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Fear of Flying on Rise: Here’s How Pilots and Doctors Ease Anxiety
Despite a 2025 Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs poll showing that most Americans still view air travel as safe, fear of flying is on the rise. Aviophobia, or an intense fear of flying, is a clinically recognized anxiety disorder that may affect up to 40% of people in industrialized countries.
As someone who has personally experienced a terrifying flight, I understand the impact this phobia can have on one’s mental health and daily life. My own flight scare led to a months-long struggle with fear of flying that took considerable time to resolve. If only I had spoken with a pilot after landing, it might have changed the psychological impact entirely.
Pilots like Lisa Calineau, who answers Dial A Pilot calls, emphasize that many customers trace their fear of flying back to specific traumatic experiences or repeated exposure to news that makes flying seem dangerous. “I like to focus on the rigorous training pilots undergo – from their first lesson to continuous evaluations throughout their careers,” Calineau explains. “Most people know flying is safer than driving, but hearing about a pilot’s personal training often puts them at ease.”
Source: www.forbes.com
