How does the free Fear of Flying Help Course work, and who is it for?

Updated

The Fear of Flying Free Help Course is a self-paced online program created by Captain Stacey Chance, a pilot with over 30 years of experience at a major US airline. You enroll directly on the site, work through the lessons on your own schedule, and pay nothing to access the core course. It suits first-time flyers, frequent flyers who still feel uneasy, and anyone with a flight coming up who wants practical preparation without attending a class or clinic.

What the course actually is

The site describes it as an interactive Fear of Flying program built from the instructor's observations of nervous passengers over three decades of flying. The core lessons are labeled 100% FREE with "NO strings attached," and enrollment happens right on the page — no application, no scheduled sessions.

A few structural points worth knowing before you start:

  • Format: online lessons you take at home, at your own pace.
  • No attendance requirements: the site explicitly says there are no schools, seminars, clinics, or classes to attend.
  • No medical route required: the course is positioned as an alternative to drugs, hypnosis, or medication — it does not require any of them.
  • Optional paid versions: audio, video, and book versions are available for purchase, and there is a "Buy the Course" option alongside the free lessons. The free course is the entry point; the paid formats are extras, not prerequisites.

After finishing, the only ask is that you consider a voluntary contribution to fund the project. The site notes that comparable programs cost hundreds of dollars, but treat that as the instructor's framing rather than a verified price comparison.

Who it fits — and who it may not

Your situation Fit
First flight coming up and you're anxious Good — the course is framed around preparing you for a specific upcoming flight
Frequent flyer who still feels uneasy Good — the site addresses both first-time and frequent flyers
You want to avoid medication or hypnosis Good — the course is explicitly built without them
You want live instruction or a support group Poor — there is no class, seminar, or clinic component
You need a clinically supervised treatment program Not the right tool — this is an educational self-help course, not therapy

The site also makes a point of saying fear of flying is "quite natural and more common than you think," which is aimed at people who feel embarrassed about it. If that's a barrier for you, the privacy of taking it at home is part of the design.

What it covers

The course is organized around the questions fearful flyers actually ask. According to the site, it answers:

  • What happens if the plane hits an air pocket?
  • What causes airplane turbulence?
  • Which airlines are the safest?
  • Can an airliner glide if the engines quit?
  • How likely is an airplane crash?
  • Which seat is best?
  • What do airline safety statistics show?
  • Can the doors be opened in flight?
  • How do you manage motion sickness?

This is a knowledge-based approach: the premise is that understanding the mechanics behind turbulence, engine failure, and safety statistics reduces anxiety. If your fear is driven mainly by not understanding what the noises and movements mean, the content maps directly onto that. If your fear is more physical or panic-driven, the course may be a useful supplement but is unlikely to be sufficient on its own.

How to start

  1. Go to fearofflyinghelp.com and find the enrollment section on the main page.
  2. Enroll directly — the site states you can enroll "right here, right now."
  3. Work through the free lessons in whatever order and at whatever pace suits you.
  4. Optionally purchase the audio, video, or book version if you prefer those formats.
  5. After completing the course, decide whether to submit a voluntary contribution.

Expected result: you finish with a working understanding of common flight-safety questions and a set of explanations you can recall during your next flight. There is no certificate or assessment mentioned on the site, so don't enroll expecting one.

Common sticking points

  • The free/paid boundary. The lessons are free, but audio, video, and book versions are sold separately. If you specifically want video instruction, expect to pay; the free tier is the lesson content itself.
  • Payment details aren't specified. PayPal appears as a payment platform on the site, but the page doesn't state prices for the paid versions — check before committing.
  • No live human contact. The format is self-study by design. If you need someone to talk you through a panic episode, this course won't provide that.
  • It's education, not treatment. For a fear that significantly disrupts your life, a course like this works best alongside professional support rather than as a replacement.