Aviation Expert Shares Tips to Ease Fear of Flying

Aviation expert Salim Hijazeen offers guidance to individuals with a fear of flying. He is an associate lecturer in aviation at Swinburne University and uses the institution's flight simulator for training and reassurance. In a session with reporter Chris Zappone, Hijazeen demonstrated piloting an Airbus A320 simulator.

Hijazeen has over 36,000 followers on TikTok, where he shares aviation safety statistics and answers questions. He notes that at any given time, there are typically 13,000 to 15,000 aircraft in the air worldwide, with far fewer incident reports over a decade.

He stated that the chances of a catastrophe are slim.

stated that flying is statistically one of the safest forms of transport. Former United States Federal Aviation Administration staffer Philip Mann stated that the risk of dying on a commercial flight is so low that a passenger would need to fly daily for more than 103,000 years to experience a fatal accident.

In comparison, Australia's national road fatality rate in the 12 months to January 2026 was 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people.

provided several tips:

Aircraft are designed to handle substantial turbulence beyond what passengers typically experience. Pilots maintain constant communication with air traffic controllers. Modern aircraft in Australia feature automation and protection systems to keep flights within normal performance envelopes.

Pilots practice emergency scenarios in simulators and inspect aircraft before every flight. Normal aircraft sounds, such as those from landing gear or hydraulic systems, may concern first-time flyers but are routine. Hijazeen advised observing cabin crew during turbulence, noting that pilots and crew are trained and aim to return home safely.