hi guys. i have a question for u airline pilots out there....is having fear of heights an important criteria or factor in becoming a pilot or in other words can a person be a pilot if he/she is afraid of heights?? i hope u guys will help me answer this question bcoz i really really want to be a pilot. it has been my ambition to be one since i was young n i hope it wont destroy my dreams of bcoming one just bcoz im afraid of heights... :'(

firstly welcome to simv . now on to the question, i to have wanted to be an airline pilot all my life and i to have small cases of fear of heights but thats mainly when i am say standing on a building  roof or something like that. have you been up on a plane if so does was it bad then? i have found when i am up there in my lessons i dont have any problems, as for selection i haven't seen a single thing about fear of heights in the requirements so it shouldnt be a problem.

thanx again 4 the quick reply.That was a relief to hear from u........now i can go on to fulfil my dream of bcoming n airline pilot!! :)

good luck with it maybe see you up there some day:)

Unfourtionatly, yes, a fear of heights can reduce the chance of getting your private pilot certificate, however, we can work with you.

I have a slight case of being afraid of heights, but in a plane it all goes away. Be it FL390 or 3000. No idea why this happens, but it's good that it does.  :D

no the fear of heights wont hurt you in any way, Im afraid of heights but not when enclosed....... hmmm


Todays Quote:
"People say death isnt real or that death doesnt matter, well death is real, and whatever it is it matters" Some important writer  ;D

its strange how it works really. i personally have no problem being at 30000 feet infact i love it but i cant be on top of a 12 story building and look down without feeling sick, and theres no way i can look up when on said building

Quite honestly, everyone has a fear of heights. The issue really is how much it affects you. People have a 'fight or flight' characteristic which really depends on how you were raised. If you fight, you are more likely to be a good canidate as a pilot. The reason is simple. The emotions of a person who is programed to fight will have more control of emotions. A 'flight' person will tend to have a higher risk of irrational decisions, possibly causing a crash. If you are a 'flight' person, dont let this discourage you, we (all flight schools) are really willing to help you overcome this obstacle.

if you check into the history books....one of the most famous of all fliers in the world was pukin' his guts out on his first flight......and he went on to fly the highest performance aircraft for 60 yrs, and this is the truth.....how about Oct 14, 1947 ?

You might want to give an introductory ride a try. Often being afraid of heights doesn't translate into a cockpit. I hate going up on a ladder but I'm perfectly comfortable in an aircraft, even small helecopters with the bubble canopy.

Make sure you do it with an understanding instructor however and make sure he or she knows so they can bring the plane back if you do panic. There seems to be a difference between fear of flying and fear of heights. Some pilots are shakey looking off a tall building while perfectly comfortable at 30,000 ft while high steel workers can be terrified of just being in an airplane sitting on the ground.

Just take it slow and easy until you know how you react.

wrote on Mar 30^th, 2003 at 9:18pm:

You might want to give an introductory ride a try. Often being afraid of heights doesn't translate into a cockpit. I hate going up on a ladder but I'm perfectly comfortable in an aircraft, even small helecopters with the bubble canopy. Make sure you do it with an understanding instructor however and make sure he or she knows so they can bring the plane back if you do panic. There seems to be a difference between fear of flying and fear of heights. Some pilots are shakey looking off a tall building while perfectly comfortable at 30,000 ft while high steel workers can be terrified of just being in an airplane sitting on the ground. Just take it slow and easy until you know how you react.

I couldn't say more. Matt has it perfect. You wan't to make sure your instructor knows that you have a fear of heights. It is important to know, because even the introductory flight, you are doing a lot of hands-on flying.

-Brad

I am not reading the rest of the posts... But, I have a fear of heights myself... But, flying has no effect on me... I love it and wouldn't trade it for all the money in the world!

