few years it was a nerve-racking experience - Not just the flight but for a couple of days prior to the flight. I happened upon your website and I swore once I got back in the office I would send this. It had to have been the most relaxing flights I have taken since I was a child. My main nervousness was always in-air turbulence and with that fear gone, it allowed me to relax and enjoy the flight and the sites from the plane. As I said I have been flying but attempted to escape it every chance I could. Thanks for the help. Knowledge IS power. I want to thank you so much!!!!! I haven't flown for many years and my husband really felt we needed to get away - just the two of us. Anyway I said I would go, but I was terrified. I got on the internet and found your site. I printed it and read it a million times. I did take a tranquilizer - and I was quite nervous - but I got on the plane. Everytime there was turbulance - I felt quite comfortable because I knew exactly what was happening. I knew what every noise was. I even looked out the window!!!! Coming home I was so relaxed - I fell asleep! Seeing the lights coming into land at night was fantastic. Thankyou so very very much!!! I would not have been able to do it without you!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have told everyone I know about your "course"!!!!!! I am already planning my next trip! Thanks again (thanks from my husband too!) I used your fear of flying course in preparation for a trans-atlantic flight. I have only flown twice before and had a extreme fear of flying. I have to say that your course does help. There were still some butterflies, but it was very helpful in understanding some of my fears, and being able to deal with them. I am sure that I would not hesitate to fly again. I have just returned from a long trip. I really was getting very worried about flying though I have been twice before.....20years ago! After studying your course I felt much calmer and I can't tell you how many times I told myself that turbulence was totally natural!!! However.... I survived and had a wonderful holiday. It was all worthwhile. I was almost blase by the end of it! I am just writing to say thank-you for the wonderful site you have put together for people like me. I have already contributed money to your fund as I am really impressed with the way that you put it together and the way it works. This time next week I will be on my first long haul flight and I was starting to get very nervous. I was really scared when I flew a few weeks ago, so I was not looking forward to this flight - in fact I was dreading it. However, your information and help has certainly calmed me down. I have sorted out my support package, and I shall aim to stay calm during take-off (The Worst Bit), and then enjoy the rest of the flight as much as I can. I've no doubt that I shall be checking back with the sight over the next week every time I get nervous again, so thanks again for giving me that reassurance. The Bonus Page is excellent as well, and I do like your funny little illustrations! They really made me giggle, as did your jokes! Thanks! Well done and thank you again, I have had a 3 or 4 “turbulent” flights. I completely quit flying. I was flying one time and had to switch planes. I had a panic attack en route. I immediately went to the car rental desk rented a car to drive home. To do this and not re-board the plane, you have to imagine the fear I had. I went to a doctor for some medication to calm me down and attempted a couple quick flights. That didn’t work. I still could not relax and was very nervous. I then went to a hypnotist for help. After the visit, I was going to try another flight to test the waters so to speak. Well, before I could plan the trip, my company needed me to fly to a client’s site. My 45 minute test flight turned into a 7 hour test flight. And, this time, I had to get on the plane. I did not have a choice. Still nervous the day before the flight, I began to search the web and ran across your site. I read thru the lessons and did the calming exercises you instructed. I was still a little anxious while standing in the airport waiting to board the plane. I was more anxious about “how will I react” than the flight itself. Let me say, that that flight was the first flight I have ever fallen asleep on. I was so relaxed and with each bump in the sky, reflected on what was going on from the information in your lesson. I do not know how I could ever thank you enough. I am flying for a get away this weekend. I am visiting the site again for a little refresher before I fly. Thank you very much for the information you provided. I wish I could articulate better than the sample letters you posted on your website but it seems all has already been said. I am an intelligent, rational, sane, healthy man who just recently developed a fear of flying after 30 years of enjoying flight. Your website was recommended to me by my boss (who knows I have to make several flights a year for business purposes). I smiled, laughed, and learned much more about the aviation industry and printed out your guidelines in addition to your quotes. I spent an enjoyable 1 1/2 hours on your site and feel much more comfortable in taking the flight I need to take in a few weeks. