Airport Offers On-the-Spot Fear of Flying Counseling

For aviophobes out there, and there are a lot of them, getting on an airplane is no picnic. The thought of being enclosed in a confined space breathing recycled air and hurtling through the air thousands of miles from the ground is too much for many people.

And in today's jet-set world, being afraid of flying can be a big impediment to a career in business, not to mention reaching your preferred vacation destination.

In western Germany, the world's first outpatient center for those afraid to fly has opened where they need it most, the airport.

The center, run by the German Center for Fear of Flying, offers shaky passengers a free 15-minute instant "last-minute" counseling session, with tips on how to reduce anxiety and information about flying itself, the airline or the country of destination. Those whose fear is of the white-knuckle variety can avail themselves of a 45-minute personal counseling session for 25 euros ($32).

"The advantage to having an outpatients' department at the airport is that passengers can be treated shortly before travel, allowing less time for feelings of panic or fear to rise up again," psychologist Marc-Roman Trautmann, who heads the center, told the ddp news agency.

Sometimes pilots even come by to talk to people about what flying involves, and if there's time, passengers can take a look around the cabin before the flight boards.

Some 30 people have used the service -- more men then women, so far, Trautmann said.

"Many just need a mental kick in the behind," he added. "The last-minute treatment can't cure their fear, but it can help them deal with it."