Scared of flying? There’s an app for that. Virgin Atlantic has created the Flying Without Fear Course app that reassures those who are afraid of airline travel. People scared of flying can now press a button on their iPhone to help them deal with their panic. The app will help people overcome fear from strange noises on a plane to fear of it losing control. The airline developed the app with Mental Workout, a company developing software to help people resolve issues and increase mental performance. The Flying Without Fear app also has an introduction by Branson, a video-based in-flight explanation of a flight, frequently asked questions, relaxation exercises and a fear attack button for emergencies with breathing exercises.The app retails for $4.99 and is available at the App Store on iTunes.
Capt Tom Bunn LCSW
This “app” is old stuff we used in the Pan Am program in 1975 in a new wr-app-er. It only worked for mild fear of flying cases, so I have spent almost thirty years developing advanced methods that work for serious, even extreme, cases.
Unfortunately, the people who put this app together didn’t even check the research that shows breathing exercises (what this app is based on) are completely useless for fear of flying. (You can see the research by searching using the phrase georgia state fearful flyer.
That is effective help available, but not via this app.