More than half a million Perth residents have a significant fear of flying that can ruin family holidays and business opportunities. And the number of those with some fear of flying is as high as 70 per cent, according to the German airline Lufthansa. Part of that fear is the unknown of how an aircraft flies and how it is flown and those twin mysteries are the basis of a fear of flying course run by former Emirates captain Peter Chin at Flight Experience. Using a combination of psychologists, airline pilots and a Boeing 737 flight simulator, it is one of the most comprehensive programs available. “The course is designed to give people confidence and the tools they need to reduce their anxiety levels associated with air travel,” Mr Chin said. “It’s a wonderful feeling to see people walking away from completing the course having overcome their fear, with many reporting their anxiety levels drop by as much as 50 per cent.” Perth-born Mr Chin, who has 28 years of airline experience, including 15 years as a captain, designed the four-part course with each stage supervised by a psychologist, an airline pilot or a qualified flight experience instructor. The first stage is a consultation to identify the particular elements of air travel that cause the anxiety. The course is structured to address the issues. “Once participants are comfortable with their progress, they will be introduced to a Boeing 737 simulator and ‘flight deck’ component of the course,” Mr Chin said. “Participants get to choose whether to observe as a passenger or pilot the aircraft as a way to practice their new skills. “Using the flight simulator gives enormous insight into what happens in the cockpit of a commercial airliner, which has proved highly successful for those conquering their fears and flying with confidence. “Turbulence is the most common anxiety people have because it’s an embedded anxiety that has been written into the subconscious mind as well as being a physical fear. “People need to be in control of certain aspects of a flight and we teach them how to manage their control needs.” Mr Chin uses statistics to show how safe flying is. “You would have to fly every day for 19,000 years whereas the chances of being in a car accident on the other hand are one in 20,000,” he said. “You would have to drive every day for just 55 years.”
Full story written by Geoffrey Thomas - The West Australian and story sourced from here https://thewest.com.au/news/aviation/fear-of-flying-perth-residents-can-conquer-flying-fears-while-on-solid-ground-ng-b88886481z
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