Fear offlying is a term commonly used in the Aviation Medicine community. However, heterogeneous conditions which can present with fear offlying, demand that a more stringent and systematic approach be made in one’s management of the aviator with fear offi’ying (FOF). Cases of FOF between 1974 and 1995presented to the Civil Aviation Medical Board and the Aeromedical Centre of the Republic of Singapore Airforce were studied for their psychopathology, psychodynamics, diagnoses, motivation for treatment, type of treatment and response to treatment, and their eventual outcome in relation to flying. 53.3% of 15 cases hadAdult Situational Reaction, 26.7% hadphobia offlying, 6.6% had Adjustment Disorder, 6.7% had Anxiety Depressive Disorder and 6.7% had Transient Psychosis. All cases of Adjustment Disorder were returned to flying, compared with 25% of Adult Situational Reaction, 66.7% of Phobia of Flying and none of the aircrew suffering from Transient Psychosis. Fear offlying is thus a complex phenomenon, where there is interaction of elements of mental health, neurotic roots, real and imaginary threats and life events affecting eventually the flyer’s willingness to fly.
This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view the full article.
The author(s) declare there are no affiliations with or involvement in any organisation or entity with any financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
