WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.640 --> 00:00:02.040 "I'm here today to 2 00:00:02.050 --> 00:00:03.560 master my fear of flying. 3 00:00:03.570 --> 00:00:05.380 I'd also like to go somewhere nice." 4 00:00:06.690 --> 00:00:09.940 Today, Christian Pittelkau is planning to finally pluck up 5 00:00:09.980 --> 00:00:14.490 the courage to board a plane - along with 120 others in the same boat. 6 00:00:14.660 --> 00:00:17.350 All are preparing to face their phobias. 7 00:00:17.450 --> 00:00:21.170 The 41-year-old's fear of flying has long held him back. 8 00:00:22.537 --> 00:00:25.390 "I have had to turn down the chance of some great vacations, 9 00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:27.410 and professional opportunities. 10 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:30.830 Once I couldn't take up a job because flying was required." 11 00:00:30.830 --> 00:00:34.710 A team of therapists and psychologists look after 12 00:00:34.720 --> 00:00:38.260 the passengers during the training sessions and accompany them 13 00:00:38.280 --> 00:00:39.510 to the gate. 14 00:00:39.550 --> 00:00:41.400 Now it's time to board. 15 00:00:41.409 --> 00:00:43.260 Tensions are rising. 16 00:00:43.270 --> 00:00:46.409 Christian Pittelkau visits the cockpit - just to be on 17 00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:47.510 the safe side. 18 00:00:48.320 --> 00:00:50.130 “Yes, I'm pretty worked up. 19 00:00:50.140 --> 00:00:53.650 I could still opt out, but I'm determined to fly today and talking 20 00:00:53.659 --> 00:00:56.490 to the two pilots has boosted my confidence 21 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:59.006 and sense of safety.” 22 00:01:00.232 --> 00:01:02.849 Five participants leave the plane at the last minute. 23 00:01:04.240 --> 00:01:07.690 Pilot Martin Brauns welcomes everyone else on board. 24 00:01:08.520 --> 00:01:10.420 And then the plane takes off. 25 00:01:10.440 --> 00:01:13.500 For the first few minutes, the mood is very tense. 26 00:01:13.520 --> 00:01:16.590 But once the plane is in the air, things relax. 27 00:01:17.940 --> 00:01:21.430 “It's actually almost always, or not just almost, but really always 28 00:01:21.440 --> 00:01:26.240 the case that shortly after take-off, people's fears fade away, and they 29 00:01:26.250 --> 00:01:28.640 start to try out what they've resolved to do.” 30 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:30.640 The passengers venture 31 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.200 out into the aisle, or take peeks out of the window for 32 00:01:34.209 --> 00:01:35.400 the first time. 33 00:01:38.020 --> 00:01:39.890 “The take-off was really wild. 34 00:01:39.900 --> 00:01:42.130 I didn't expect it to be like that. 35 00:01:42.140 --> 00:01:45.990 The ascent, taking off from the ground for the first time, was 36 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:49.230 an unfamiliar feeling, which scared me a bit. 37 00:01:50.590 --> 00:01:55.600 But that feeling quickly turned into euphoria and the anticipation of 38 00:01:55.610 --> 00:01:57.843 really being in the air.” 39 00:02:02.773 --> 00:02:04.770 The flight crew has also made special 40 00:02:04.770 --> 00:02:06.380 preparations for the day. 41 00:02:06.390 --> 00:02:09.180 Procedures should take place as normally as possible. 42 00:02:09.190 --> 00:02:11.380 But with some special features. 43 00:02:14.220 --> 00:02:17.210 “We made sure there were plenty of announcements, to keep the guests 44 00:02:17.220 --> 00:02:18.150 in the loop. 45 00:02:18.160 --> 00:02:21.720 We gave a running commentary on all the steps we take -- like moving 46 00:02:21.740 --> 00:02:24.990 the landing gear, or the landing flaps -- and communicated 47 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:26.210 them to the passengers." 48 00:02:28.053 --> 00:02:31.020 Back on the ground, it's: mission accomplished. 49 00:02:33.306 --> 00:02:34.560 “I'm very proud 50 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:35.360 of all of us. 51 00:02:35.370 --> 00:02:36.830 A great experience.”