Next week we are flying UA JAX-IAD-CHO and back. I just recently found out that our flight from IAH-CHO and CHO-IAD is a prop plane. I am terrified of flying on a plane like this. I can change my flight to remove the IAD-CHO and CHO-IAD portions and just drive, but it's going to cost me. So I guess I'm trying to determine if it's worth it or not.

In my younger professional life, I spent years of traveling 100K miles annually but about 8 years ago I developed a fear of flying. It generally revolves around turbulance and sudden plane shifts. I am certainly able to fly but panic does set in pretty hard when we hit turbulance of any kind. It's been years since I've been on a turbo-prop type plane and I don't know if I can handle it.

Are these types of aircrafts safe and can they sustain wind shifts and turbulance? I mean, obviously they can or they wouldn't fly, but I need to hear it from someone who flies a lot. It's a short flight so I just need to get through about 45 minutes.

Any support or advice you can provide would be much appreciated.