Fear of flying: an overview.

Flying gives the aviator a sense of power and control. Aviators challenge their own skills and test the physical limitations of the plane. They must maintain the balance between fear and joy, sacrifice and love, and risks and rewards of flying in order to continue to fly without reservation. Flying is dangerous. The danger is both real and symbolic, generating fears and anxiety. Interpretation of fear of flying spans from the psychoanalytic-endogenous on one side to the behaviouristic-exogenous on the other side. Unless strictly understood, both models should be taken to consider the interaction between the endogenous and exogenous factors. The therapy of the fear of flying is based on the correlation between the symptoms and underlying dynamics. The prognosis depends on the ability to work through those psychodynamic conflicts. Aviators may continue to fly if the symptoms are minor and the motivation to resolve conflicts is high.