COLUMBUS – Anyone with a fear of flying is getting a chance to confront it without actually leaving the ground.
Officials at John Glenn Columbus International Airport are offering a free workshop for people who face anxiety or fear related to flying.
Facing Takeoff: Saturday, Aug. 26, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Open to anyone 10 and older (under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian); Deadline to register is Aug. 21; Contact the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, at bvarga@columbusairports.com or 614-239-4006.
“Facing Takeoff,” developed along with Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University Center for Aviation Studies and Southwest Airlines is billed as a “first-step approach to overcoming flight anxiety,” said Elaine Roberts, president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
Roberts says those who sign up will to learn the mechanics of flights and skills for managing anxiety from a team of aviation and health professionals and will gain an understanding of air travel by touring various areas of the airport. That will include entering a security checkpoint and boarding an aircraft.