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy career to help others -- I contributed money to your site. I so believe in what you selflessly are doing for others that I want to support you in your wonderful work. Thank you very much. "Congratulations!!......Your site definitely qualifies for the "Critical Mass Award". A very nice site, good design, clever graphics, and you have provided your visitors with content that is informative, entertaining, presented well and easy to access. A worthy enterprise and a positive contribution to the Web. Thanks for helping make the Web a more interesting, fun and attractive place to visit. I really enjoyed my visit to your site and will return again when time permits :)" "It's now 1am in the morning, and I am very very very glad to find your website. I've had a fear of flying all my life (so bad that, on a business trip I took a Greyhound bus back home - 3 days total drive! Almost got held up at gunpoint on the bus - but that's another story)....I haven't slept properly in days leading up to this trip on business this weekend and I think everyone in my family and office all know now that I would rather quit my wonderful and amazing job than to fly for this company conference... Until I found your website. I almost had tears in my eyes reading all the way through - you understand! The jokes were great, the photos were cool (liked the Adams Family one, haha) and my heart doesn't race anymore since reading your website. The line about not being a psychic is a great one because I think we all look for 'clues' that something bad will happen, when we don't think that way in everyday life on the ground. All of my fears were answered and made me realize my fear of turbulence and crashing is unfounded. It's funny - when I'm in the car and close my eyes (not while driving) over bumps, I don't feel scared, but I can't relax on a plane. It's a fear of heights, etc., but I think your website has done something for me - you really know what is going through the mind of a passenger, while the people in my life don't really have the fear I do in order to relate. With that, and every ounce of information possible, I will use your checklist from now on, and know that everything will be ok. I'm going to donate to the cause when I get to the office, as I believe this service is a great one. If it can help me, it can help anyone. Trust me :) Thank you again, and I'll email you back once I get back " "I have really appreciated your fear of flying course. The knowledge and true facts I have received have already given me more peace of mind. Thank you." "I just wanted to take a few minutes to thank you for this awesome online course. My fear of flying is relatively new, and of course it was heightened by the events of September 11th. I have not flown since then- my first flight in seven months will take place this Friday afternoon. I must admit, it took me two tries through your course before I was calmed enough to face getting on an airplane alone, but I think I can handle it now." "I am back from SUNNY FLORIDA and I have to say, I couldn't have done it without your help! I took the flight and my friends and family could not believe that I had a fear of flying. My fear was so intense prior to reading your online help pages and book, Wings of Discovery.... but after I read them I was amazed at how fearless I am. I am already planning my next trip!!!! This is not a joke, during the whole flight I followed your plan and found that I was so relaxed that I truly enjoyed the trip. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to write these pages or your book. You have made a difference in my life....thank you!!!! Your task is completed....they say if you can help just one person you have made a difference....and you truly have made a difference in my life. I'm so excited that I had to write you my first night back from my trip. My daughter was even fearless because she saw how calm I was. I was able to explain everything about the noises she heard with no fear or worry. She looked out the window the whole flight with complete confidence in the pilots and the aircraft. Thank you again, may God richly bless you in your work!!!!" "I must say I have learned very much. It was very informative! I'm always scared to loose control and now I'm more relaxed because I read the reasons why things happen such as turbulence, noices... So I thank you a thousand times for that!" "I live in Australia and wanted to write and thank you for your exceptional Fear of Flying Help course, which I recently came across on the internet while searching for a local program to help me. A seasoned flyer from an early age, I developed a fear of flying at the age of 22 after a particularly turbulent flight on my way home to Melbourne. After years of being a very confident and relaxed flyer, this new anxiety was very distressing and grew progressively worse with each subsequent flight. Now facing another trip this year, I was considering cancelling our travel bookings, much to the disappointment of my husband. Your course has been extremely helpful to me, not only in reassuring me about the safety of flying and explaining some very helpful concepts of flight and turbulence, but in making me realize that I was not the only person to experience this 'late-onset' fear (which had made me feel acutely embarassed and something of a freak!) Thank you again for your course, presented in such a kind and patient tone. I wish you every success in all that you do, particularly in continuing this valuable work." "Thank you for offering your course online. Although I'm still a slight bit nervous about my upcoming flight, I am more so excited to see the plane, the sights from the air and the marvel of it all just like I was when I was younger. Parts of your course seemed to speak directly to me, especially the lesson about the plane itself, which was my greatest concern. So, thanks for your help, I plan to make a contribution soon." "It's a bit belated, but I wanted to let you know that my Christmas travel went very well in fact. Much better than my previous experiences. The information in the course made all the difference, as I recalled specific details to calm myself throughout the flights. Thanks so much again. The service you provide is a wonderful gift to your fellow human beings."

