Assess your fear of flying with this survey
This survey will show you the level of your fear compared with a sample of 4,000 other fearful flyers. You may find it useful to see what your level of fear is, compared to where you think you are. Many fearful flyers believe that their fear is higher than it is, and this makes them worry more than they really need to. But most importantly it provides a benchmark. You know where you are and therefore you can see when you are managing your fears. There are other surveys but we feel that this is more than adequate for most people. We hope that you find it valuable in helping you to address your fear.
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.
1. You have decided to take an airplane flight and you are at home making plane reservations and planning your trip.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
2. Your plane tickets arrive in the mail and you open the envelope and read the tickets.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
3. It is the day of your flight and you are at home packing and preparing.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
4. You leave home and drive to the airport.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
5. You arrive at the airport and arrive at the appropriate airline, where you check your baggage and are assigned a seat.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4= Very much
6. You pass through the security check and metal detector where you are checked by the security guard.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
8. Your flight number is called and you gather your carry-on baggage and get in line to enter the plane.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
11. You realise that the aircraft door is shut and you cannot leave the plane.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
12. Your plane is on the ground prior to take-off. It is a stormy, rainy day. Looking out the window, you see sheets of rain pouring down and see puddles of water on the runway.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
13. You feel the first lurch as the plane begins to move toward the runway.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
17. As the plane lifts off the ground, you hear the "thump" of the landing gear as it is retracted.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
19. You are flying at a steady altitude in calm weather.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
20. You are in flight and look out the window and see the panorama below. Everything looks small below from your view high above.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
21. You are on a long flight, and, glancing at your watch, figure that four more hours of flight are left.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
22. While the plane is in flight, the pilot announces that the plane is behind schedule and will arrive 30 minutes late.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
24. While in flight, your plane encounters turbulence. The flight becomes rough and bouncy and you are required to fasten your seat belt.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
25. Unexpectedly, the plane encounters a downdraft (an "air pocket" ...although we know that there are no such things) 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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
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.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
29. Your flight is over. Your plane taxis to the place where you will disembark.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
30. Thinking about the flight three weeks before the scheduled date.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
31. Thinking about the flight the weekend before the scheduled date.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
32. Thinking about the flight the week before the scheduled date.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
33. Thinking about the flight the night before its scheduled date.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
34. Thinking about the flight the hour before takeoff.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
35. Talking with friends about flying.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
36. Going to the airport to see friends or relatives off on a flight.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
37. In a plane flying over mountains.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
38. In a plane flying over the ocean.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
39. In a plane flying on a clear day.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
40. In a plane flying at night.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
41. In a plane flying in the winter.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
42. Watching planes take off and land.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
43. Eating a meal during a flight.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
44. Having my family on the plane with me during a flight.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
45. Flying on a plane by myself (without friends or relatives).
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
46. Flying on a plane with a friend sitting next to me.
0 = Not at all, 1 = A little bit, 2 = A fair amount, 3 = Much, 4 = Very much
About the Fear of Flying - Assess Your Fear - Your Result
There are 46 items so the MAXIMUM score obtainable is 184.
Of the 4000-odd classmembers treated over the years, approximately 20% scored between 150 and 183. Only 3% reported a maximum of 184. The ranges of scores for fearful flyers and calmer flyers who do not identify themselves as fearful flyers are shown below.
The calmer flyers flew three or more times (one way trips) in the preceding year while the fearful respondents flew an average of 0.2 flights in the preceding years.
FFS Score 3926 Fearful 497 Calmer Flyers
Phobia 184-150 22% 0.03%
Intense Fear 149-100 38% 0.42%
Moderate Fear 99-50 27% 14.4%
Moderate Fear 49-25 12% 34.28%
Negligible Fear 24-0 1% 50.9%
As you can see, a large number of calmer flyers have some degree of apprehension. For them, certain items may cause extreme responses. On the other hand, 87% of the fearful flyers have scores above 50.
These figures take on greater meaning when you consider that research shows that 15 - 18% of the population actually avoids flying out of fear.
If you wish, you can give yourself an anticipatory fear score by taking a total of the sixteen anticipatory items in the inventory.
The anticipatory items are: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,42
The remaining items are common flying items except item 25 which is an emergency item designed to elicit a score of 4. If you didn't score item 25 as a four, re-examine your honesty at taking the test. Compare your score with the groups below.
Nonflyers & Fearful Flyers Calmer Flyers
Average Anticipatory Score 41.3 5.8
Average Common Flying Score 51.1 21.4
This a modified form of a Fear of Flying survey originally published in a dissertation by S.J. Solberg in 1975.
We are grateful to the authors including Professor Al Forgione for permission to use this survey on this site.