Are pilots ever afraid of heights?

When a pilot is exposed to a fear of heights at high altitude, function and discretion are impaired, especially in tasks that demand concentration like operating aircraft,” says Major Doctor Rinat Yedidya, the lead psychologist of the medical unit for the Air Force.

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Can a pilot be scared of heights?

Pilots with a fear of heights aren't uncommon and in fact, the majority of people who are afraid of heights aren't affected by flying in an aircraft. There is a strong feeling of security when you close the door, and you should feel very comfortable in the hands of an experienced instructor.

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Do pilots ever get scared flying?

Pilots are trained to handle all sorts of nerve-racking situations, but that doesn't mean that they don't get scared—especially in these real instances, told by the pilots who experienced them, of serious in-flight fear.

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Can you fly a plane and be afraid of heights?

It is estimated that 35 percent of all airline crews, flight attendants and pilots, also have either a fear of heights or flying. We do this for a living, so don't worry if you do too. The key is recognizing it and getting it under control.

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Why are pilots not afraid of heights?

There is nothing in the rulebook that says a pilot can't be afraid of heights. As long as they satisfy all the medical, psychometric and legal requirements, they can fly.

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Pilot Scared of Heights

45 related questions found

Is 6 7 too tall for a pilot?

There are in fact no specific limits for what is considered to be too tall or short to be a commercial pilot. We suspect that the misconception has evolved due to the strict restrictions applied in the air force.

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Is 6 5 too tall to be a pilot?

There are no specific height restrictions for pilots under FAA rules. Flight schools and commercial airlines accept pilots for training as long as they are physically able to reach the controls and obtain a full rudder deflection in the aircraft they will operate.

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What percentage of pilots are scared of heights?

It's probably embarrassing to admit it, but if you're like most other pilots, the answer is “Yes.” According to Chaytor Mason, a retired professor of aviation psychology at the University of Southern California, the rate of acrophobia is upwards of 90% in some of the pilot groups he's encountered.

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What happens if a plane flies too high?

Aerodynamic altitude: If a commercial airliner flies too high, it will encounter less dense air passing over the wings to create lift. This can cause the plane to stall and fall out of control. Depending on the weather conditions and aircraft weight, this can occur anywhere between 40,000 and 45,000 feet.

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How high is too high for planes?

The maximum height that a commercial airplane is allowed to reach when they fly is 42,000 feet, as this is the universally approved maximum altitude. This max altitude for airplanes is known as the “service ceiling.” Most commercial air jets fly at such a high altitude because it is known to optimize efficiency.

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Why do planes drop suddenly?

Turbulence, which causes planes to suddenly jolt while in flight, is considered a fairly normal occurrence and nothing to fear. The movement is caused by "atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts, or thunderstorms," according to The Federal Aviation Administration.

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Can turbulence flip a plane?

While turbulence can feel scary, airplanes are designed to withstand massive amounts of it. "A plane cannot be flipped upside-down, thrown into a tailspin, or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket," wrote pilot Patrick Smith on his site, AskThePilot.com.

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What is a pilot's biggest fear?

The biggest fear that pilots have is probably the fear of crashing or having a mechanical failure while in flight. What is your biggest fear as a pilot? Do pilots know where they can and cannot fly? What is your biggest fear when flying on an airplane?

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Is being a pilot high risk?

Although fatalities are uncommon, commercial pilots experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations.

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How high do pilots fly?

According to USA Today, the common cruising altitude for most commercial airplanes is between 33,000 and 42,000 feet, or between about six and nearly eight miles above sea level. Typically, aircraft fly around 35,000 or 36,000 feet in the air. To put that in perspective, the peak of Mount Everest measures 29,029 feet.

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What is the fear of flying in pilots?

Aerophobia is an extreme fear of flying in an airplane. People with aerophobia may be scared about different aspects of flying, such as take-off, landing or getting locked in the plane.

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Can a plane accidentally fly into space?

But some scientists have tried - and succeeded! Two experimental planes - SpaceShipOne and the North American X-15 - have crossed the internationally recognized boundary into space. These planes flew using rockets, instead of jets, meaning they burned liquid fuel instead of air.

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What do pilots see when flying?

Pilots have a unique viewpoint while flying private or commercial aircraft. They get an unobstructed view of stunning natural sights, such as pink lakes and rectangular-shaped icebergs. Some have reported seeing UFOs, while others have flown over swirling hurricanes.

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What happens if a plane lands too hard?

A hard landing has the potential to result in Loss of Control and/or aircraft damage, and will necessitate a manufacturer defined hard landing inspection.

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Do pilots ever get tired of flying?

These surveys revealed that well over 50% of the surveyed pilots experience fatigue as impairing their ability to perform well while on flight duty. The polls show that e.g. 92% of the pilots in Germany report they have felt too tired or unfit for duty while on flight deck at least once in the past three years.

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Do pilots like long or short flights?

Some pilots like to do only short haul, medium haul, or long haul. You cannot generally conclude that all pilots prefer any one of these. The Boeing 747-200/300 was the first to fly shorter sectors, as the Boeing 747-400 was more fuel efficient.

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How many people don't fly because of fear?

Fear of flying afflicts as much as 40 percent of the U.S. population. The nation's armrest-grippers may be heartened to know that “aviophobia” is perfectly normal, and easily treated. Only about 5 percent of Americans have aviophobia so severe that they cannot fly.

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Can I be a pilot with glasses?

Yes, airplane pilots can wear glasses. (And many do.) If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, you can still become a commercial, private, or military pilot.

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How old can a fighter pilot be?

Becoming an Air Force Pilot requires you to meet strict physical, medical, vision and academic requirements. Applicants must achieve qualifying scores on the AFOQT exam, meet all requirements and pass a selection board prior to age 33.

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What is the height requirement for pilot girl?

The minimum acceptable height for a female candidate looking to join the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force is 162.5 cm.

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