National Association of Social Workers

Helping Clients Soar the Wild Blue Yonder

Millions Suffer Acute Anxiety About Flight

A survey shows that 35 percent of Americans are afraid of air travel.

By John V. O'Neill, MSW, News Staff

Illustration: John Michael Yanson

Not many social workers establish practices specializing in fear of flying, although tens of millions of people have such acute anxiety about air travel that it severely limits their lives, say experts in the field.

One well-known exception is Tom Bunn, a retired airline pilot and clinical social worker from Trumbull, Conn., who has attracted media attention and runs a busy practice on the telephone helping people take to the air without undue stress.

Though research shows that air travel is safer than any other common mode of transportation, millions are so afraid that they forgo flying altogether, and millions more fly only with great trepidation. A 1999 Harris Poll showed that 35 percent of Americans are afraid of flying — 14 percent very afraid, and 21 percent somewhat afraid. With U.S. Census Bureau figures showing a population of 284 million in 2002, that could mean 39 million are very afraid to fly, and another 59 million are somewhat afraid.

Changing levels of terrorism alerts and flight delays because of intelligence about terrorist threats to specific routes further add to the cold chill many feel when facing the need or desire to fly.

Yet those afraid of flying are not an easy group to serve because, on the one hand, they are afraid that clinical or relaxation approaches won't work and they won't be able to fly and, on the other hand, ironically, afraid they will work and they will be able to fly, said Bunn. He was a pilot for Pan American for 20 years and United Airlines for 10 years before retiring in 1996 at age 60.

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From February 2004 NASW News. © 2004 National Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.