Conquering the Fear of Flying

The fear of flying - aviophobia - is seemingly common to those of us who see the panicked look on the faces of some travelers. The palpable anxiety, the clasped hands, the odd emotional outburst are all different visible signs of a passenger who may be nervous or afraid to fly. Certainly, often it is just that a passenger wants to get on that plane and out of here, but the numbers of people afraid to fly are large.

Think about it - how many people do you know love to fly, or have a smile of comfort when an aircraft bumps around during turbulence. At the same time the numbers who suffer from fear of flying seems an imprecise science. I have read anywhere from 5-40% of all flyers have some degree of fear when it comes to flying.

Given that the fear of flying is a real presence in air travel, tips and resources for conquering this phobia or anxiety may be helpful if you are a nervous flyer, a fearful one, or just get those butterflies in the stomach as you anticipate your flight.

Air Travel Assistance - First Time Flyers and Fear of Flying
Fear of flying courses and treatment

image courtesy of Arlene Fleming