Hi all I was and still am scared of hights, I was doing cavity wall insulation on a ladder and "froze" about 10-12 feet up! that was 15 years ago. On friday 13th Sept 2002 I had my first EVER flight, 30 min trail from Blackpool (UK), there were winds gusting upto26Kts. The instructor let me taxi the Piper PA28 to the runway, he then did the mag checks got clearance and told me to take the yolk! he lined us up on the runway hit the power I pulled back at 70Kts indicated then the air turned blue! I wanted to LAND and NOW!! I was allmost too scared to look anywhere but instruments at 500 feet we turned, the turbulance was bad. After being buffeted around for 10 - 15 mins we came into land, having got upto 1000 feet, when we landed I wanted to go up again!
I have flown twice since from Blackpool, a one hour flight up to the lakes at 2700feet (the view is awsome) and another 30 min, upto 2000 feet and this time I landed the plane (only one bounce), both times I got "butterflies" on take off but then the thrill of flying took over. If you've read this far my advice is go for it have a30 min trial I doubt if you will regret it ;D ;D

wow I never reliasaded that there are so many real pilots on simv

General Charles Yeager affraid of heights? October 14th 1947 put the man in the history books for sure. It is quite an achievement to go from puking rookie to first man to break the sound barrier in the Bell X-1.

Just for braggin rights...

I have recently aquired a mahogany model of the Bell X-1 with the autographed right wing "Charles Yeager" acompanied by the model is a glossy color photo on kodak gold of him completing his signature.

Im scared shiznitless of heights while standing on anything much taller than 4 feet... but stick me in an airplane and for some reason it is not a problem.

explain that?

I always find i'm very happy with a parachute on my back (or an ejector seat...). Up until I'm high enough to use the parachute, and if I'm not concentrating on something else (lookout, t's & p's and so on), I really hope the wings/tail etc aren't going to fall off, as I'd be in a bit of a mess. Above that height I'm fine, as theoretically I could use the parachute. On the way back down I find I'm busy enough not to even notice (and i've gained enough confidence that the wings/tail etc aren't going to fall off), and I'm ok then too.

I hate being on tall buildings though...

Charlie

hello guys.wow this post is ancient.just for everyone's information i am now a fully fledged Boeing 737-400 co-pilot with a top airline in South East Asia and am currently doing the conversion to the Boeing 737NGs=)so yeah dont let that fear hinder you from going all out to achieve your dream!cheers!

remyadrian wrote on Aug 6^th, 2010 at 9:21am:

hello guys.wow this post is ancient.just for everyone's information i am now a fully fledged Boeing 737-400 co-pilot with a top airline in South East Asia and am currently doing the conversion to the Boeing 737NGs=)so yeah dont let that fear hinder you from going all out to achieve your dream!cheers!

Come a long way?....^ ^ ^ ^

...if this is for real?.. ;).... ;)....>>>>


remyadrian wrote on Dec 12^th, 2002 at 11:24pm:

Hi guys!! im adrian n can u help me out here? im a big fan of FS games n i might just be a real pilot one day so can u guys teach me how to land an airplane ?? i've tried a few times but it came out unsuccesful.this is really annoying coz thats the only part left for me to master b4 i can really enjoy my flying experience.Hope u guys can help me out! Thanx again!! :o

Paul....G-BPLF..FS 2004...FS Nav... 8-)...!

Chalk up another pilot with a fear of heights.  Just looking at those pictures of steel workers on the Empire State makes me nervous.  No problem with flying - even took some aerobatic lessons once - bit of reluctance rolling to the right but otherwise great.  Never flew open cockpit and have wondered about that  :).

I have absolutely no fear of heights, whatsoever...

...providing that my feet are planted firmly on Mother Earth... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]....!

"Gravity" is always the major drawback when it comes to "Heights"... :o....!

Gravity at ground level is always best... :)...!

Paul....Levitating... 8-)...!

Fozzer wrote on Aug 6^th, 2010 at 2:21pm:

I have absolutely no fear of heights, whatsoever... ...providing that my feet are planted firmly on Mother Earth...

How tall are you Paul? ;)

HawkSpeedSix wrote on Aug 6^th, 2010 at 2:53pm:

Fozzer wrote on Aug 6th, 2010 at 2:21pm: I have absolutely no fear of heights, whatsoever... ...providing that my feet are planted firmly on Mother Earth... How tall are you Paul? ;)

12 Inches, +- 1 Inch....lying down... :)...!

Paul...I just measured myself... 8-)...!

