Turbulence is Safe: Why Your Brain Disagrees

Q: What is fear of flying and how common is it?

Fear of flying (aerophobia) affects approximately 25-30% of the population to some degree. About 6.5% experience clinical aerophobia that significantly limits their lives. It is one of the most treatable anxiety conditions, with 90%+ success rates using evidence-based approaches.

Q: Can fear of flying be cured?

Yes. Fear of flying responds very well to modern therapy approaches including EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, and Polyvagal-informed therapy. Most people see significant improvement within 6-12 sessions. Over 16,000 people have overcome their fear with Alex Gervash methods.

Q: Is turbulence dangerous?

Turbulence has never caused a modern commercial aircraft to crash. Aircraft are engineered to withstand forces far beyond anything encountered in normal or even severe turbulence. It is uncomfortable, but not dangerous for the plane.

Q: What is the SkyGuru app?

SkyGuru is a real-time flight companion app with 200,000+ users that explains what is happening during a flight in plain language. It also offers 50+ anxiety exercises developed by pilot-therapist Alex Gervash. Free for iOS.

Q: How does a pilot become a fear of flying therapist?

Alex Gervash spent 31 years as a commercial pilot and simultaneously earned a psychology degree and trained in EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, and ACT. This dual expertise means he can explain exactly what happens in the cockpit while also working with the nervous system.

Alex Gervash

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Aviation Safety

Turbulence

Turbulence is Safe: Why Your Brain Disagrees

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

Reviewed by Capt. Alex Gervash, Commercial Pilot and Fear of Flying Therapist. Last updated May 2026. Editorial standards.

Part of: The Complete Guide to Turbulence

When a plane shakes, it's turbulence. A healthy psyche is not concerned with 'could it be something else?' It evaluates probability, not possibility.

Turbulence is Safe: Why Your Brain Disagrees

When a plane shakes, it's turbulence. Other causes of shaking rarely exist; mostly in theory today, with a probability of one in hundreds of millions of flights (per IATA Annual Safety Report). A healthy psyche is not concerned with "could it be that it's not turbulence." It evaluates PROBABILITY, not possibility. Because anything is possible. If the psyche isn't working properly, it may need absolute guarantees. And there are none. Behind the search for absolute assurance is a general feeling of insecurity that about 30% of people live with.

Sources

IATA Annual Safety Report. Per-flight accident rate data for commercial aviation.
NTSB Aviation Accident Database.

Reviewed by Capt. Alex Gervash, Commercial Pilot and Fear of Flying Therapist. Editorial standards.

In Short

When a plane shakes, it's turbulence. A healthy psyche is not concerned with 'could it be something else?' It evaluates probability, not possibility.

About this resource

phobia.aero Expert Team

Aviation & Psychology Specialists

Psychology and trauma therapy professionals
Commercial Aviation Professionals
Fear of Flying Treatment Specialists

The phobia.aero expert team combines decades of aviation expertise with evidence-based psychological treatment methods to help people overcome fear of flying. Our multidisciplinary approach addresses the root causes of aerophobia, flight anxiety, and panic attacks through proven techniques including Somatic Experiencing®, EMDR, and autonomic nervous system regulation. With a collective track record of treating 16,000+ cases, our specialists have developed trusted resources for nervous flyers worldwide.

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