A fear of flying app, written by a captain
Most flying fear is really uncertainty. Learn what the aircraft is doing and the fear has far less to stand on. That is the whole idea behind Calm at 38,000 Feet — with Captain Chris.
What's inside
Turbulence, explained properly
Clear air, mechanical, thermal, wake and convective turbulence — what causes each one, what the crew is doing, and why the wings are designed to flex through it.
Is turbulence dangerous? →What was that noise?
The clunks, whines and thumps you hear from your seat, matched to the part of the aircraft making them, so nothing sounds like a surprise.
Decode cabin noises →Before you board
The checks, inspections and paperwork that happen before every departure, plus how an airliner is built and tested to limits it will never meet in service.
See the pre-flight checks →Captain Chris's voice, in your ear
Recordings for the night before, the gate, takeoff, live turbulence and a racing heart — narrated by Chris himself, not a synthetic voice-over.
Open the audio library →The Calm Guide
Short reading modules drawn straight from Chris's book, so you learn the aircraft rather than fight the fear.
Read the Calm Guide →My Flight and Flight Mode
Add your flight and get the right tool at the right moment — including a high-contrast screen built for use once the cabin doors close.
Set up your flight →How to install it
Open it in your browser
Nothing to download from an app store. It runs on any modern phone, tablet or laptop.
Add it to your home screen
Tap Share, then Add to Home Screen on iPhone, or Install app in Chrome on Android. It then opens full-screen, like any other app.
Use it free, whenever you have signal
Every guide, explainer, exercise and recording is free online. No account needed to start.
Meet your captain
45 years in the air, 32 of them at Virgin Atlantic. One lesson: Knowledge Conquers Fear.
Common questions
Is the app free?
Yes. Everything — the Calm Guide, turbulence explainers, cabin-noise decoder, breathing tools, Captain Chris's recordings and the Ask Captain Chris assistant — is free whenever you have Wi-Fi or mobile data. There is one optional purchase: a one-off £4.99 Offline Pack that stores it all on your phone so it keeps working in aeroplane mode.
Is turbulence actually dangerous?
Turbulence is uncomfortable, not structurally dangerous. Wings are built to flex, and airliners are tested well beyond the loads turbulence produces. The app explains each type of turbulence you can meet, and what the flight crew does about it — the section on turbulence goes through it in the same words Chris uses on the flight deck.
Will it work with my phone in aeroplane mode?
The free version needs a connection. The Offline Pack keeps every guide and recording on the device, so it works at 38,000 feet with no signal at all.
Who is behind it?
Captain Chris Pohl: 45 years in the air, night freight, target-towing for the Navy and 32 years at Virgin Atlantic. The app is drawn from his book, Calm at 38,000 Feet — A Captain's Guide to Understanding Turbulence and Flying Without Fear.
Every guide and recording stored on your phone, for the part of the journey where there is no signal.
Calm at 38,000 Feet — with Captain Chris is published by Chris Pohl. It offers education and comfort, not medical treatment — if flying anxiety is severely affecting your life, please speak to a healthcare professional. Always follow the instructions of your flight crew.