From March email, 2002 "I ran across your web site 3 days ago...I read through it and let it sink it...am leaving tomorrow on a flight feeling very confident---thanks to you. Have printed out several pages to share with my daughter if the need arises... I promise to make a contribution in order to help your 'cause' and access the additional web site info.... Thanks again for taking the time to put together this page...I am looking forward to our flight..." "First I want to say how wonderful I think you are for offering such insightful and informative information. I was looking on line to find a fear of flying class. My flying experience is a 'no choice' situation. I am flying commercially. I have NEVER flown before and honestly I don't know why I have always been afraid. Possibly imagining the worst. Fear of heights, and basically similar to the things you mentioned. Thank you so much for you time and help. This was a great lesson, probably the best I have had in my life by far..." "Your web site is fantastic, and for those of us with this panic problem, it is a very helpful site to help better understand the condition. Thanks again for your great web site and good heart for doing a service like this for people." "Just wanted to say that you so much for making your wonderful course available. I had procrastinated on signing up for a costlier, more time-consuming method of treatment for my fear of flying, thinking that I could just 'pull myself together.' But this morning, the day before taking my baby on his first flight, I was at my desk at work practically paralyzed with dread and thinking it was too late to get help! Luckily I stumbled upon your web site. Now I'm feeling so much better I'm actually looking forward to my vacation, which is why I'm getting on the plane in the first place. Thanks again." "I finished reading your help course last night and I am so grateful to you for creating this extremely useful tool for those of us who fear (even dread) flying or even the thought of flying. My fear has been so bad that even looking at an airplane caused me anxiety! There are so many helpful facts in your course, and I think that is key. The knowledge I have gained on flight mechanisms (the plane and the process of flying), statistics, flight crew and ground crew training have helped tremendously in easing my fears. I think the example you gave "sticking your hand out of the car window" and how your hand is supported by the air was great! The air being like water to the plane also was very helpful. I won't fear the plane falling out of the sky. I really did used to wonder how such a heavy thing could stay suspended in air, now I know. And it helps! Once again, thank you so much. I appreciate your kindness to the flying public in creating this course." "Thank you for hosting a "fear fo flying" online course. I just completed it today, and think it will help!!! The simulation brought back some good memories, and got my adrenaline going a bit. (good job! love all the pictures.)" "Taking your course helped me so much. All four of my flights went very well. I'd never had turbulence before on flights, but I did on these. And I was able to stay calm. Take-off still makes me nervous, but I was able to remember that planes are built to fly and do their job well. I have another set of flights in a week, but I'm much less nervous now. Your expertise really helped give me confidence on the flights. In fact, as I boarded each plane, I would let the flight attendant know that I was scared. Afterwards, more than one of them commented that they wouldn't have known I was scared if I hadn't told them!" "I want to thank you for your fabulous site. It has actually helped me MUCH more than 3 months of therapy with a Ph.D. who specializes in anxiety disorders. I have flights this month, and I have been having nightmares, panic attacks and general fear for the past several months. My plan for my flights has been to revisit this site the day before my flight. Well, it's the day before, and I've done the course again. I feel better than I have in weeks. I also printed some of my favorite sections to take with me. I also want to thank you for having your site be free with optional contributions. When I was searching for help on the Internet, I saw a lot of books and videos advertised at about $40. I wouldn't mind paying that if I knew it would help me, but I didn't think it would. But I found your site, tried it and found that it helped me. I'm going to make my contribution, and I hope that you will continue to be a source of help for others like me." "I have a flight in three days, and I was terrified to the point where I was not sleeping well at night. I made an appointment to get a flying sedative so that I could have the courage to even get to the airport to board my flight. After reading the online course material, I feel a lot more educated on just how safe flying actually is. It has definitely put me a bit more at ease...as far as dealing with turbulance, takeoff and landing and I may just try the flight without the sedative. Thank you very much!!!!" "I worked through your course out of interest as I am a clinical psychologist. I was impressed by the clarity of presentation as well as the humour. I will be happy to suggest using your course to anyone with a specific fear of flying." "I would just like to say thank you so much for the advice you offer. I started to feel quite sick and nervous at the beginning just reading about flying but by the time I reached the Bonus Page I felt confident and totally relaxed. I loved flying when I was younger but since having a small