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Conquer Your Fear Of Flying With Virgin Atlantic's New iPhone App

November 3, 2009 at 11:29 AM | by | Comments (2)

Afraid of flying? Well, you're reading the wrong blog then—ha! But seriously for a moment, if you do have any hesitations about flyin,g or just need answers questions in your head during takeoff like "is that how the engine is supposed to sound," then have we got a new iPhone travel app for you.

The "Flying Without Fear" app comes from the lovely people at Virgin Atlantic's British program to end fear of flying, which recently got Whoopi Goldberg up in the air. Usually you'd have to pay about $350 per person for the courses and in-person instruction to have Virgin Atlantic pilots and crew help you work through your fears, but this new app is only $4.99 in the iTunes store and it even has breathing routines to relax.

For a little touchscreen program, the Fear of Flying app is actually quite thorough:

The application...begins with a personal introduction from Richard Branson. Complete with video explanations of frequently asked questions, examples of relaxation exercises, breathing routines, and fast tips for battling anxiety, the quick tips are meant to calm travelers on flights. 'My Program' is a personal plan where users can rate their fears and prepare for future flights. Users are also offered 2000 points when they join Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club.

Although we really wouldn't want to have to read an answer to a question like "What if all the engines fail?" at least the answers are there and available. And then, once you get up in the sky, the best cure is to keep on flying.

Related Stories:
· Virgin Atlantic Launches 'Flying WIthout Fear' Application for iPhones [Cheapflights]
· Whoopi Goldberg Can Fly, Thanks To The Teachings Of Richard Branson [Jaunted]
· iPhone Travel Apps [Jaunted]

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Same Old Ineffective Stuff In A New Wr-APP-er

This "app" is the same old stuff used at Pan Am in its course started in 1975 in a new wr-APP-er. It didn't work then - except for the mildest of cases - and it doesn't work now. The basis for the course, breathing exercises which - though useful on the ground, are useless for fear of flying in the air. The people who put this app together didn't even bother to check the research which is at: http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/42/13/25 There are programs that offer effective advanced help for fearful flyers. Unfortunately, this is not one.
Capt Tom Bunn on November 4, 2009 at 10:48 AM #Permalink

Now Now, Tom - Play nicely

If this app (as the article states) is based on Virgin's flying without fear program here in the UK I can personally vouch for it. I'm occasionally asked to help out at these events. At the last one we got 120 people in the air laughing and smiling. The course is NOT based on breathing exercises and I encourage readers to check it out for themselves. Many people are put of seeking treatment because all the common wisdom tells them that the only way to beat the fear is to face the fear. That may have been true once but it certainly isn't now. Just in case any of your readers have a fear of flying (and don't have an iphone), our website has one of the internet's best resources for people with phobias. They can go to the overcome fear of flying section of the phobiaman website where they'll find articles and a free 9 part minicourse that explains just how simple it can be to overcome fear.
phobiaman on November 18, 2010 at 9:05 AM #Permalink

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