The Sun reports that "the Royal Air Force is running a course to help staff beat their fear of FLYING":
It will cost thousands of pounds to run the week of sessions.
RAF chiefs acted after flying phobia prevented some servicemen and women boarding long-haul flights to Afghanistan or training zones.
Army, Navy and RAF officers are among those set to attend the course at RAF Brize Norton, near Oxford. An Air Force insider said last night: "How utterly barmy is this? If you're afraid of flying, why would you join the RAF?
"It's like training to be a scuba diver if you're scared of the water. We understand the courses will help staff. But when money is tight is this really the best use of resources?
"Even if you are not a pilot it is still nuts to join a service where you will almost certainly go up in a plane." The course is financed by the Department of Community Mental Health, covered by the MoD budget.
BAFF contributor comment:
I have never heard of flying phobia actually 'preventing' servicemen and women from boarding duty flights, but I have deployed with someone who was a robust and valuable member of the team in every way, but suffered from a flying phobia. He got on with it as best he could, but it was clearly a most unpleasant and debilitating ordeal. If we can help some of our people cope with this condition at the cost of a short course, it seems to me money well spent.
Whether the sufferers are RN, Army, or RAF non-aircrew is irrelevant and thank heavens, the Navy didn't reject Nelson on the grounds that he suffered from seasickness.
