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Do you fear when you fly? There's an app to help that.

by Steven Sande Nov 3rd 2009 at 7:00PM

Fear of flying is nothing to laugh about. Having a panic attack while on an airplane, or not being able to even board a commercial flight because of fear, are both more common than most people would imagine. One solution is to learn how to relax, and to become knowledgeable about the sights, sounds, and feelings of flying.

Virgin Atlantic has had an amazing 98% success rate in curing fear of flying though its Flying Without Fear classes. These are seminars held throughout the UK that provide flight knowledge through a Q&A session with Virgin Atlantic flight crews, followed by a psychology session to make attendees aware of what makes them afraid and provide techniques to combat the fear. At the end of the day, attendees are taken on a short flight to try out their new knowledge and prove to themselves that they can fly without becoming paralyzed with panic.

To reach a much larger audience, Virgin Atlantic has just released the Flying Without Fear app [US$4.99, iTunes Link]. While the app doesn't include a visit from a flight crew or a psychologist, it's designed to make the techniques that have been so successful in Virgin Atlantic's in-person classes available to owners of the iPhone and iPod touch.

Virgin Atlantic President Sir Richard Branson provides a video introduction, followed by video-based explanations of what's going on at every phase of your flight. There's a built-in FAQ section with answers to questions such as "What if all the engines fail?", a set of relaxation exercises, and even a fear attack button (at right) for those scary situations that can occur in flight.

Of course, the app can't be run during takeoff and landing when you're asked to "turn off all electronic devices," but hopefully you'll gain enough confidence through using the app prior to your flight that you'll be able to stay calm.

[via CNET]

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Fear of flying is nothing to laugh about. Having a panic attack while on an airplane, or not being able to even board a commercial flight...
 

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Seth

That is a great idea from Virgin.

Airlines don't do much to help people with this extremely common and powerful fear.

November 04 2009 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CaptTomBunn

This "app" is very old fear of flying treatment in a new wr-APP-er, the same old stuff that was used in the Pan Am course in 1975. Unfortunately, the people who put this app together didn't bother to do enough research to find out that the the basis of the "app" is breathing exercises, and though breathing exercises work on the ground, research shows they are useless for fear of flying. Here's a link to the research: http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full...

There are programs that use advanced methods that do cure fear of flying. But this isn't one of them.

November 04 2009 at 6:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jefftl

I only ever really had any aviation anxiety the first time or two I flew, though I know that it's a bigger challenge for a lot of people. I just remind myself that it's far safer to fly somewhere than it is to drive to the other side of my home city. It also bears consideration that the highest-passenger-volume airline in the world, Southwest, has only ever been associated with one death. This was a kid in the backseat of a car at 55th and Central in Chicago that got squished by a 737 that slid beyond a runway on a snowy December day. The fatality had to do more with Midway Airport not yet having (now they do) sufficient surfaces and/or barriers to arrest a runaway aircraft at the end of its notoriously short runways, and it's likely that the next accident will be something just as improbable. When any airline has an accident, it's international news and gets on Wikipedia. So while I know that phobia is irrational, I've found that logic got me past the butterflies.

November 04 2009 at 2:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
nebagakid

Q "What if all the engines fail?"
A "Your iPhone may break."

DISASTOR!

November 04 2009 at 1:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dave

Reading the caption in the screenshot image, and having just watched the pilot of V on ABC. Um.. I'm wondering if this isn't an app from the Visitors? :)

"This is natural.
We know you're scared.
You will be ok."

November 04 2009 at 12:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Urbz

I will never understand the fear of flying.
Anyone care to explain *why* you're scared to fly?

November 03 2009 at 10:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Urbz's comment
Max

30,000 reasons.

November 03 2009 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
M

Really? I mean, are you serious? Of all the absurd, illogical, irrational, and odd-ball fears that exist you could 'never understand' how someone could fear flying?

I find that utterly absurd, much more absurd that the fear of flying, which is at least something rational.

November 03 2009 at 11:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Logan

I never turn off my iPhone, I just set it to airplane mode. I honestly don't think anything would happen if I left the cell on (and I'm pretty sure I've read research confirming this fact) but it's one of those, "why take a chance?" things.

November 03 2009 at 9:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Logan's comment
KP

Generally when I fly I put my phone on "airplane mode" cause, you know, that's the point, right?

Only on one flight did they make an announcement like "please turn off your electronic devices, and putting them on 'airplane mode' is not enough." I was perplexed by that. And even more perplexed by how they only said that on one flight of many I took in a short time with the same airline (I think maybe it was Delta).

November 04 2009 at 2:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chocobavits

Afraid to burn $5. There's an app for that.

November 03 2009 at 9:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Maurice Turner

That was the quickest $5 I've spent at the App Store and it's cheaper than a refill of Xanax. Perfect timing too, my flight from LA to Beijing leaves tomorrow morning.
Hope it works as advertised. Whoopi wouldn't lie, right?

November 03 2009 at 9:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
digitalsedition

Hilarious. Just when you actually need to use something to calm you down - you can't get to the app :)

November 03 2009 at 8:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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