More people fly today than ever before, yet many experienced air trav-ellers, as well as novices, suffer anguish and apprehension at the mere thought of flying. A survey by Boeing suggested that as many as one in seven people experiences anxiety when flying, with women outnumbering men two to one. Crew members know them as 'the white-knuckle brigade'.

A certain amount of concern is perhaps inevitable. The sheer size of modern jet aircraft, which appear awkward and unwieldy on the ground, makes one wonder how they will manage to get into the air - and stay there. Most of these fears are irrational and are perhaps based on the certain knowledge that as passengers, once we are in the aircraft we are powerless to control our fate (this being entirely dependent on the skill and training of the crew). These nervous travellers find little comfort in the numerous statistics demonstrating that modern air transport is many times safer than travelling by car or rail.

According to Lloyd's of London, it is 25 times safer to travel by air than by car. A spokesman for Lloyd's Aviation Underwriting stated that if you take into account all the world's airlines, some 600 to 1,000 people are killed every year on average. This figure compares to an annual toll on the roads of some 55,000 in the United States, 12,000 in France and 5,000 in the UK. One sardonic pilot used to announce on landing: 'You've now completed the safest part of your journey. Drive carefully'.

Anxiety

Most people's fear remains just that - anxiety that causes stress but remains on a manageable scale. For some, however, the anxiety can escalate into an unimaginable fear, known as aviophobia or fear of flying. Symptoms include feelings of panic, sweating, palpitations, depression, sleeplessness, weeping spells, and occasionally temporary paralysis. Phobias are deep-seated and often require therapy to search out the root cause. Psychologists studying aviophobia suggest that in serious cases there may be an overlap with claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces) and aerophobia (fear of heights).

Professional help can be obtained from specialists in behavioural psychotherapy. But unlike sufferers from other phobias, which may impair their ability to function in society, sufferers from aviophobia may simply adopt avoidance of air travel as a means of coping. Only those whose lifestyles necessitate a great deal of foreign travel are forced into finding a solution.

One source of many people's fear of flying is simply a lack of knowledge about how aircraft work and what sort of noises to expect. Visiting airports and observing planes taking off and landing can help overcome this problem. Reading about flying can also help (though air disaster fiction can hardly be recommended).

What to do...

Talking to people who fly regularly can be reassuring. Frequent air travellers are familiar with the sequence of noises indicating that everything is proceeding in normal fashion, including the dull 'thonk' when the landing gear retracts on take-off and the apparent deceleration of the engines at certain speeds. Most people are familiar with the sounds their cars make, listening almost subconsciously to the changed 'tones' that indicate mechanical difficulties, and aircraft passengers who are unsure about flying often feel a certain disquiet when they cannot distinguish 'normal' from 'abnormal' sounds in an aircraft.

Air turbulence can also be upsetting. Most modern aircraft fly above areas of severe winds (such as during thunderstorms), and pilots receive constant reports of upcoming weather conditions. Air currents up to 20,000 feet may buffet aircraft, none the less, and the resulting 'cobblestoning' effect can be alarming even for experienced air travellers. Flight crews are aware of this problem and usually make an announcement to allay undue worries.

If you are afraid to fly, tell the stewardess when you board so that the crew can keep an eye on you. Hyperventilation is a common symptom of anxiety: the remedy is to breathe slowly and deeply into a paper bag. Remember that all aircraft crew are professionals who have undergone comprehensive training.

Emergencies

The chief responsibility of the cabin crew is not to dispense food and drink at regular intervals but rather to keep a constant watch on the safety of everyone on board. There is usually a minimum of one flight attendant for every 50 passengers. The briefings on emergency procedures that are given at the beginning of every flight are not routine matters: they can mean the difference between life and death and should be taken seriously. Each type of aeroplane has different positions for emergency exits and oxygen supplies, and different design and positions for life jackets. The air crews' demonstrations of emergency procedures are for the benefit of everyone on board and should be watched and listened to attentively. In an emergency situation, reactions in the first fifteen seconds are vital: there is no time to discover that you do not know where the emergency exits are. Learning about what to do in an emergency should reduce fear, not increase it.

Relaxation

One way of coping with fear of flying (at least in the short term) is to learn how to relax. In-flight alcohol (in sensible quantities), movies, reading material and taped music are all conducive to relaxation.

If these are not sufficient to distract you, some airlines conduct programmes for those they call 'fearful flyers'. These seminars consist of recorded tapes offering advice on relaxation techniques, statistical information on how safe flying really is, group discussions in which everyone is encouraged to discuss their fears, and simulated recordings of the sounds to be expected in flight.

Familiarisation is the key concept behind all of these behaviourist therapy programmes. Instruction in rhythmic deep breathing and sometimes even hypnosis can also help in learning to control the physical signs of anxiety. A graduate of one of these programmes confirmed its beneficial effects: "I enjoyed the course, especially sharing my misgivings with other people and discovering I wasn't alone with my fears. At the end of the course, we actually went up on a one-hour flight and I was able to apply all the techniques I had learned. In fact, I actually managed to enjoy the flight - something I would not have ever believed I could do."

A certain amount of anxiety about flying is to be expected. For most people, a long- distance flight is not something they do every day. On the other hand, there is always a first time for everyone - even for those who have chosen to make flying their career. The more you fly, the more likely you are to come to terms with your fears. Some anxiety is inevitable, but in the case of flying it is best to remember that the statistics are on your side.