Out of the many fears one can have, flying is an extremely common one.
One research paper from the University of New England estimates that 40% of Americans have some form of flying-related fear while 5% experience it so severely that they cannot fly at all. And while turbulence almost never means that the plane is in any danger, the feeling of shaking in the air is one of the most common reasons behind flying fears.
Related: A Pilot Program Is Hoping Talking To One Will Ease Fear Of Flying
For those nervous about an upcoming flight, the travel vlogger behind @Aranstravels revealed the best seat on the plane to pick to minimize turbulence — closer to the back of the plane and near or directly over the wing.
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‘Where turbulence is felt a lot less…’
“You need to select a seat over the wing towards back as statistically this area has a survival rate in the unlikely event of a plane crash and it’s where you feel turbulence less as the wings keep the plane balanced compared with the back and front where turbulence is felt a lot more,” Aran says in the video of a KLM (AFRAF) – Get Free Report plane taking off from the runway.
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While there is some debate over whether the back or the front of the plane is worse when it comes to turbulence, the travel TikToker’s suggestion is largely corroborated by industry insiders who suggest sitting nearer but not all the way to the back and trying to find a seat over the wing.
“If you’re looking for the smoothest ride, did you know sitting over the wings on a big aircraft that flies at a higher altitude will work in your favour?” commercial pilot Jonny Knowlson once told Simple Flying. “Being closer to the center of the plane’s mass while forces such as lift, torque, wind, gravity, drag and thrust act upon it will mean you’ll be well placed for a smooth ride.”
Here are some other things you can do to ease your fear of flying
Frequent travelers thus suggest that those with a strong fear of turbulence pay the extra money to preselect their seat in zones statistically likely to feel turbulence less — while the exact seat depends on the configuration of each plane, plane seat maps usually indicate the wing through a small gray “flap.”
Those who select such seats should also know that they will not have the best view from above since they are positioned in between windows rather than right next to one.
With the rise of TikTok, pilots have also been going online to dispel common flying fears. Earlier this year, a commercial pilot named Kyle launched the “Dial A Pilot” program in which those with flying questions can pay $50 to spend 15 minutes chatting with a pilot. Travelers have been turning to it both to ask technical questions like “what causes turbulence?” and more psychological ones such as “how do I not fear flying?”
The pilots who participate use it to supplement their income and feel a closer connection to passengers that is not always possible when one is in the cockpit until the last passenger has left the plane.
