Fear of flying? Now, there’s an app for that

MANILA, Philippines – Afraid of flying? Thanks to a Dutch research group, there’s an app for that.

The Netherlands-based VALK Foundation on Tuesday, July 3, announced the release of the “Flight App VALK,” an app that aims to help people who have a mild to moderate fear of flying overcome their anxieties.

The Flight App, according to VALK, is “designed to help relax passengers before and during flights,” by giving information ranging from aerodynamics to in-flight cabin sensations, as well as audio exercises.

“When the passenger’s flight stress reaches a panic level, users of the application can access the special panic button, which provides audio and written aid to decrease the stress level immediately,” the group said.

“The fear of flying application we have created, aims to transfer all of the knowledge we have developed through our therapy program over the last two decades into a mobile application that will help ease travelers’ fears,” Dr Lucas van Gerwen, director of the VALK Foundation, was quoted as saying.

The app is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Androd devices, and is currently available in English, Dutch, Portuguese, and Italian. It will soon have apps in more languages, including French and Chinese, the group said. On the Apple App Store, it is priced at US$3.99.

It can be used even while the phone is on flight mode.

The VALK Foundation is a collaboration between the University of Leiden, KLM, Transavia, Arkefly, Martinair, and the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, set up in 1989 and focuses on research about the fear of flying. – Rappler.com