If you have a fear of flying you probably don't understand why anyone would enjoy getting into a plane, strapping themselves in and feeling the rush of power as the plane shoots into the sky with you inside. In fact the mere thought is enough to make you breathe faster and start sweating. You feel this way because your irrational fear is your basis of information. There are others out there who actually LOVE to fly and would gladly do it everyday if given the opportunity. There are people who are so excited about flying they watch planes every chance they can. They study them, photograph them and imagine themselves inside one as it leaves the runway. They're actually sad that they don't get to fly that day. They wish they had somewhere to go just so they could take a plane to get there!

Fearful flyers take note: you should turn the object of your fear into your passion. You can join this elite rank of flying enthusiasts by studying these planes that terrify you so much.

I like to visit a website called airliners.net. There is a very active forum on that site full of people who are fanatics (in a good way) about air travel. They have members who regularly go to airports just to take pictures of planes arriving and departing. They love the sound of engines spooling up, the rush of air as the plane goes by. They schedule photo shoots with other members and meet at the airport just to take airplane pictures!

People who love airplanes and flying read everything they can about how planes fly. They know far more than the average flyer and as a result they know these machines are something to be enjoyed not feared. If you were to look at planes through the eyes of those who love them you'd see that flying is something wonderful and you'd recognize that your fears are unfounded and based on faulty information.

Take charge, take action. Don't let this fear beat you. Determine exactly what you're afraid of and learn about those specific parts or processes. Study them, engross yourself in them. Talk to experts, read forum posts, take pictures, take a class, meet the professionals. Do whatever it takes to turn your fear into your passion and you'll soon forget that it was ever a fear in the first place.

Heather Peters is a recovering fearful flyer who runs fear of flying tips in order to help others overcome their fear of flying. The site is a commentary and directory of the resources available to fearful flyers.

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