panic attack on a flight a couple of years ago. I can now only go on a plane if the flight is less than 3 hours and if I have a hood on my jumper and I can bury my head and hide myself away from the whole experience. I am now kind of looking forward to my flight in a months time as I feel now that I will definitely be able to cope, its not as stressful as I always have thought it was!" "I want to thank you for a truly wonderful, humorous, caring course. Thank you soooo much! In fact I wish you were the captain on my first flight!" "Thank you for providing a free-of-charge fear of flying course. I have a flight in May, and I've been freaking out since January! Since I know it's irrational, I refuse to let my fears keep me grounded, and the lingering sense of terror and dread are even more frustrating because they are so incredibly useless. I feel much better after taking your course; of course, the real test will be the flight! One of the most helpful things about your course was the visualization of the whale in water. For some reason, being able to hang on to that idea makes it much easier for me to visualize myself on the plane. Anyway, thanks so much and good luck with your endeavor." "Thank You So Much For Your Web-Site!! I will be flying in a few weeks for business and feel confident that it will go much better! My vacations for the last 10-15 years have not been as enjoyable as they could have been because of my anxiety of the flights. Having gone through your web site I feel much more confident and am actually looking forward to the trip. I will let you know how I do! Thank you again for this valuable information! I have shared it with our travel department and found that there are many others who have concerns about flying. We ALL are grateful to you!!!! I have sent a donation through Pay Pal. Thank Again!!!" "I completed your course a little while ago and am feeling more confident about flying. Your course was very helpful, and I liked the fact that it was presented in a light and informative manner. Thanks again for all of your help!!!" "I am a student from the U.K. For a while I have been nervous about taking flights, more because of what might happen, an overactive imagination. It started really when I was about to take to the skies for only the 3rd time. I became more aware of noises (because the don`t tell you what they are), more nervous and even had panic attacks. I haven`t been on a plane for 3 years primarily due to lack of money (Student lifestyle!!). I realised that I need to confront this fear in order for me to do what I plan to do this year after I graduate, travel around the world. I would like to congratulate and thank you for your web site, I have found it most helpful and I am now feeling a lot more confident in fulfilling my travel plans. I can tell you that I became even more concerned about flying after the tragic events of September 11th, but as you have said increased security now exists, which is reassuring." "Not only did I totally enjoy flying, I was the calmest person on the plane. I gave a copy of your printouts to the poor sweaty guy next to me! Excellent not only for flying, but an analytical approach to anxious situations in general. Thanks!"

From February email, 2002 "Just took the course and it helped immensely. I fly to London this Saturday and I'm actually, sort of, looking forward to the flight. The info on turbulence alone was worth 10 times my contribution. I will tell everyone I know about this course! I made my contribution right after I completed the course. Many, many thanks." "Just wanted to express my sincere thanks on your website. It's very professional, informative and took a lot of work to help people become more comfortable in the safest way to travel. You have a personal concern for your passengers, and that's really cool. Thanks for reassuring me on an upcoming 10hr, transatlantic flight... I'm sure it will be smooth sailing with maybe some lgt-ocnl mdt aloft (but no worries)." "Hello, you are my new best friend. I am flying this coming week and I was terrified, this will not be my first trip since 9-11 , however this is my first long trip by myself from the west coast to the east coast. I was terrified and I stayed home this weekend to listen to my fears and finally do something about it. I was angry with myself for allowing terrorist to control me like this making me afraid to live my life. I almost canceled my trip to see my parents because of this fear of flying that seemed to have gotten worse since 9-11, I came across your website and I started off very SCARED and I just KNEW that nothing would help me. I followed the lessons and read and re-read some of the things and I LEARNED so much and I am so grateful to you . I loved the lessons and I am not CANCELING my trip, I will see my parents and I owe that to you and your wonderful knowledge and insight. Thank you ,thank you ,thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who knows, maybe you will be my pilot, either way, you helped me and I thank you for doing that and in my mind you are my pilot every time I fly, well when we have a smooth landing. Thank you again" "I just would like to thank you very much for this outstanding web site! I have to travel from NY to CA. next week for work and I am (or should say "was") a total wreck about it. I have been severely afraid to fly since my early 20's and decided since 9/11 that I would not fly for at least a few years. Unfortunately my job depends on it and after reading your course I feel much, much more reassured and relaxed. I will be mailing you a check with the feedback form. It is so