A flying expert has revealed that the whirring and beeping noises you may hear during a flight can have secret meanings.
Since the mid 1990s Paul Tizzard has helped more than 30,000 people conquer their fears of flying through a course in partnership with Virgin Atlantic.
He has helped people with extreme anxiety get on a flight once more, meaning they're able to visit family and friends, go on holiday and make important life events.
One of the ways the fearful-flyer-whisperer soothes nerves is by providing a full rundown of everything that will happen once you're on a plane, from the moment you step on the plane to the moment you get off.
He says this method proves to be very successful with those who are terrified of the flying experience.
Part of the check-list involves going through the sounds that are regularly heard on commercial jets, many of which can be quite disconcerting if you're in an elevated state of fear.
"The main ones take place during take off while you have that feeling of being pushed back into your seats," Paul told The Mirror.
"The whirring noise of flaps moving in and out of the wing, which can be worrying when you look out and see gaps in the slats.
"Then there is the sound of the undercarriage coming up at 15,000 feet after take off, then the nose dips slightly and the engine goes quieter.
"That feels like the plane is sinking and the engine is turning off, but actually it's still climbing, just at 12 or 11 degrees rather than 15. That is a classic."
According to Paul a lot of people worry about the "bings and bongs" that they hear coming out of the plane intercom.
"They worry it's a secret message, that three bongs mean emergency", he said. "These rumours get out there and take hold, so people sit in there listening."
Paul denied that the beeps ever mean anything so ominous and that the crew has a legal duty to tell passengers if there are any issues they need to be aware of.
However, he admitted that flight attendants do listen out for some specific beeping noises, as it can be an easy means of communication on a busy flight.
"There are beeps meaning 'flight crew take your seats' because it saved them time," he continued.
It is estimated that one in five people suffer from a fear of flying, meaning millions of people are missing out on travelling the world, exploring new destinations and even visiting friends and family.
Virgin Atlantic has partnered with Lovefly to help people to face their flying fears including face to face courses, webinar courses, 30-day self-help programs, social media support groups and a free Lovefly podcast with episodes featuring Virgin Atlantic pilots, cabin crew and more members of staff.
You can find out more on www.lovefly.co.uk. There is a variety of courses and free assistance exclusively for Virgin Atlantic customers.