Just saw this, after so many years..  ::) Fear of hieghts is conquered by time and the minds ability to adjust. Every morning, (for the last 5 months) I climb into the basket of an 80 foot articulated snorkle lift. The first hour or so my brain is screaming "Danger" and my muscles stiffen up in the brace mode. Yes, as one post said, don't look straight up as you lose the horizon line. Don't look down, look at the horizon.. Usually after an hour or so the fear subsides. Of course that fear, is much, much better than no fear at all.  :)   

Steve M wrote on Aug 6^th, 2010 at 3:27pm:

Just saw this, after so many years..  ::) Fear of heights is conquered by time and the minds ability to adjust. Every morning, (for the last 5 months) I climb into the basket of an 80 foot articulated snorkle lift. The first hour or so my brain is screaming "Danger" and my muscles stiffen up in the brace mode. Yes, as one post said, don't look straight up as you lose the horizon line. Don't look down, look at the horizon.. Usually after an hour or so the fear subsides. Of course that fear, is much, much better than no fear at all.  :)

Steve...

Have you thought about doing something else, rather than climbing into an 80 foot articulated snorkel lift each morning, stiffening your muscles and tightening your braces?

Newspaper seller, perhaps?

Paul... ;)... ;)...!

Despite this being a massive necro, my 2 cents:

I hate heights*
I don't particularly like flying on commercial aircraft**

...Yet I want to become a military pilot.



*Having something strapped to me (parachute, climbing rope, etc) is absolutely fine. I trust those systems to work. Standing on the edge of a cliff is an entirely different matter

**Fear of terrorism more than anything else. I don't have an anxiety attack and I don't break a sweat, it's probably not strong enough to be called a fear, but it's a thought that remains in the back of my head.

I think humans just have a old  gene wired to deal with falling off a branch. To where the lions are waiting.

I often have to go "out on a limb" on the job, and I have to remind myself that the weird "fight or flight" impulse, that need to spring to another branch or whatever, is just instinct, and as long as I'm harnessed or at least have one reliable handhold, I'm OK. For me, it's usually just a brief moment, then will overcomes instinct. Mind you, I'm very careful when climbing, sitting, or standing where I might fall, especially just  far enough to regret living through it.  ;D

In airplanes, where wings bring safety with height, I crave altitude... doesn't bother me at all.

beaky wrote on Aug 7^th, 2010 at 12:48am:

In airplanes, where wings bring safety with height, I crave altitude... doesn't bother me at all.

The opposite can/must be said for Helicopters...(sans wings).... ;)....!

Paul.... ;D...!

@ Fozzer..yeah those were the days..couldn't even remember that post on how to land the aircraft ;D

well those days are behind me now,all i can say is its a joy to be up there in the skies..there's no other feeling like it..will be flying on the right hand seat of a Boeing 737-800 tomorrow to RPLL..cheers folks! ;)

I believe the fear of heights vs. flying an airplane situation to be interesting. It seems that everywhere I go, there are more pilots scared of heights (including myself), than there are pilots not afraid of heights. Yet, when in an airplane, one would never know the difference. I believe this has to do more with a fear of falling, than with altitude itself. I know that if I stand at the edge of a cliff, I may fall off, but if I'm securely strapped into an airplane, I most likely won't.

I have no fear of heights. Nor do I have a fear of falling from heights. I have a dreadful fear of the rapid deceleration at the end of a fall from heights.  ::)
I do not like flying on Commercial airliners (sorry Dad). I do like flying in General Aviation aircraft if I know and/or trust the pilot. I even like flying in helicopters. I know, I'm weird.  :D

I can spend ages, lying on my back, gazing up at the Moon, from Earth, with no fear of its great height!..... :)....

My greatest fear would be, falling from the Moon, back to Earth!... :o... :o...!

Paul....Mooning again... ;)...!

I don't think that's that weird Patch. I mean, think about it. When you're flying in a large, commercial airplane, you're not likely in control (unless you're one of the pilots on board). You can't see anything in front of you, and sometimes, you can't see anything outside at all. It's a sense of heading into the unknown, you don't know these pilots, you don't know where they trained, or how alert they may be. But it all comes down to trust. I used to be a little wary of traveling as a passenger when I first started flying back in the day, haha. I didn't like being the passenger, because I wasn't in control. And that's the biggest difference between flying in a 30 seat Dash 8, versus a 2 seat 152. On top of that, why would you ever want to be a passenger when you can be the one in control, haha.

