General Information
Where and when do the courses take place?
We offer courses at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester. We offer a selection of pre-booked course dates but most courses are booked on request. Please contact us and we will book a date specially for you - even at very short notice if required.
How much does the course cost?
It costs £1280.00 including VAT.
Why is your course more expensive than some other Fear of Flying courses?
Firstly, because of the equipment involved. The full-motion flight simulators we use are worth around £10-million and they cost hundreds of pounds per hour to hire. They are normally used to train airline pilots, but they are also an incredible tool for helping nervous flyers, as they provide them with the only possible opportunity now to sit in a real cockpit and fly with fully trained specialist pilots.
Secondly, the course is just for you and tailored to address your own unique fears and concerns. The sophistication and flexibility of the simulators, allows customers to progress at their own pace and experience what they want or need. Some want to know what causes the noises and sensations. Some want to repeat procedures such as take-offs, so as to understand what is happening and normalise them. Others want to understand what causes turbulence and see how it affects the pilots and the plane. On some occasions, people want to experience a technical fault scenario such as an engine failure, which can be re-created in the simulator. You can experience whatever you need to in the simulator to gain more knowledge about it. We can start and stop the simulator within seconds, so you can face your fear step by step and repeat things to help them become "normal." Therefore the course can be tailored to address peoples' individual fears and concerns and is not a formulaic 'one size fits all' solution.
Finally, there will be at least three experienced members of staff on the course with you and once it is over, you're not 'out of sight out of mind'. Susie will contact you shortly after the course and can also provide follow-up assistance if you feel this would help.
How realistic is the simulator?
People are amazed at how realistic they are. Even if in their heads they know they are in a simulator, they feel as if they are flying. These machines are so realistic that pilots train on them before flying passengers and every six months of their flying careers. They are licenced by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) so they have to meet their stringent accuracy standards.
Why do you use a flight simulator?
Experts agree that flight simulators are an incredible tool for helping nervous flyers overcome their fears. Why? Find out more by reading The Flight Simulator and Course Itinerary pages.
Who are the courses given by?
There are at least three staff on each course; one of our Captains, a First Officer and Susie, our Fear of Flying Course Director. Our pilots are not just experienced at flying; they are pilots who also have a lot of interest and experience in helping nervous flyers conquer their fear.
Can I bring a guest?
You are very welcome to bring a guest with you. However, it's a good idea to consider whether they would be a positive or negative presence for you. Creating an atmosphere that is good for you is important
If I know someone else with a fear of flying, could we come on a course together?
Yes you can. It would mean sharing the focus of attention, but we have worked successfully with couples and friends sharing a course.
Does it cost more if I bring a guest who's also afraid?
No the cost is the same. There is space for you to bring a guest whether they are afraid of flying or not. However, if your guest is also afraid of flying this does mean sharing the focus of attention, but we have worked successfully with couples and friends sharing a course.
How will I know if the simulator can help me.
To find out more about whether the simulator could help you ring and have a chat with Susie our Course Director, that way she can learn more about your fear and you can discuss together whether the simulator could be suitable for you.
If I ring, will someone try and sell me the course?
No you won't be put under any pressure to book, as we realise that there is no one course that suits absolutely everyone and some people benefit from a combination of methods. It is important to try and find the method that feels right for you. You can discuss the course and what concerns you about flying with Susie, our Fear of Flying Course Director, without pressure to come on the course, before making any decision. Sometimes there is a long time between making an enquiry and deciding to come on the course. Sometimes people don't book at all, or are advised not to come and others decide to book immediately. We are aware that the important thing is that you do something about your fear when you are ready and have really thought about what method feels right for you.
Traditional courses involve a real flight. Why should a course in an aircraft simulator be better for me?
There are several answers to this question. Some people feel that since they still fly, even with a high level of anxiety, taking a flight in the cabin of a plane wouldn't be enough help. They would rather have the chance to be in a cockpit with pilots, seeing the pilots fly and asking them what they feel they need to know. Being in the cockpit with pilots, with the possibility of helping to fly the plane if they wish, can really help with a number of worries, such as control issues. Some people think that the anxiety of knowing that they were about to take a flight would distract them during the day. Others don't want to fly with a group of nervous flyers. They can worry that they may be "the worst", or would feel inhibited about asking questions in front of strangers. If turbulence is a concern, there may not be any on the flight, so some may feel that that aspect of their fear has not been fully addressed. Strategies for flying after this course are discussed during the day.
What kind of things would a simulator NOT be helpful for?
If someone is being put under a lot of pressure to fly and/or they do not have any desire to fly for themselves, then they should save their money and not come on the course. Some disabilities would mean that the simulator is not suitable. Do not hesitate to call Virtual Aviation to talk to Susie, our Fear of Flying Course Director to clarify this. Unresolved emotional issues can be at the root of a fear of flying rather than planes and in some cases it may be more productive to work on that first. Again talking with Susie can help people to decide which plan of action to take. We have also worked in tandem with other methods and courses.
Can children with a fear of flying come on the course?
Officially the minimum age is 18, however we have worked successfully with children, the youngest being 9 years old. Care is taken to assess each individual case in conversation with the parent(s), the child, and sometimes we also seek medical opinion. It is very important to the success of the course that children are willing to come and are not being put under pressure to attend a course. Due to age restrictions, childrens courses are only available at certain Training Centres.
Can a fear of flying course be bought as a suprise gift?
Ideally no, as being pressured into doing a course is not usually a good idea. It has happened extremely rarely, but only after discussion with us first and with the proviso that they have a period of time between receiving the gift and the course date. This way they have time to talk to us about the course and whether they really want it. The risk to the purchaser is that the gift is not refundable should the recipient not want it.
Will I need to take notes?
No. You will be given literature on the course. Occasionally people have brought a pad and pen if they want, but it's not necessary.
Is there anything I should do before coming on the course?
Susie our Fear of Flying Course Director, will ring you and get a full history of your fear of flying before the course date. We do suggest that you write down any questions that you know you want to ask your pilot - no question is a stupid one - so that things that concern you aren't missed. However, some people who say they will bring questions often don't and it hasn't been a hinderance for them.
