Afraid of flying? Richard Branson can help

Virgin Atlantic has teamed up with software developers Mental Workout to create an iPhone app which helps passengers with their fear of flying.

The $4.99 app is introduced by Richard Branson himself, and features a video that provides the user with a calming walkthrough of all the flight processes, answers "frequently asked questions" and provides a number of relaxation exercises for anyone getting the heebie jeebies.

The iPhone app also features a "fear attack" button, which launches a series of breathing exercises to calm you down in the event of an emergency.Real Business hates to point out the obvious but is pretty sure that passengers need to turn off all electronic equipment before take-off. Surely this makes the Flying Without Fear app slightly redundant: you watch it in the comfort of the airport lounge but must go it alone in the sky.

Nevertheless, the app already boasts celebrity endorsement. Whoopie Goldberg says: "I was a skeptic. I hadn’t flown in 13 years. But after doing their programme, I understood that while my fear was real, there were many things I didn’t know or had misinformation about, which they were able to clear up. So what happened? The programme works. I now fly. It’s that simple."

Branson says: "Our first iPhone app will bring the benefits of our successful Flying Without Fear course to millions of people around the world who are now using mobile technology to make their lives better."Feel free to post your comments/diatribes/endorsements below.

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