San Francisco International Airport's Fear of Flying Clinic: Conquering Aerophobia
Colette Vance, a participant in the San Francisco International Airport's Fear of Flying Clinic, recently prepared for a commercial flight to Seattle. Vance had previously experienced intense anxiety during flights due to claustrophobia, leading her to avoid air travel after college. The difficulties of long-distance ground travel motivated her to address her fear.
The Fear of Flying Clinic is a four-day program designed to assist individuals with aerophobia, a condition affecting approximately 25 million Americans.
The clinic provides gradual exposure to the flying experience, along with training and support from mental health and aviation professionals.
Origins and Mission
Fran Grant and Jeanne McElhatton, both licensed pilots, founded the clinic in 1976. The program initially aimed to help Grant's husband manage his anxiety about turbulence. The clinic is currently run by volunteers, many of whom are former participants, and is one of a few similar programs available nationally.
Addressing the Roots of Fear
Participants report various reasons for their fear, including concerns about aircraft accidents, air traffic controller shortages, past traumatic experiences, and acrophobia. The initial phase of the training focuses on providing information about flight safety. Professionals such as pilots, air traffic controllers, flight attendants, and aircraft maintenance technicians address the group and respond to inquiries regarding aircraft technology and safety procedures.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Reshaping Thoughts
A significant component of the training involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to modify distorted thought patterns. Volunteer psychotherapist Paula Zimmerman uses the "ABC model," where "A" represents an activating event (e.g., turbulence), "B" is the belief associated with it (e.g., turbulence signifies a crash), and "C" is the consequence (e.g., a panic attack).
The therapy explains that turbulence is a normal aspect of flying and does not inherently indicate danger. Participants are taught to reframe their thoughts, such as changing "turbulence scares me" to "I upset myself when there's turbulence."
Gradual Exposure: From Hangar to High Skies
Another key method employed by the clinic is gradual exposure to aircraft. On the second day, participants visit a maintenance hangar and enter a 787 aircraft. Colette Vance, initially experiencing apprehension near an emergency exit door, utilized reframing techniques.
While inside, sitting in a window seat, Vance experienced symptoms of claustrophobia, which she managed through deep breathing and support from her mother and Zimmerman. She later toured the cockpit. This session serves as preparation for the final commercial flight.
The Final Flight and Future Optimism
Vance and other participants subsequently took a commercial flight to Seattle, supported by clinic volunteers, including a retired pilot and a psychotherapist. Vance experienced initial anxiety during the flight but managed it through breathing exercises and the presence of support personnel.
Upon landing in Seattle, the group celebrated. Vance later expressed optimism about future air travel.