Bruce Dickinson Shows You How Not To Be Afraid Of Flying
via Iron Maiden / Youtube
Bruce Dickinson, the renowned lead singer of Iron Maiden and a licensed commercial pilot, recently shared his advice on how to overcome the fear of flying in an interview with Janne Innanfors of the Swedish radio station Rockklassiker.
Bruce Dickinson’s Insights on Overcoming Fear of Flying
Dickinson, who understands the anxiety surrounding air travel, acknowledged that many people are nervous flyers for valid reasons and emphasized that there is nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to fear of flying.
“Loads of people are nervous flyers — for perfectly valid reasons, ’cause if you’re a nervous flyer, you’re a nervous flyer. There’s nothing to be ashamed about,” Dickinson reassures.
Drawing from his own experience and knowledge as a pilot, Dickinson stressed the importance of education and gaining a better understanding of the flying process. He emphasized that fear of flying can be mitigated through experience and education.
“There are ways of trying to cope with it and deal with it and mitigate it and, in some cases, just eliminate it altogether. It just depends on what it is you’re frightened of and how frightened you are and what steps you take to treat it, as it were. And mostly it’s about just experience and education,” Dickinson advises.
Dickinson also mentioned the existence of fear-of-flying courses, often offered by airlines, as valuable resources for individuals seeking to ease their anxiety. He highlighted the effectiveness of British Airways’ comprehensive course, which includes practical experiences in simulators and mock-up airplanes.
“There are ways of trying to cope with it and deal with it and mitigate it and, in some cases, just eliminate it altogether… And mostly it’s about just experience and education,” Dickinson explains.
Participants in these courses are guided through various aspects of flying, such as understanding specific sounds, safety procedures, and emergency protocols. Dickinson emphasized the importance of knowing why certain actions are taken during a flight, providing an example of why passengers are required to raise their window blinds upon takeoff and landing.
View this post on Instagram
Bruce Dickinson’s Anecdote on the Importance of Training and Composure
Dickinson recalls a notable incident to illustrate the effectiveness of proper training and adherence to safety protocols. He mentions an accident where a Boeing 787 landed unexpectedly on top of a Coast Guard airplane, causing it to burn to the ground. To everyone’s astonishment, everyone on board survived.
“There was a terrible accident recently where a 787 landed on top of a — it was a Coast Guard airplane, I believe. And the airplane basically just burnt to the ground. Everybody survived that crash and got out, which is a testament to great training, no panic, and great, great crew training,” Dickinson highlights.
Such incidents highlight the importance of well-trained crews and passengers who remain calm during unexpected situations. By sharing this story, Dickinson emphasizes that air travel, when handled correctly, is extremely safe and statistically much safer than traveling by car.
“The good thing is on the occasions that it has happened, most people who tell the story are people who walked away from the airplane that had that incident happen… You’re way, way, way better off sitting in an airliner than you are driving around in traffic — trust me. You’re much safer, in my opinion,” Dickinson reassures.
A fear of flying, commonly known as aerophobia or aviophobia, affects an estimated 2.5 percent of the global population. However, general anxiety related to flying is far more prevalent. Dickinson’s insight offers hope to those who find themselves crippled by this fear, emphasizing that there are strategies and resources available to alleviate anxiety and ultimately overcome the fear of flying.
View this post on Instagram
Bruce Dickinson’s Dedication to Aviation and Safety
Beyond his role as a pilot and musician, Dickinson exhibits a genuine passion for flying. He expresses the satisfaction derived from successfully completing a flight and ensuring the safe transport of passengers.
“When it comes to being an airline pilot, you are taking people safely from A to B. That’s great. The fact that people don’t clap you afterwards is irrelevant, really. As long as you do the job, then that’s great,” Dickinson shares.
Dickinson’s dedication to flying is further exemplified by his involvement in transporting Iron Maiden and their crew during world tours using their own plane, aptly named Ed Force One. As an avid aviator, Dickinson obtained his commercial pilot’s license in the 1990s and even ventured into setting up an aircraft maintenance company, Cardiff Aviation, in 2012.
In conclusion, Bruce Dickinson provides invaluable insights and advice for individuals struggling with the fear of flying. By advocating for education and familiarization with the flying process, he encourages a sense of control and understanding that can help mitigate anxiety.
“I’ve flown a number of different airplanes, and once you’re doing the job, you’re not the passenger anymore. You’ve got different things to worry about. So you have to understand how the airplane works,” Dickinson advises.
Dickinson’s own passion for flying and extensive experience as both a pilot and musician lend credibility to his advice. With his reassuring words and success stories, Dickinson provides a beacon of hope for those hoping to overcome their fear of flying and embrace the joys of air travel.
