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    Psychology of Fear

    Stop Praying Only on Airplanes

    Written by Alex Gervash, commercial pilot (31 years) and fear of flying specialist (18 years, 16,000+ cases treated)

    Praying only before flights seems spiritual, but it's actually a safety behavior that reinforces fear.

    Stop Praying Only on Airplanes

    Do you pray or make the sign of the cross before takeoff, even though you don't do this before getting in a car or train?

    You might think this is just being cautious. Or spiritual. But here's what's actually happening:

    You're telling your brain: "This situation is uniquely dangerous. I need divine intervention to survive."

    Your amygdala receives the message: "Even I think this is life-threatening. The fear is justified."

    The ritual reinforces the belief that flying requires supernatural protection.

    If you pray regularly in all aspects of life, that's different. That's your spiritual practice.

    But if you ONLY pray before flying, you're creating a "safety behavior" that strengthens your fear.

    What to do instead? If you feel the urge to pray, acknowledge it. Then ask yourself: "Would I do this before driving to the grocery store?"

    If the answer is no, then you're not praying from faith. You're praying from fear.

    And every time you do it, you're teaching your brain that flying is the exception. The danger. The thing that needs special protection.

    Treat flying like any other form of transport. That's how you break the pattern.

    In Short

    Praying only before flights seems spiritual, but it's actually a safety behavior that reinforces fear.

    Alex Gervash - Fear of Flying Expert and Pilot

    About the author

    Alex Gervash

    Pilot & Fear of Flying Specialist

    • Commercial Pilot (31 years aviation experience)
    • Trained in psychology and trauma therapy (EMDR, Somatic Experiencing)
    • Founder of phobia.aero & SkyGuru App

    Alex Gervash leverages 31 years of aviation experience and 18 years specialized in flight fear treatment to bridge the gap between technical aviation safety and nervous system regulation. Having successfully guided over 16,000 individuals through their flying phobia, Alex provides a unique pilot perspective that demystifies every stage of travel, from takeoff to landing fear. His methodology integrates his extensive psychology expertise and training in Somatic Experiencing to help passengers move beyond temporary avoidance and truly overcome fear of flying. To ensure constant in-flight support, he developed the SkyGuru app, while providing comprehensive resources and clinical insights through his platform, phobia.aero.

    16,000+helped
    UN RecognitionNations
    31 Yearsaviation
    Expertexpertise