Fear of flying treatment programs for passengers: an international review

There are facilities established around the world for treating passenger flight anxiety, often as a joint activity of airlines and private entrepreneurs or mental health professionals. In the scientific and professional literature, there is little information about how these facilities operate and what the components of their treatment programs are. This paper is the first review to date to provide this information.

There were 212 airlines and treatment facilities approached for information on treatment programs for flying phobia, 43 of which were active in this field. Extensive information could be obtained from 15, which were the best known and well-developed. Information was collected both with a questionnaire and by meeting representatives from 15 international fear of flying treatment facilities that participated in the First International Conference on Fear of Flying (Feb. 1996).

Fear of flying among passengers is a phenomenon with epidemic proportions, effecting roughly 10-40% of the adult population. All treatment programs share two basic elements, an information component and a test flight. The programs vary considerably in terms of treatment components. However, there is little available information on efficacy.

To date there is a wide variety between facilities for the treatment for fear of flying in terms of methods and protocols used. Experts agree on the clear-cut need for standardization of a "best" minimum protocol for fear of flying treatment programs for which the main components where identified.