Up to one third of the world population suffer from a fear of flying, and the majority (according to my research) state turbulence as the main cause of their anxiety. Is turbulence really dangerous? Let's discuss the most common misconceptions.

Firstly, it's important that you know what turbulence really is. There are no such things as 'air pockets'. I'm not sure where this term came from - but it is scientifically impossible to have holes in the air. To put it another way, there is always air below us, above us, and to either side.

There are various causes of turbulence, and these include thunderstorms, clear air turbulence, convective turbulence, and wake turbulence.

Thunderstorms can cause severe turbulence, but they show up on aircraft and ground radars, enabling pilots to actively avoid them for your comfort.

Clear air turbulence often occurs in mountainous areas, and in or around jet streams. The easy way to describe this is by directly comparing the activity of air compared to water as both act in a very similar way. Just as water can be disturbed by foreign objects, air is disturbed by the landscape below.

Think of air as thousands of separate streams flowing alongside, and against each other. When these streams meet the water will be rough, and would cause any boat crossing to move around. The same happens in the air as these separate streams meet, and crash into each other.

Convective turbulence occurs in daylight, and more so in slightly warmer climates. As you are aware hot air rises, and cool air falls. In warm weather the sun heats the air forcing it to rise, before it cools again and falls. What we are left with is a mixture of air rising and falling. This movement often causes turbulence at lower levels and is more likely to be felt during the descent.

Wake turbulence is caused by objects moving through the air. Ever wondered why there is a two minute gap between departing aircraft? A Boeing 747 disturbs the air so much, that it would be more than uncomfortable to take-off directly after it had powered down the runway.

So, is turbulence dangerous? Only if you are drinking hot coffee without a lid, or walking around the aircraft cabin whilst the seatbelt signs are illuminated.

Will turbulence cause damage to the aircraft? No, absolutely not. Aircraft are designed to withstand far greater than they will ever encounter.

The biggest misconception that passengers have seems to be the idea that the pilots are fighting to keep control of the aircraft during turbulence. You will be pleased to hear that this is not the case. It's very rare that the autopilot will be switched off, as it's perfectly capable of handling the conditions on its own.

What may feel like falling hundreds of feet to you, will barely even register on the altimeter. The plane moves nowhere near as much as you may think it does.

Do you have a crippling fear of flying and need help overcoming your fear? I am dedicated to helping you at my site, so visit Flying Fear http://www.flyingfear.net/ now for support. Feel free to contact me at any time if you need specific questions answered.