Within the BA course for nervous fliers that helps people with an extreme fear of flying

One woman has avoided flying for more than 20 years. Another has a panic attack when she gets on a plane. Several people say they have to drink alcohol to get through a flight.

Right now they are sitting in a crowded hotel room in front of British Airways pilot Steve Allright, hoping that he – together with a psychologist – will help them overcome their extreme flight phobia for good.

I witness their progress as I join them on British Airways’ Flying with Confidence course, an intensive daytime program designed to help people overcome their fear of flying. Besides feeling tense during turbulence, I don’t fall into the category of a classic nervous flier, but I’m here to find out how the program at London’s Heathrow Airport has helped more than 50,000 people over the past three decades.

Their fear was so acute that a previous contestant refused to enter department stores – seeing suitcases in the baggage section was too disturbing. For others, the sight of the Heathrow Airport sign on the M4 motorway can be a disturbing experience.

Taking a holistic approach to combat aviation anxiety, the course is divided into three phases. There is a technical session with pilots and crew, a psychology session and finally a short flight aboard a BA jet with running commentary from Allright, a Dreamliner captain who has been flying for 32 years and has led the BA course for 30 years.

The day begins with registration at the hotel, next to Terminal 5. When I arrive, I see a tearful participant being comforted by one of the 30-strong program teams. Allright tells me that morning tears are common – just being in an airport can be challenging for people.

There are more than 100 participants in the main hall, while some participants have chosen to take the ‘Primary Plus’ course, a more intimate session in groups of 10. We meet the team that will look after us on this day , from A380 First Officer Stuart Beech to recently retired Captain Gordon Black.

Allright asks the audience, “How many of you are excited about investigating plane crashes?” Hands shoot into the air, to which Allright says, “Stop that.”

Laughter runs through the crowd.

Allright clicks through a presentation telling us how to train to be a pilot, describing it as “the most regulated profession in the world.” We’ve been told no matter how intense the flight attendant training process is – ‘it’s not all tea, coffee, chicken or beef,’ says a BA crew member.

The team is very aware of the concerns of nervous fliers and makes every effort to address individual fears. The plane’s wings won’t fall off, we’re told. One segment focuses on normalizing the sounds we hear during flight, such as the rumbling sound that can occur when the speed brakes are activated.

There’s a whole chapter on turbulence explaining why it’s not a cause for concern as long as you fasten your seatbelt properly. We repeat the mantra: “Turbulence is uncomfortable but not dangerous.”

We break for lunch and the atmosphere is cheerful as everyone shares their experiences flying over plates of salad and chicken skewers.

From people in their twenties to retirees, people of all ages take the course. Everyone’s anxiety level is different. I speak to a man who says he just wants to go on summer vacation without fear of the flight there and back. One entrant is a BA Gold Club member who flies around the world for work. Another person is afraid to fly because of his severe nut allergy – he is worried about an airborne allergic reaction. For many, the claustrophobia of being on an airplane is the problem.

A woman says she used to work as a ground crew at the airport and she didn’t get nervous about flying until later in life. A second participant is determined to face her fear that her son is moving to America and she wants to visit him, while a third hopes to fly over to a newborn grandchild abroad. People seem to draw strength from the togetherness of the experience. It’s comforting to meet people who are more scared than you, one woman tells me.

After lunch, Captain Nigel Willing and First Officer Rebecca Panther tell us about the flight we’ll be taking later in the afternoon, leaving the floor open for questions.

“How concerned are you about birds?” someone asks, to which the pilots reply, “Not at all.” Frozen chickens and turkeys are run through aircraft engines to test how they can withstand a bird strike, they explain.

Then the psychology portion of the day begins with Dr. Keith Stoll, who has been taking the course since 1989. To calm the nerves, he teaches us a breathing technique to practice mid-flight – exhale and then inhale as we clench our buttocks. .

Dr. Stoll tells us to focus on learning to deal with the fear of flying around. Don’t beat yourself up about the fear, he says, but recognize and challenge your negative thoughts. Anxiety is normal, he says.

The segment ends with a meditative session where we close our eyes and visualize the plane journey we are about to take. When we open our eyes again, it’s time for the part most people have dreaded. We are directed to the airport departure lounge for our flight, which will head for Southampton before returning. My plane ticket says we’re flying from London to a ‘fictitious point’ and the departure board simply says ‘Heathrow’.

Everyone boards the A320 and takes their seats. Faces are serious and there are a few tears. I’m told that a few people have decided not to get on the plane, but that’s normal.

I hear a woman in front of me tell her seatmate that she feels lost without her noise-canceling headphones and sedatives. “I have no armor,” she says.

Allright narrates the whole start and walks us through every little sound we hear, every movement we feel. He points to the “barking dog” sound the plane’s hydraulic pump makes and identifies the increasing speeds at which we travel. Every other sentence is interrupted by the sentence ‘everything is normal’.

When takeoff is complete, applause erupts. Staff move around the plane checking people in and soon the cabin fills with chatter. Festive shortbread cookies are distributed.

Allright’s commentary continues before landing, informing us when the autopilot is disconnected and the landing gear is deployed. As the plane hits the tarmac, more clapping echoes through the cabin.

The relief is palpable.

Allright congratulates everyone and tells us that there are three passengers on board who have not flown in over 20 years. “It really is the first day of a whole new chapter in your life,” he announces.

I see the pride on people’s faces as they step off the plane. The woman who cried at the start of the day is met with dry eyes by her waiting partner upon arrival. As I board the tube back to central London, I hear a few attendees talk about how much the course has eased their nerves.

The course is by no means a panacea for a flight phobia, but it successfully guides people towards overcoming their fear. Just showing up takes a lot of courage, but that courage is rewarded tenfold.

British Airways runs Flying with Confidence courses in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, New York and Dubai. The next course with availability at London Heathrow is on 8 July. Tickets are £385. Visit flywithconfidence.com/courses.