Helicopter rides in New York City are not an experience you’ll soon forget. Offering striking vistas of one of the most famous cities in the world and unique viewpoints of notable buildings and monuments, helicopter rides in New York City are like a handcrafted chocolate: a treat to be savored!
Unfortunately, many people with a fear of flying miss out on this quintessential New York experience. If fear is holding you back from experiencing the thrill of helicopter rides in New York City, this post is for you. We’ve put together top tips for dealing with the fear, hopefully making it easier for you to take the next step and book a ride!
1. Realize you’ll have to work through some difficult emotions. Many first-hand accounts from people who’ve conquered their fear of flying talk about setbacks. It’s important to be realistic from the outset, and give yourself enough time before your helicopter tour to adequately deal with the fear.
2. Learn as much as you can about helicopters. Helicopters are impressive machines, renowned for their ability to fly in areas that airplanes cannot. While they have excellent safety records, they can sometimes make strange noises and movements! Find some videos on Youtube about how helicopters work and what they’re like while in the air. This will help you to better prepare for the unknown experience of flying in a helicopter.
3. Practice self-relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety. If you’re feeling anxious about anything, one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself is to ask yourself this: Am I breathing? Just the act of asking will signal to your brain that it needs to calm down and breathe, and should immediately help you to relax. There are many other techniques out there. Figure out what works for you, and imagine using it during various helicopter rides in New York City.
4. This brings us to the next technique, which is visualization. Spend time each day imagining you are in the helicopter flying over the Statue of Liberty. Think about what it will feel like, sound like, look like and smell like. If you feel your anxiety rising, use your self-relaxation techniques.
5. If you feel you need more help, many commercial airlines offer courses to help get over a fear of flying. While these are often specific to airplanes, rather than helicopters, the idea is the same.
Have you gotten over your fear of flying? We’d love to hear how in the comments.
