I’m a British Airways captain, and these facts will help cure your fear of flying

Are you unable to mentally fight the anxiety of air travel?

So let us introduce you to your best ally in this all-too-common battle: British Airways Captain Steve Allright.

The pilot (appropriately nicknamed) runs BA’s Flying with Confidence course for nervous travelers, and here he reveals some plane facts that will help make your next flight anxiety-free, from how far you can glide a plane to why the turbulence it is nothing to fear.

How worried should passengers be about turbulence?

Captain Allright tells MailOnline Travel: ‘Our most important statement from the British Airways Flying with Confidence course is: ‘turbulence is uncomfortable but never dangerous’.

“All modern commercial aircraft are incredibly robust and can withstand any amount of turbulence. From the earliest years of aviation, designers knew what was required, and many safety factors are higher than in any other form of transportation.

“In addition, and crucially, new aircraft are tested to extreme limits before they are certified to carry passengers. In our Flying with Confidence course, we show a Boeing 787 on a test platform forcing the wings much more than they would experience in even the most severe turbulence. Together with the above statement, our clients find this very reassuring.’

How far can a plane fall even in turbulence?

Captain Allright says: ‘Certainly not the thousands of feet you hear people talk about or see in some movies. Usually in turbulence only around 10 to 20 feet, although this can be more in severe turbulence.

‘It is important to emphasize that their pilots are trained to deal with turbulence and that severe turbulence is extremely rare. I have been flying for 32 years and have only experienced severe turbulence once.’

What is the main purpose of wearing seat belts during turbulence?

Captain Allright says: ‘We don’t want people to get hurt by falling in turbulence. We always insist that customers follow the crew’s advice and instructions at all times.”

Are there parts of the plane where the effects of turbulence are less severe?

Captain Allright says: ‘Our most important statement from the British Airways Flying with Confidence course is: ‘turbulence is uncomfortable but never dangerous’. Allright is a captain on the 787 (above)

Captain Allright says: ‘Hardly. You may have a little less motion near the center of some planes, but it’s negligible; what is important to remember is that turbulence can be uncomfortable but not dangerous.’

What’s that loud screeching sound you hear after the plane has backed out of the gate?

Captain Allright says: ‘This is known as the Airbus ‘barking dog’ noise. We give a full explanation on the course and talk to clients about any and all in-flight noise, which gives extra reassurance, but it’s basically the sound of the aircraft’s hydraulic power system running. More importantly, it’s perfectly normal, like so much noise that can worry anxious travelers on planes. We encourage people in our courses to assume that everything is normal unless told otherwise.’

Some people fear that a plane is simply ‘too heavy to take off’… any reassuring words on this?

Captain Allright says: “Pilots carefully calculate the speed at which it is safe to take off using highly sophisticated technology to ensure that the plane’s weight is correct. This is verified time and time again, which is true of all aspects of our security checklists and procedures.’

Some get scared after takeoff because the engines seem to shut down once a certain altitude is reached…

Captain Allright says: ‘We spent quite a bit of time explaining this in the course as it is quite complicated. Basically, the balance system in your inner ears is playing a trick on you when we reduce the power after takeoff because we don’t need as much power anymore as the drag is reduced after the landing gear is raised. All perfectly normal.

Is there a danger that the plane will run out of fuel?

Captain Allright says: ‘We always reassure people on the Flying with Confidence course that the aviation industry always takes the highest margins of safety into account. Aircraft always take enough to land, at least 30 minutes more flight time, even after a go-around and a diversion. This is regulated by law and a great deal of planning goes into each and every flight, for example choosing diversion airports should they be necessary. Everything is meticulously planned in advance.

What if the engines fail?

Captain Allright says: ‘Wings allow planes to fly, not engines. A commercial airliner flying at 30,000 feet can glide 100 miles even if all engines fail.

Can a plane land with all the wheels broken?

Captain Allright says: ‘Yes. While such a scenario is highly unlikely, safety is always our absolute focus, which is why pilots practice extensively for a wide range of possible emergency scenarios.

Commercial jets are incredibly well-maintained, Captain Allright says, and are checked by pilots and engineers before each flight.

‘It’s worth remembering that the pilots are the best trained and most regulated professionals in the world, undergoing rigorous testing in flight simulators every six months.

“We invest heavily in training – at British Airways we have a world-class training facility with 14 full-motion flight simulators. Commercial jets are also incredibly well-maintained and are checked by pilots and engineers before each flight. Routine maintenance is carried out at regular intervals specified by authorized engineers.’

Should passengers worry when cabin lights flicker?

Captain Allright says: ‘Not at all, as this is perfectly fine. This would probably just be a momentary transfer of power from different electrical sources.

Any additional advice for people if they are still feeling nervous?

Captain Allright says: ‘We recommend anyone who is nervous about flying to join us on the British Airways Flying with Confidence course. We have decades of experience helping nervous travelers, during which time we have helped over 50,000 people overcome their fear. It’s also important to remember that all of our crews are trained to help nervous travelers so they can help customers who are feeling anxious on board. There is also a reassuring Flying with Confidence video on our inflight entertainment system on all long-haul British Airways flights.’

To book yourself into the British Airways Flying with Confidence course, visit www.flyingwithconfidence.com. The day usually starts around 9am and is divided into morning (technical) and afternoon (psychological) sessions, followed by a flight in a BA jet with continuous commentary from a course pilot from the flight deck. The course takes place in London Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Dubai and Johannesburg. The courses in the last two places are totally terrestrial, without flight included.

Steve Allright regularly runs the Heathrow course and has been a British Airways captain on the 757/767, 747 and now flies the 787. He has logged over 18,000 flight hours.