fear of flying

  • Scared Of Flying? Read This

    As the New York Times reported Tuesday,?2012 was the safest year in aviation history since 1945, according to the Aviation Safety Network. The report, which was released in January, stated that for the year 2012, there were?23 total fatal accidents, much lower than the ten-year average of 34. In fact, Tuesday will mark four years since the last commercial plane accident in America, when?Colgan Air flight 3407 crashed en route to Buffalo.

  • UPDATE: Fear Of Flying Leaves Boy Stranded

    UPDATE 8/28/12: Joe Thompson, the young British boy stranded in the UAE due to an overwhelming fear of flying,?has yet to leave the country as he is now afraid of all types of travel, reports The National. "Joe’s in an emotional mess and needs help," his father Tony Thompson told Daily Mail. Multiple attempts at leaving the UAE via land routes and a shot and flying with Thompson sedated proved fruitless, and only stressed the boy more.

  • Erica Jong's 'Fear Of Flying' Goes Digital

    NEW YORK-- Erica Jong is the latest author to embark on a different kind of digital path. Jong has signed with the electronic publisher?Open Road Integrated Media?to release the e-book version of her million-selling classic "Fear of Flying." The new edition goes on sale Tuesday, Open Road announced. Novels such as "Fear of Flying" and "The Color Purple" are especially valuable for publishers since they remain widely taught decades after their release.

  • Do you fear when you fly? There's an app to help that.

    Fear of flying is nothing to laugh about. Having a panic attack while on an airplane, or not being able to even board a commercial flight because of fear, are both more common than most people would imagine. One solution is to learn how to relax, and to become knowledgeable about the sights, sounds, and feelings of flying. Virgin Atlantic has had an amazing 98% success rate in curing fear of flying though its Flying Without Fear classes. These are seminars held throughout the UK that provide flight knowledge through a Q&A session with Virgin Atlantic flight crews, followed by a psychology session to make attendees aware of what makes them afraid and provide techniques to combat the fear. At the end of the day, attendees are taken on a short flight to try out their new knowledge and prove to themselves that they can fly without becoming paralyzed with panic. To reach a much larger audience, Virgin Atlantic has just released the Flying Without Fear app [US$4.99, iTunes Link]. While the app doesn't include a visit from a flight crew or a psychologist, it's designed to make the techniques that have been so successful in Virgin Atlantic's in-person classes available to owners of the iPhone and iPod touch. Virgin Atlantic President Sir Richard Branson provides a video introduction, followed by video-based explanations of what's going on at every phase of your flight. There's a built-in FAQ section with answers to questions such as "What if all the engines fail?", a set of relaxation exercises, and even a fear attack button (at right) for those scary situations that can occur in flight. Of course, the app can't be run during takeoff and landing when you're asked to "turn off all electronic devices," but hopefully you'll gain enough confidence through using the app prior to your flight that you'll be able to stay calm. [via CNET]

  • Wolfson Over Fear Of Flying -- Destined For State?

    With Hillary Clinton seemingly locked up for the post of Secretary of State, several Democratic sources have begun speculating that her long-time communications hand, Howard Wolfson, would be brought on board to help with the task. A seasoned press flack who Clinton implicitly trusts -- and, it should be added, who is more than capable of handling the job of State Department spokesperson -- Wolfson is a naturally good fit. Well, it turns out, Wolfson no longer suffers aviophobia.

  • Leave Silda Alone! Erica Jong Tells People To Butt Out On "Reliable Sources"

    Jong was incredulous that so many people felt it was their place to judge, opine, psychoanalyze or otherwise comment on a private marriage, as well as the decision of Silda Spitzer to stand by her man.