I have a fear of falling, not heights.  That's why I'm good in a plane but not on a cliff edge.

I was afraid of heights until I joined the Army- went to Airborne training- jumped out 32 times- HEIGHTS NEVER BOTHERED ME AFTER THAT!!
;D

Fozzer wrote on Aug 8^th, 2010 at 7:16am:

My greatest fear would be, falling from the Moon, back to Earth!... :o... :o...!

Astronauts get this very problem... It's not that they're floating, they're always falling, but so's the craft their in!

In space, nobody can hear you plummet.  ;D

I don't think I really have a fear of "falling"... ::)...

...its the "landing" part at the end, which puts me off!...:o...!

I have to keep reminding myself that my eye-balls are around 5' 7" from the ground around me...so don't fall over!... :'(...!

Paul...just call me "Shorty"!.... 8-)...!

I took several hours of flight training in a Piper j3 60 years ago. I was getting excellent grades from my instructor and enjoying it immensely until one Sunday morning I had an inexplicable panic attack 4,500 up. I have flown as a passenger  many, many thousands of miles since in many types of aircraft and still get the shakes. Not an uncommon phobia. I have been advised to undergo hypnosis but I fear I might end up hating my dog.

Hey Dennis
Most of us would probably worry about ending up hating our wife - but you have your priorities.  I have a terrible fear of heights - can't stand being stationary on top of a ferris wheel but inverted with the dirt in my ears doesn't bother a bit  :).l

OLD  LOL  I already hate my wife!!!    (just kidding)  ;D

remyadrian wrote on Dec 14^th, 2002 at 10:31pm:

hi guys. i have a question for u airline pilots out there....is having fear of heights an important criteria or factor in becoming a pilot or in other words can a person be a pilot if he/she is afraid of heights?? i hope u guys will help me answer this question bcoz i really really want to be a pilot. it has been my ambition to be one since i was young n i hope it wont destroy my dreams of bcoming one just bcoz im afraid of heights... :'(

I am deathly, deathly afraid of heights, and I am taking private pilot lessons. My logic? Planes are made to fly, I'm not. It makes sense to be afraid of heights if you're standing on the edge of a cliff - if you fall, you die. Planes are a different matter. They're meant to fly. That's how I think of it.

I had completely forgotten that my Dad, though he worked for an airline, did not like to fly. The reason was, during WWII, his unit was flying the Hump, had engine trouble before passing the summit and had to return for repair. Then they had to fly it again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_hump

i find it there's a simple logic as to why ladder-like heights may scare pilots, while FL300 will feel quite comfortable...

it all comes down to your visual points of reference - it's the "don't look down" thing


if you're standing at the edge of a cliff, then you gaze down, following the length of the drop with your eyes - you'll get scared out of your pants -
now, when you're on an airplane, or helicopter - even very tiny ones, like sailplanes - you have nothing to guide your eyes progressively down to the ground - so you get a "visual split" situation - without a continuous shift in eye focus, you get only very-close and very-far...

and that distiction seems to separate your depth perception in such a way that you don't get vertigo, hence, no fear of heights  ::)


i figured that out when i flew sailplanes some years back... i still don't feel kinda funky near tall ledges  :D


interesting, is it not?  :)

Moach wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2011 at 3:31pm:

i find it there's a simple logic as to why ladder-like heights may scare pilots, while FL300 will feel quite comfortable... it all comes down to your visual points of reference - it's the "don't look down" thing

You might have a point but I think there's an even simpler explanation. If you're at the top of a ladder or standing on the edge of a cliff the only thing preventing a fall is your sense of balance. One slip & you're gone. :o

In an aircraft cockpit you're in a completely different environment. Sitting in a hopefully comfortable seat in an enclosed space. Balance doesn't come into it. If you get up & walk through the cabin you can only fall as far as the floor.

wrote on Dec 15^th, 2002 at 11:55am:

thanx again 4 the quick reply.That was a relief to hear from u........now i can go on to fulfil my dream of bcoming n airline pilot!! :)

Speaking of wanting to be an airline pilot, I want to be one as well and I was wondering what airline you have in mind. I'm thinking Delta Airlines right now but I'm not sure.