It’s your first time on a plane — the overhead light signals all passengers to fasten their seatbelts — your hands start sweating and your throat starts to constrict until you feel the breath being pushed out of you. The air steward asks if you would like a glass of water and your face turns pale, and it doesn’t help that you’re sitting about five rows away from the nearest emergency exit either.

For some of us it may be as easy as taking a bus ride into town, but for many others the thought of just a thin piece of metal separating you from a 30 000-foot freefall to the ground is enough to set you off in a series of convulsions.

"The thought of getting onto an airplane leaves me in a complete mess — I’m anxious and highly sensitive to the groans felt beneath me. Sometimes I even have my asthma pump on hand if the whole process gets too stressful for me," says Beryl Botha from Cape Town, who refuses to fly anywhere, unless she’s forced to. "Maybe it’s the fact that I can’t see what’s heading my way."

Many things can contribute to the anxiety of flying, such as the fear of enclosed spaces, crowded conditions, not understanding the strange noises when taking off, and the feeling of not being in control. But the worst part is putting your life in another person’s hands — the pilot — a complete stranger that you’ve never met before.

Things that go bump in the flight
There’s nothing more frustrating than the fear of the unknown, but rest assured that there’s a reason for every clink and bump before take-off, from that humming sound the moment you get onto the plane, to the thump just after taking off from the runway.

For example: just before the flight, as you're about to leave the terminal, it seems like a power surge goes through the plane when the lights start blinking and the air conditioner goes off for a split second. Don’t worry, it's not dodgy electrics — this happens when the pilot switches the electrical current from the airport’s power supply to the generators in their main engines.

And that clunking sound from the belly of the plane as you leave the ground: it's just the wheels being raised and the landing gear door closing. Also take into account that the wheels are spinning at about 160km/h when the aircraft leaves the ground, and the brakes are automatically applied, which can cause a bit of a vibration during those first moments of flight.

Turbulent times
Turbulence — it’s what big-budget Hollywood flicks are made of — and the harmless part about it is that all the talk about hitting turbulence is just hot air. Turbulence doesn’t make the pilot fly into a fit of desperate mayday signals to air traffic control or rip off the plane’s wings. Flying through turbulence is much like steering a boat across rough seas, and just as boats are strong enough to survive the impact of turbulent water, so airplanes are built to withstand turbulent air.

Still not convinced?
If the thought of stepping onto a plane still makes you feel a little queasy, perhaps these stats will help...

Did you know that taking a plane is 29 times safer than driving a car? Most people think that they’re in control when behind the wheel of a vehicle, but about 300 times more people die on the roads of the United States than in an airplane crash. According to the African Airlines Association, between 1994 and 2003 Africa recorded only 210 aviation accidents, and according to AirDisaster.Com, South African Airways has only had one accident out of 1.6-million flights!

You can also try these techniques to help relieve the anxiety of flying:

  • Avoid caffeine, drugs and alcohol
  • Eat a healthy meal before flying
  • Try getting a window or aisle seat, which will make you feel less claustrophobic. Also, the rows over the wings are generally less bumpy than sitting right at the back or front of the plane.
  • Let the air-hostess know that you’re a little anxious so that they keep an eye on you during the flight.
  • Play some relaxing music to help you relax. Another great idea is to dab some relaxing essential oils on your sleeve which you can sniff occasionally.
If you need bit of extra help, free online courses are also on offer at www.fearofflyinghelp.com, where you can also purchase an audio course which you can listen to while on the plane. Amazon.com also has a selection of books which canhelp you overcome your fears: try ‘Flying Without Fear’ by Duane Brown or 'The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying' by Allen Carr.

So the next time you find yourself on a plane, just fasten your seatbelt and remember that you’re in capable hands, travelling on one of the safest forms of transport available. Oh, and check for your nearest exit… just in case.