Brussels Airlines pilots and psychotherapists treat aviophobia

At the start of the autumn holidays, many guests choose to fly to their destination. Still, a significant number of people suffer from fear of flying to some degree. Fortunately, fear of flying is one of the most treatable phobias. Brussels Airlines offers a course, teaching how to cope with aviophobia, and it has a success rate of more than 80%.  

Many people who are afraid to fly avoid traveling by air but for others who need to travel for work or have plans for a holiday far from home flying is inevitable. Besides that, the number of passengers travelling by air is only growing. Therefore, Brussels Airlines offers a two-day course, teaching participants techniques in order to cope with their fears and to feel comfortable during their journey by plane. The course is given by Psychotherapists of The Human Link in cooperation with Brussels Airlines pilots and flight attendant Jan Verbeke. More than 80% of those who take the course overcome their fears and board a plane again after.

The fear of flying therapy was created by Brussels Airlines, the University of Ghent and Brussels Airport  and offers the best possible chances of success. The treatment includes a theoretical day and a flying day. With courses about fear and about flying and with a visit of an actual plane, pilots and professional therapists make everything visual and tangible. During the second day of the course, participants take two flights to put everything they have learned into practice, under the supervision of the psychotherapists and therefore trained cabin crew. During both flights, participants practice the different techniques they have learned during the theoretical course and the therapists challenge them to confront their fear.

“Helping someone overcome their fear gives me a wonderful feeling. By shedding light on the technical aspects of flying, I try to rationalize their fear. I want participants to feel confident in the air and make them enjoy flying.”

• Luc Michiels, A320 captain

“The fight with anxiety is one you always loose. That is why we will never teach anyone how to fight their fears, but instead we teach participants how to cope with their fears, and be comfortable with them. The most important message is that it is OK to be afraid.”

• Barbara Depreeuw, Psychotherapist at the Human Link

Since 2006, Brussels Airlines organizes the Fear of Flying course. Find more information and register to the course on brusselsairlines.com/nofeartofly.