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Facts About Fear

Understand Your Fear

About the Fear of Flying - Assess your fear

is a modified form of the FFS originally published in a dissertation by S.J. Solberg in 1975. Since then we have been using it at the Institute. You will be able to compare your responses with those of over 4000 fearful flyers.

The 46 items below refer to experiences which may or may not cause fear or apprehension. On a piece of paper list the numbers 1 to 46. Beside each item number, mark the number which most accurately describes how frightened or anxious thinking of the item makes you feel. Work quickly but be sure to consider each item separately. If necessary, take a break if the apprehension of an item begins to spill over onto the next item.

Use the following 4-point scale to rate how much the item bothers you:
0 = Not at all
1 = A little bit
2 = A fair amount
3 = Much
4 = Very much

Example: If item one were to read, "Listening to a friend talk about a flight that he/she took which had mechanical problems prior to departure," you would mark a 3 next to number 1 on your paper if you were much disturbed by the situation. Begin now to rate your anxiety or discomfort on the items below.

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Familiarise yourself with the sounds of flying
1. You have decided to take an airplane flight and you are at home making plane reservations and planning your trip.
2. You plane tickets arrive in the mail and you open the envelope and read the tickets.
3. It is the day of your flight and you are at home packing and preparing.
4. You leave home and drive to the airport.
5. You arrive at the airport and arrive at the appropriate airline, where you check your baggage and are assigned a seat.
6. You pass through the security check and metal detector where you are checked by the security guard.
7. You are in the departure area at the gate and as you sit, you are aware of the activity of other people coming and going on other flights.
8. Your flight number is called and you gather your carry-on baggage and get in line to enter the plane.
9. You walk onto the plane and are greeted by the flight attendant. You notice the interior of the plane with its rows of seats and small windows.
10. You walk down the aisle until you find your seat. You put your carry-on in the overhead compartment and settle into your seat.
11. You realize that the aircraft door is shut and you cannot leave the plane.
12. Your plane is on the ground prior to takeoff. It is a stormy, rainy day. Looking out the window, you see sheets of rain pouring down and see puddles of water forming on the runway.
13. You feel the first lurch as the plane begins to move toward the runway.
14. As the plane moves toward the runway, the flight attendant demonstrates the use of the oxygen mask, seat belt and gives other safety instructions.
15. As you wait for the plane to take off, the flight attendant walks down the aisle checking if the seat belts are fastened. You reach down to check your seat belt.
16. Your plane has been given permission to take off and it begins to pick up speed rapidly as it moves down the runway. You feel the vibrations and hear the engines roar.
17. As the plane lifts off the ground, you hear the "thump" of the landing gear as it is retracted.
18. As the plane climbs, you feel the push backward in your seat and the small changes in air pressure and the vibrations as the plane cuts through the air.
19. You are flying at a steady altitude in calm weather.
20. You are in flight and look out the window and see the panorama below. Everything looks small below from your view high above.
21. You are on a long flight, and, glancing at your watch, figure that four more hours of flight are left.
22. While the plane is in flight, the pilot announces that the plane is behind schedule and will arrive 30 minutes late.
23. You are flying in dense fog. When you look out the window, you can see nothing but thick fog; you cannot even see the wing tip.
24. While in flight, your plane encounters turbulence. The flight becomes rough and bouncy and you are required to fasten your seat belt.
25. Unexpectedly, the plane encounters a downdraft (an "air pocket) and you feel a great jolt as the plane suddenly changes altitude. The jolt causes confusion and disorder as passengers are thrown off balance and loose objects are knocked out of place.
26. Your plane is approaching its destination and the "fasten seat belt" sign flashes on. You feel a change in air pressure as the plane starts to descend.
27. As the plane descends for landing, the wing flaps are lowered causing the plane to vibrate a little. You hear the "thump" of the landing gear being lowered and the plane vibrates somewhat more.
28. As the plane touches down and begins moving down the runway, you hear the roar and feel the plane vibrate as you are pushed forward when the pilot reverses the thrust of the engines to slow the airplane.
29. Your flight is over. Your plane taxis to the place where you will disembark.
30. Thinking about the flight three weeks before the scheduled date.
31. Thinking about the flight the weekend before the scheduled date.
32. Thinking about the flight the week before its scheduled date.
33. Thinking about the flight the night before its scheduled date.
34. Thinking about the flight the hour before takeoff.
35. Talking with friends about flying.
36. Going to the airport to see friends or relatives off on a flight.
37. In a plane flying over mountains.
38. In a plane flying over the ocean.
39. In a plane flying on a clear day.
40. In a plane flying at night.
41. In a plane flying in the winter.
42. Watching planes take off and land.
43. Eating a meal during a flight.
44. Having my family on the plane with me during a flight.
45. Flying on a plane by myself (without friends or relatives).
46. Flying on a plane with a friend sitting next to me.