crippling to have such an intense fear and I thank you so much for your help!!!" "Thank you very much for this aid, I am flying for only the third time in my life and this is the first time I have a really good sense of exactly what goes on throughout the process. I guess it is just the fear that I am not in control of the situation but I see the training that all the staff goes through and I am very much at ease. You have cleared up so many myths that I have heard from news reports and from people who don't fly much. So again I thank you and I know I will still be a little tense but I think I will be allot more relaxed." "I am writing to tell you what an enlightening experience I had taking your online course designed for fearful flyers. I've flown since I was barely able to walk, yet somehow experienced a tremendous onset of fear in my early twenties. There was no trigger for this irrational fear, and it was extremely frustrating for me to have to deal with something so ridiculously traumatic. I have an upcoming flight in the next couple of weeks, and I just couldn't stand putting my family and young son through another one of my panic attacks while onboard the aircraft." "Thank you so much for the on-line course. It helped me a lot. I'm TERRIBLY afraid of flying (or I should say I WAS..) and I have a trip planned in a week - I'm sure I'll do much better with his information! My biggest fear is turbulence. This course helped me understand turbulence - which was the main problem - I didn't understand it. Thanks again!" "I did some research on fear of flying and ended up on your website! Boy, was I glad! Your five lesson course on flying is great! Now that I really have a very good understand of all phases of flying ie: pilots, mechanics, aircraft, weather, communications, etc! I now feel so much more relax and ready to enjoy the flight! My sincere thanks and appreciation for such a well written and complete course! I will write back when we return from our trip to let you know how it went! However, I now have such a positive mindset that I expect the trip to be no less than great! Thank You,Thank You, Thank You!" "Oh wonderful....I can't wait to read your new book (Fear of Flying: Wings of Discovery). I loved the way you put the website together, it was informative and yet funny. Shoot me an e-mail when it comes out, I'd love to read it." "I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate you putting together this course for all us scaredy cats! I am planning to fly in March and of course I am terrified. Before I took your course I was really wondering if I could actually get on the plane, but now I feel like I will be able to do so, and possibly enjoy the flight somewhat (Maybe). I used to love to fly, in fact I had wanted to be a flight attendant at one time, but as soon as I got married and had a child all that changed (9/11 did'nt help of course). I guess the fear of loss is just too great. I love to travel and don't want to miss out on being able to do that. So it's a good thing I found your course! Although I am not completely cured, maybe now I can fly without it ruining my vacation with fear. Thanks again." "Thank you for that helpful hint about my daughter's first flight. I was sort of embarrassed to say anything about my fears. That makes it much easier. I truly found your site helpful and will probably reread it several times before my trip. I'm actually looking forward to it now. I shared your site with all my coworkers this AM and it was amazing to me how many also shared my fears but never said anything. I have them all reading your website. Thank you again." "I think its great you made a web-page to help people like me out. I suffer from panic attacks, I am often nervous about even traveling on the bus, Knowing people are looking at my un-easiness when an attack comes on can make me feel even worse, obviously at least with a bus If I REALLY need to I can get off and relax. Thanks For listening!" "I am emailing from Sydney Australia and cannot tell you how excited I am about finding your free course. I want to take the incredibly long flight from Australia to Europe but have a fear of panic attacks and not being able to get off the plane if I "freak out" - though I know this will never happen, I cannot help being afraid of it. I still have flown, bit I am so scared, mainly at night, that my legs shake the whole time! Thanks very very much." "I have just finished reading your course, and have sent off a contribution as I found it quite interesting and comforting (especially having come straight from an experienced pilot). Your explanation of certain sounds during the flight, weather, and turbulence was especially reassuring for me. I have flown each year since age 4, and somehow developed a huge fear about 7 years ago. I do believe the media's coverage of accidents is partly the reason. I seem to get worse with each flight, and now my family/friends dread being my travel partner since I pretty much cry the entire time (and if there's turbulence, I have been known to leave a few scars)! Needless to say, Sept. 11 hasn't helped any (I haven't flown since). I found your course because I have to fly in May and have been seriously doubting I could bring myself to do it since I now have terrorism to worry about on top of all the "usual" flying fears. Anyway, since reading your lessons, I feel a little less terrified at the thought of making this trip, and curious as to how I'll do. Thank you for taking the time to help us fearful flyers- not having the freedom to fly does cause a great deal of stress and takes the joy out of many vacations."

