You don't have to dread it. You don't have to avoid it.
Dear Readers,
As much as I love teaching this course, I've stopped because I'm so busy with
my swimming business and my drowning prevention goals. I will finish writing a book about how to heal any fear which you will be able to use to overcome your fear of flying completely. I kept my Fear of Flying information on this site in hopes of being able to offer the course again but it hasn't been able to become a priority.
The airlines should fund a good fear of flying course for fearful flyers. The number of its customers could double. My heartfelt wishes for your relief and success.
When we’re afraid, something happens. In this course, you learn what it is, how to stop it, and how to prevent it from starting.
To overcome fear, learn how to prevent panic. Then become certain you won’t panic. Certainty is confidence.
Have you heard enough science and flight statistics to make you grumble? We will never say, "Don't panic," or those other things nice people say to try to help you. "Convincing you" is not part of this process.
You just need to know the steps. One of them is feeling safe. Another is asking all your questions. Another is satisfying answers. Another is being in control. We get to the meat: healing fear. This course is under development. Each person must go at his/her own pace. Eight sessions may be adequate for some and not others. If you are finished after 8 sessions, wait for the others who need a few more sessions to finish and then the whole class will be ready to fly. Our optional finale—or for some, another stepping stone—is to fly together on a commercial flight from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale and return. Class members pay their way and share the cost of the instructor. Our first class flew after 8 sessions. Our two students are triumphant.
"It felt so surreal to me that I was able to get on the airplane and not feel nauseous, have my stomach hurt and be shaking inside. I was calm and excited for my adventure! The accomplishment I felt after the flight was such an unbelievably uplifting feeling. Now I have plans to fly to places I have always wanted to go!" -T.L., RN at SMH, Sarasota
Not offered at this time.
The course is typically 8 weeks, once a week for 2 hours. Each person learns in his/her own time. Eight weeks is not more or less than the expected amount of time needed: it's an arbitrary period to give us time to make progress and take stock of where you are at the end. Deep change takes weeks.
Overcome fear by understanding the actual problem: loss of presence of mind. Learn to be yourself when you fly by gaining confidence that it’s safe to “stay here.”
The in-person course has not been planned. It was taught at Dolphin Aviation, Sarasota, FL. All our courses feature full use of the 5 Circles paradigm.
"Panic is what struck when I was sitting in the last row, corner window seat of a small plane and there came an announcement that there would be a 40 minute delay in taking off because the co-pilot was still enroute in another plane. I recall a feeling of energy starting from my toes rushing up my legs, I remember telling the very large man next to me that I needed to get off the plane.
I do NOT remember.... crawling and stepping over the man next to me and his sick wife, I do NOT remember running toward the front of the plane. I do NOT remember being stopped midway by a flight attendant who sternly told me to walk to the back of the plane. I do NOT recall the flight attendant’s instructions to bend over and lower my head. I do remember she rubbed my back as she called ahead to say a passenger would be WALKING off the plane to wait for the co-pilot arrival. I was instructed to hold her hands which she put behind her back and we slowly walked off the plane.
The flight staff including the pilot talked with me and told me what had occurred. I was given a couple of drinks with alcohol.
Kindly the staff changed my seat to an aisle seat with lots of leg room. I cried from embarrassment and exhaustion most of the way to Arizona staying put in my seat. From that experience on I flew with the help of a little blue pill which calmed my anxiety.
As a swim instructor of 15 years, occasionally I would teach adults who wanted to learn to swim but were afraid. Traditional Red Cross swim lessons did not address their needs and I really didn't know what their needs were. I took to the internet and came across your website (teaching afraid adults to swim). The website addressed their concerns. I purchased its book and dvd.
In order to teach the system, not only did I need to fulfill requirements of online training I needed to fly to Palm Springs for instructor training. Big concern: fly to California. How could I teach a system of conquering fear of water when I had fear of flying.
I decided to apply the 5 Circle teachings to my fear. Step by Step I learned to stay in my 1st Circle. I wrote a long emotional letter to the plane and the plane wrote a practical reassuring letter back to me. I practiced comfort and control as I made my way to the airport. I practiced feeling, I felt the car seats, felt the air temperature, the weight of my carry-on bag on my shoulder. I calmly, slowly walked to the gate. While waiting for boarding, I felt my back touch the back of the chair. I walked on the plane without waiting to be the last person on the plane, I did not stop to talk to the pilot and ask for his flying credentials, I did not inform the flight attendant that I was afraid to fly (all the former rituals).
I sat down buckled up, remained home. Spirit and body intact. I cried tears of relief.
I arrived in Palm Springs never having left my 1st Circle. We arranged to meet at Palm Springs International Airport. The swim school director flew in from Florida. Having seen her photo on the back of her book, I knew what she looked like. I greeted her with a big hug which may have been over the top since she'd never met me. However, she had given me an immeasurable gift. I needed to express my gratitude. I am forever grateful for her and her wisdom. The 5 Circles freed me from my fear of flying and from so many strongholds that dominated my life." -Sharon, Chicago
CREDENTIALS OF INSTRUCTOR
Melon Dash has taught adults who are terrified in water to become confident and free in deep water for 41 years (1983). She is the author of Conquer Your Fear of Water, Conquer Your Fear of the Triathlon Swim, and the coming book, The Spirituality of Learning: 5 Circles for Teaching the Impossible. The system has never once failed. It is about learning, not flying, and it can be applied to any fear. She uses it, herself. She occasionally teaches fear of flying courses.
Dash's work has been featured on CNN.com Opinion, CNN Headline News, TGI4, The Today Show, USA Today, NPR, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Athletic Business, Aquatics International, and numerous others.
We are accompanied by a retired Delta pilot who answers airplane and flight questions.