I’m a British Airways captain – and these facts will help you overcome your fear of flying, from how far a plane can slide to why turbulence doesn’t worry you

Can’t mentally shake the fear of flying?

Then allow us to introduce you to the ultimate ally in this common struggle: Captain Steve Allright of British Airways.

The (aptly named) pilot runs the BA “Fly with Confidence” course for nervous pilots – and shares here some aviation facts that will help ensure your next flight is fear-free, from a plane’s glide distance to why turbulence is nothing to worry about not to be.

How concerned should passengers be about turbulence?

Captain Allright tells MailOnline Travel: “Our main takeaway from British Airways’ Flying with Confidence course is ‘Turbulence is uncomfortable but never dangerous’.

“All modern commercial aircraft are incredibly robust and can handle a lot of turbulence. Designers have known since the early years of aviation what matters, and many safety factors are higher than any other mode of transportation.

Also, and crucially, new planes are put through their paces before being approved to carry passengers. In our Flying with Confidence course, we show a Boeing 787 in a test rig, stretching the wings further than they would ever experience in even the worst turbulence. Together with the above statement, our customers find this very reassuring.’

How far can a plane fall, even in turbulence?

Captain Allright says, “Definitely not the thousands of feet you hear people talk about or see in some movies. Usually only about 10 to 20 feet in turbulence, although it can be more in severe turbulence.

“It is important to emphasize that your pilots are trained to deal with turbulence and severe turbulence is extremely rare. I’ve been flying for 32 years and I’ve only experienced severe turbulence once.”

What is the main purpose of wearing seat belts during turbulence?

Captain Allright says: “We don’t want people to get hurt by falling over in turbulence. We always stress that customers should always follow the crew’s advice and instructions.”

Are there parts of the aircraft where the effects of turbulence are less severe?

Captain Allright says: “Our core principle of British Airways’ Flying with Confidence course is ‘Turbulence is uncomfortable, but never dangerous’. Allright is captain of the 787 (above)

Captain Allright says: “Shallow. You may have a little less movement near the center of some aircraft, but it’s negligible – the main thing to remember is that turbulence can be uncomfortable, but not dangerous.”

What is that loud beep you hear after the plane comes out of the gate?

Captain Allright says: “This is known as the Airbus ‘barking dog’ sound. We give a full course explanation and talk to customers about any in-flight noises that give extra reassurance, but in reality it’s the sound of the aircraft’s hydraulic power system working. More importantly, it’s completely normal, like so many noises that anxious pilots on airplanes can worry about. We encourage participants in our courses to assume everything is normal, unless told otherwise.”

Some people worry that a plane is just “too heavy to take on”…any words of comfort for that?

Captain Allright says: “Pilots carefully calculate the speed at which it is safe to take off, using very advanced technology to ensure the aircraft’s weight is correct. It is checked and double checked and it applies to every aspect of our security procedures and checklists.”

Some get scared after take off because it sounds like the engines are going to stop at a certain height…

Captain Allright says: “We spend quite a lot of time explaining it on course because it’s quite complicated. In short, the balancing system in your inner ear plays tricks on you when we reduce power after takeoff, because we don’t need as much power when drag is reduced after landing gear is retracted. Everything quite normal.”

Is there a risk that the plane will run out of fuel?

Captain Allright says: “We always reassure those on the Flying with Confidence course that the aviation industry always has the very highest safety margins in mind. With a flight time of at least 30 minutes, aircraft always have sufficient landing capacity on board, even after a turn around and a detour. It is regulated by law and an enormous amount of planning goes into each flight, for example the choice of diversion airports should this be necessary. Everything is carefully planned in advance.”

What if the engines fail?

Captain Allright says, “The wings make airplanes fly, not the engines. An airplane flying at 30,000 feet can hover 100 miles even with all engines out.”

Can a plane land if all the wheels are broken?

Captain Allright says: “Yes. Although such a scenario is highly unlikely, safety is always the primary concern – so pilots train extensively for a variety of possible emergency scenarios.

Commercial aircraft are incredibly well maintained, says Captain Allright, and are checked by pilots and engineers before each flight

“It’s worth remembering that pilots are the most trained and regulated professionals in the world and are thoroughly tested on the flight simulators every six months.

“We invest heavily in training – at British Airways we have a world-class training facility with 14 full-motion flight simulators. Commercial aircraft are also incredibly well maintained and checked by pilots and engineers before each flight. Routine maintenance is performed at regular, specified intervals by qualified technicians.”

Should passengers be concerned if cabin lights are flashing?

Captain Allright says, “No, not at all, because it’s good. It’ll probably just be a temporary transfer of power from different power sources.”

Any advice for people still feeling nervous?

Captain Allright says: “We encourage anyone who has a fear of flying to join us on the British Airways Flying with Confidence course. We have decades of experience helping nervous flyers and during that time we have helped over 50,000 people overcome their fear. It is also important to remember that all our crews are trained to assist nervous travelers so they can assist customers who may feel anxious on board. There is also a reassuring ‘Flying with Confidence’ video on our in-flight entertainment system on every long-haul British Airways flight.”