From January email, 2002 "I am very thankful to find this course and do appreciate your experience and input. I have printed "About the Author" and "First Lesson" and look forward to printing the other lessons to read this weekend. I feel very comforted to draw on your knowlegde; and acknowledgement that people are afraid to fly. My husband and I plan to fly in September so I am trying of overcome this fear by then. At present I can't even bear to think of the aeroplane door being shut and sitting in the plane so long without opening a window. I look forward to reading your whole course. Thank you again for your kindness." "Wow! Thanks for answering so quickly. I am booked to fly in February. ( I was going to take a train!!) I feel if you're a pilot and you're not worried I guess I can be calm too. I have my 3 sheets and will look at them before and during the flight. (My husband thanks you also for the course. He's not afraid to fly, but is happy I found your site.)" "Thanks for the info. I recently developed a fear of flying after travelling heaps for business. I found the part about turbulence especially helpful because that always scares me the most. Now I will try and compare it to small bumps in the road as suggested. Thanks again. Its helped me a lot and my husband will be glad to not have to worry about me hyper-ventilating anymore." "I think this is wonderful what you are doing with this website. I know just knowing more about what is to be expected in flight will be very helpful. I have flown several times in the past and some of these things scared me everytime. I remember looking at other passengers to see if their expressions changed during turbulence and turns etc. Now I know what is to be expected." "Thank you for your excellent course. The knowledge which you share has helped to dispel many of my fears. I am flying again this afternoon so I'll see how I get on. Many thanks again for your concern for the public. You are doing a great job. Best wishes." "For the first time in about 5 years, I have a flight coming up in a month. I just found out about it yesterday and already had the "sweats"! I realized I couldn't go almost 4 weeks with this "dread" so I went to Google and chose your site. I can't tell you how much better I feel already. Explaining the turbulence and the various noises have helped tremendously. I'm sure I'll still be a LITTLE nervous as flight time approaches but not as much as before I "met" you. Your manner of writing is wonderful and I could almost hear you talking about the various subjects. You have provided a great service and I'm very appreciative of you. I will send my feedback form after I return. Thank you again - VERY MUCH!" "I feel more secure flying now that i read your comments about turbulence. The sensation of the plane shaking/shimmying, especially horizontally, really throws me almost into a panic--. It has some deep psysiological effect on me that triggers primal fear feelings. Thanks again for your thoughtful, well-constructed course--with just the right touch of humor. "I'm age 44 and I'm about to take my first flight on Saturday. I have always taken Amtrak prior because of an acute phobia. I am very happy I stumbled upon your website. The material is interesting and LOGICAL and, yes, it is calming my fears (especially your safety statistics ... and your admission that you are chicken too!) Although my hands are still clammy thinking about it, I'm very excited about my upcoming flight. And I will certainly introduce myself to the pilots, per your suggestion. "I have just completed your fear of flying course and was very impressed. I am a travel agent but am also scared of flying which is a little embarassing to say the least!!! My problem is that I don't really know where the fear comes from as I have travelled extensively but the fear seems to build up each time, silly I know! After over 3 years of being on the ground, I have finally plucked up the courage to book a holiday. I have found the course very helpful and hope to put it all into practice on the day! I will also be recommending your site to customers. Thanks " "I took your fear of flying course online the other day. I want to say that I really appreciate your efforts to help those of us who are absolutely terrified to fly. My fear is one of control (or losing it). I pretty much have trust in the plane, mechanics, FAA, etc. I plan to utilize my cheatsheet tools and then send you the feedback form when I return from my trip. I have flown several times, but on very short flights (2 hours or less). I have always been able to talk myself through the "panic" because before I knew it, we were landing. This time I am going on a flight that is eight hours long, and I am dreading it terribly (I'm not real crazy about flying over the Atlantic either)! I was wondering if you might have any more hints that could help me through this flight? I hate this fear! I am so ready to put it to rest! Thank you." "I am taking a flight on Friday and was, I repeat was, scared to death