by “When they get off the plane at the end of the day, there are tears of emotion. You hear things like, ‘I’m a changed woman – thank you very much, I can go visit my grandchildren in Australia’.
Captain Steve Allright is speaking about the British Airways Flying With Confidence programme, of which he is director and presenter.
He has been flying for 33 years, 25 of which have been spent as a training captain. As a pilot he has clocked 18,000 hours in the air, and a further 6,000 hours in the simulator – training and testing other pilots. And he puts all that experience to use during a one-day course to trust fearsome publications.
Commercial aviation is safer than ever: last year, no scheduled passenger jets were involved in fatal crashes.
But, says Captain Allright: “All the research shows that one in four have some form of fear of flying, and one in 12 have significant difficulties. So there are literally millions of people around the world who have this fear.”
The disadvantages of aviation anxiety are obvious. People may decide to drive rather than fly, greatly increasing the risks to their safety. Or they may not travel, leaving them without family, business and experience opportunities abroad. Of course, airlines lose business if people are afraid to use their services.
In 1986, two British Airways pilots decided to tackle “aerophobia”. Their initial work has grown into Flying With Confidence, which now offers online courses. But the basis remains the same: a one-day course ending with a short flight provided to participants.
There are three parts to the one-day course, says Captain Allright.
“The morning session is a pilot presentation covering all aspects of commercial aviation, especially turbulence.
“Having run the course for 30-odd years, we know what people want – and we know what makes them tick. So we cover that in detail.
“We start with pilot selection, training and testing. It’s something I’m very passionate about. I describe this as the culmination of two years of intense training and what goes into it, and I describe it in detail.
“People come up to me afterwards and say, ‘I had no idea how much training pilots had’.”
“The afternoon session is with a psychotherapist, sometimes with a clinical psychologist. These professionals help people understand what is going on in their minds and bodies. They give an understanding of adrenaline – fight or flight – and why they have shallow breaths, sweaty palms and a racing heart.” Anxious passengers are taught techniques to break that cycle.
The highlight of the day is a short “there and back” flight on board a standard British Airways Airbus A320 aircraft. The journey takes around 45 minutes and returns to the same airport – alleviating the anxiety that may arise from a one-way flight, with passengers knowing they must take a return flight. The vast majority of course participants go on board the flight; Flying With Confidence has a 98 percent success rate.
“One of the reasons the course works is that the people who come along want to improve. They just need the tools, the knowledge and the psychological techniques to help them get better,” says Captain Allright.
“My amazing team and I get involved because we love to travel. We love to fly. It says in the introduction that we hope to include a little of that in people’s day. It’s a wonderful, wonderful world out there to enjoy.”
Captain Allright is usually accompanied on the flight by his wife and daughter – showing the fearful flyers his complete faith in BA flight safety.
“It’s a bit of a family business for us, because they love helping people out on the course,” he says.
“I usually sit on the flight deck as co-pilot, giving a running commentary on all the sounds and sensations from the moment we push back and start the engines. That seems to be really helpful for people.”
Over the years, over 50,000 people have benefited from the Flying With Confidence course. But many more are reluctant adverts – perhaps 17 million in the UK – and disruption is a major concern.
“Our strapline is: ‘Turbulence is uncomfortable, but not dangerous’,” says Captain Allright.
“I make them do that again with their eyes closed because that’s the truth. That is one of the 100 percent reassurances I can give.
“We have the oceans, which are liquid, and we have this thing called the atmosphere between the planet and space, which is full of air. And that’s where airplanes fly – in the atmosphere, a bit like a submarine in the ocean.
“You’re flying through, if you will, a very thin jelly when you’re in an airplane. All turbulence is caused by changes in wind speed and/or direction.
“Know with 100 percent certainty that even in the most intense turbulence, the plane will not go down. That never happens in modern airplanes.
“Turbulence is a normal part of flying. There’s this big, swirling atmosphere that sometimes just makes a few little ripples, and it’s completely safe. We understand that it’s uncomfortable, and I don’t want people to fall in love with it in one day.”
For many of the participants, stepping away from flying is life-changing, says Captain Allright.
“I run into a lot of people and they say, ‘I wish I had done all these years ago – I’ve wasted so much of my life.’
“I say, ‘Well, never mind – you’ve done it now and you’re free to enjoy the rest of your life. Enjoy traveling. As you know, it’s just one of the most wonderful things we can be blessed with.
“It’s extremely rewarding to make such a difference to people’s lives in one day.”
The next Flying With Confidence day course will take place in London Heathrow on Saturday 23rd March, price £395. There are only a few places left. Further courses will take place during 2024. On British Airways long-haul aircraft, video options include 20 minutes Fly with Confidence film presented by Captain Steve Allright.
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