Fighting flight fright

Considering that the first commercial flight was just 102 years ago, jets have become a nearly unavoidable mode of travel. But as we reported yesterday, for the unfortunate few who suffer from a fear of flying this new world of affordable and fast international travel is a nightmare.

Few are as bad as Joe Thompson, the then-11-year-old Al Ain schoolboy whose fear of flying left him stuck in the UAE for 15 months. He eventually made it home to the UK in October 2013 after undergoing hypnosis to control his anxiety.

Most of the graduates of the fifth edition of the Flying with Confidence course, run by British Airways in Dubai on Saturday, have less debilitating problems and have been helped by a combination of education about the real risks and through stress-reduction techniques such as regulated breathing. Their graduation includes a short flight, accompanied by one of their instructors, when we hope the worst thing that happens is suffering from boredom.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

The drill

Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.

Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”

Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”

Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”