of my impending flight. While this is not my first venture on an airplane, I have never been what you would call a comfortable flyer. Everyone hates to fly with me because I practically tear their arm off. Anyway, today at work I started looking around on the internet to see what I could find out about turbulence and general information on planes (why I didn't do this earlier I have no idea!) and stubbled across your website. I couldn't wait to get home to take the course! I have always been most afraid of the noises the plane makes and had the general fear that at any given moment the plane was going to fall out of the sky and I would plummet to my death. I know, it sounds silly! But, since reading the information about how the plane is "happiest" when it's flying and understanding how the plane actually gets off the ground and stays in the air has made a HUGE difference in my perceptions of flying. I can't believe I am actaully about to say this but I think I am even a little excited to take my first flight since becoming educated about the facts and myths of flying. I can't tell you how thankful I am that I came across your site and think what you have done here is wonderful. I will most definitly check back with you to let you know how my flights went. Thank you so much for your insight! Thanks again!" "My fear of flying stems from a traumatic experience on a flight when I was seven. I have been on a plane only once since that time and it was absolutely terrifying, I wish I had taken this on-line help course before that flight. I am flying for my second time tomorrow for a business trip, and up until I found your website, I have been a nervous wreck. Anxiety, nausea, sweaty palms, sleeplessness & nightmares have consumed me for the passed week. Your self-help fear of flying course has helped a great deal, you give fantastic advice and seem to understand the human psyche. On aside, I never knew that I could speak to the pilots prior to take off, I didn't think that I would be taken seriously, and that they had better things to do with their time than deal with someone there mid thirties overcome a serious fear. Thank you for your help, I would be more than happy to mail my donation to support the cause that offers help to those that can benefit from your site. Yours truly, Up, Up and away!" "I would like to begin by saying that I am so grateful to you for your incredible site. I stumbled upon it the other night while looking for a book on how to get over a fear of flying, and I am so thankful that I did. Your site is not only educational and helpful, but also interactive and fun. I don't know why my fear of flying came to be,as I used to fly gliders in air cadets when I was young. But for the last few years I have avoided flights to and from my home and took a 24 hour train ride instead. Your site helped me in many ways...I think you're right that we fear what we don't know, as after learning more about flight, I felt much safer. After going through the lessons, I booked my flight. I leave in two weeks (I'll let you know how I do). I will be sure to pass your site on to others, and I have made a donation so that you can continue helping others. I think it is wonderful that a person of your position, one who cleary is not afraid to fly, would take the time to understand and help others with this fear. Best of luck with your continuation in this project. Thanks again." "Just a brief thank you on your course for those that are afraid to fly. I am booked to fly to Asia and have been worrying myself silly over minor details. I have flown numerous times before but get nervous each time. Having every detail before me, to read, about the plane, its engines, aircraft personel etc has eased my mind greatly. I didn't realise how much testing these planes go through and how safe flying really is. My fear was constant, "How long before it crashes?" I no longer have that fear and I'm looking forward to sneaking my feet up onto the seat and relaxing back with a good book. Thank you again. ( I must admit, I was a little sceptical when I started reading, not believing for a minute that it would work. ) Thanking you again." "Thank you so very very much for your wonderful course. I use to love to fly until I got older and had children. I became very fearful. When I went flying I was white knuckling it the whole time. We are going again on Saturday and I began to have these awful fears again! I prayed and prayed and did start to feel much better but I felt a nagging feeling that I needed to get on the web and find some concrete information about flying. I found your website right away!. Your website filled up any holes left in my fear of flying. I will be sending you a check for $15.00 tomorrow by mail. I loved the part about the mechanics of flight and how turbulance is not harmful only annoying'. It all made so much sense PLUS your demeanor and personality come through the website. Thank you Captain. I am very appreciative to you! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays."