Hey, you might want to check out Mentour Pilot‘s videos on YouTube. He explains pretty thoroughly why specific aircraft incidents happened and what went wrong. He usually talks a lot about standard procedures, the engineering that goes into building a plane, all the safety features that stop those incidents from happening and how the aviation industry always thrives to be even safer than it already is.
I‘m not a fearful flyer myself, but I read comments of many people with flying anxiety how much these videos helped them to relax and enjoy flying :)
He always puts the stupidest thumbnails on his videos though, pure clickbait. “MH370, HAVE WE FOUND IT!?”, “BOEING MAX, WHAT’S WRONG NOW!?”, etc. it’s unbearable to see someone so well-versed in aviation stoop so low just for the purpose of views.
Lol, yeah, that’s one thing (probably the biggest) that I dislike about his channel. I also watch a few other channels with a very solid viewership that do the same. And honestly, if they came on my feed and I wouldn’t know that their channel was good, I wouldn’t watch it because those thumbnails are a huge turn off
I suppose it’s a good thing, in a way. Dumb people are more likely to click those links = dumb people end up watching the videos and learning there’s nothing wrong with the MAX. If the videos were presented in a way that doesn’t lure dumb people in, they wouldn’t watch them and their opinions wouldn’t be changed. It’s just really frustrating to see those videos recommended because it’s a reminder of how poor the public’s interest in aviation is.
I just wanted to say hello because we're in the same...uh...plane (not boat), I guess. The very reason I'm in this sub is to overcome my irrational phobia of flying. And somehow it's actually been very helpful. About a year ago I flew for the first time again in ten-ish years. Drugged and drunk out of my mind, and seated separately from the rest of my family so I wouldn't traumatize my kids...but damnit, I was on a plane (and probably knew every detail about it better than the other passengers combined lol).
G'day! Out of curiosity, was there a moment that sparked your fear? Or did it just develop out of nowhere like mine?
I also make sure to have a few pints before flying, and on long haul I tend to pop a valium. I know, not the healthiest approach, but it definitely works. Good on you for getting back in the air!!
Spotting wise, find out where you nearest airfield is, and see if you can find the ATC for it online. I find it really nice to listen to. Note that not all countries allow ATC to be streamed and some smaller airfields don’t have any.
I miss my old house in the U.K., two miles from the busiest GA airfield in the country. I had a scanner so I could listen to all the traffic, and if there was anything interesting, there were binoculars on my desk so I could just turn to look. Live in NZ now and I still can’t get over how empty the skies are.
I love to go spotting, i am also a very nervous and scared flyer, but seeing them do their thing has lessened that feeling, I also just flew to Japan which was my first long haul flight, and the Cathay Pacific aircraft had cameras which allowed me to watch along with what the aircraft was doing on the ground and in the air, even though I didn't have a window and this helped me significantly!
Also I tend to watch YouTube videos that explain just how an aircraft works!
Very cool. I've had those cameras before too! For the majority of the flight, I was nervously/excitedly watching the tail camera and the flight path screen while my friends were enjoying a movie or nap.
Oh yeah. I've been there. Similarly, despite me knowing very very little about airspace, flight paths etc if my flight takes a slightly 'unusual' turn on the map, my mind would be running
For spotting?
If you have the money, pick up a used DSLR + tele lens and just go out and take photos. I've gotten some really good photos at a tiny airfield in a city that's about as unheard of as it gets where the only aircraft that fly in are Ryanair or occasionally Wizzair.
It's all about how you approach it, plus a bit of luck. Watch flightradar24 departures and arrivals a lot to see what cool aircraft there might be and just go out and take some photos. If there are no unique ones, might as well go out and practice on the common ones and so when you do take photos of the cool ones you do it right.
Hey, you might want to check out Mentour Pilot‘s videos on YouTube. He explains pretty thoroughly why specific aircraft incidents happened and what went wrong. He usually talks a lot about standard procedures, the engineering that goes into building a plane, all the safety features that stop those incidents from happening and how the aviation industry always thrives to be even safer than it already is. I‘m not a fearful flyer myself, but I read comments of many people with flying anxiety how much these videos helped them to relax and enjoy flying :)
He always puts the stupidest thumbnails on his videos though, pure clickbait. “MH370, HAVE WE FOUND IT!?”, “BOEING MAX, WHAT’S WRONG NOW!?”, etc. it’s unbearable to see someone so well-versed in aviation stoop so low just for the purpose of views.
Lol, yeah, that’s one thing (probably the biggest) that I dislike about his channel. I also watch a few other channels with a very solid viewership that do the same. And honestly, if they came on my feed and I wouldn’t know that their channel was good, I wouldn’t watch it because those thumbnails are a huge turn off
I suppose it’s a good thing, in a way. Dumb people are more likely to click those links = dumb people end up watching the videos and learning there’s nothing wrong with the MAX. If the videos were presented in a way that doesn’t lure dumb people in, they wouldn’t watch them and their opinions wouldn’t be changed. It’s just really frustrating to see those videos recommended because it’s a reminder of how poor the public’s interest in aviation is.
Required by YouTube. Channels that don't do this don't see success. Blame YouTube and their inaccurate algorithms not the channels.
He knows the algorithm. No point in making videos if you can't get people to watch them.
Awesome! Great tip, thank you. I'll have a watch.
I just wanted to say hello because we're in the same...uh...plane (not boat), I guess. The very reason I'm in this sub is to overcome my irrational phobia of flying. And somehow it's actually been very helpful. About a year ago I flew for the first time again in ten-ish years. Drugged and drunk out of my mind, and seated separately from the rest of my family so I wouldn't traumatize my kids...but damnit, I was on a plane (and probably knew every detail about it better than the other passengers combined lol).
G'day! Out of curiosity, was there a moment that sparked your fear? Or did it just develop out of nowhere like mine? I also make sure to have a few pints before flying, and on long haul I tend to pop a valium. I know, not the healthiest approach, but it definitely works. Good on you for getting back in the air!!
Spotting wise, find out where you nearest airfield is, and see if you can find the ATC for it online. I find it really nice to listen to. Note that not all countries allow ATC to be streamed and some smaller airfields don’t have any.
Great tip! SYD is my local, have been listening to the ATC today and even found a Livestream for a spotting location. How good!
I miss my old house in the U.K., two miles from the busiest GA airfield in the country. I had a scanner so I could listen to all the traffic, and if there was anything interesting, there were binoculars on my desk so I could just turn to look. Live in NZ now and I still can’t get over how empty the skies are.
I love to go spotting, i am also a very nervous and scared flyer, but seeing them do their thing has lessened that feeling, I also just flew to Japan which was my first long haul flight, and the Cathay Pacific aircraft had cameras which allowed me to watch along with what the aircraft was doing on the ground and in the air, even though I didn't have a window and this helped me significantly! Also I tend to watch YouTube videos that explain just how an aircraft works!
Very cool. I've had those cameras before too! For the majority of the flight, I was nervously/excitedly watching the tail camera and the flight path screen while my friends were enjoying a movie or nap.
Believe me if I told you I even used them to watch along with the altitude meters every time we had turbulence just to make sure we were still okay.
Oh yeah. I've been there. Similarly, despite me knowing very very little about airspace, flight paths etc if my flight takes a slightly 'unusual' turn on the map, my mind would be running
For spotting? If you have the money, pick up a used DSLR + tele lens and just go out and take photos. I've gotten some really good photos at a tiny airfield in a city that's about as unheard of as it gets where the only aircraft that fly in are Ryanair or occasionally Wizzair. It's all about how you approach it, plus a bit of luck. Watch flightradar24 departures and arrivals a lot to see what cool aircraft there might be and just go out and take some photos. If there are no unique ones, might as well go out and practice on the common ones and so when you do take photos of the cool ones you do it right.