PEMAV — Overcome Your Fear of Flying

The challenge

The PEMAV method has been helping people with fear of flying for over 14 years through in-person courses in Madrid, Barcelona and Mallorca. But the course lasts 3 days and anxiety appears weeks later, at the airport or at 10,000 meters altitude. They needed a tool that could accompany the student in the real moment of flight — when they need it most.

The main technical challenge: the app must work perfectly without internet connection, since the most critical moment of use is during the flight. Additionally, the audio experience must be flawless, with minimal latency so the user feels immediate response when anxiety escalates.

Our solution

We developed the PEMAV app as a digital extension of the in-person method, designed to work in real flight conditions:

Offline-first architecture

The most important architectural decision was to design the entire system with an offline-first approach. Audio content, exercises and protocols are pre-downloaded to the device the first time the user opens the app. This guarantees that during a flight — without WiFi or with intermittent connection — all functionality is instantly available.

The synchronization system works in the background: when there is connection, it updates content, syncs progress and downloads new sessions. When there isn’t, the app works completely autonomously.

Native audio engine

One of the most complex technical challenges was the audio playback system. We couldn’t rely on web or hybrid solutions — we needed direct access to the native audio engine for:

• Minimal latency: when the user taps “start relaxation exercise”, the response must be instant
• Background playback: audio must continue playing if the user locks the screen or switches apps
• Audio session control: correct integration with system controls (lock screen, bluetooth headphones)
• Frequency optimization: audio tuned for playback through cabin headphones with ambient noise

In-flight anxiety management

• Guided relaxation exercises with professional audio, designed to reduce anxiety in minutes
• Specific techniques for turbulence — the moment of highest stress peak for most passengers
• Real-time intervention when anxiety escalates, with step-by-step protocols
• Anxiety level detection that suggests the most appropriate exercise based on the moment’s intensity

Pre-flight preparation

• Preparation program in the days before the flight to reduce anticipatory anxiety
• Attention and focus games that train the brain to divert catastrophic thinking
• Daily stress management tools, useful beyond the flight context
• Pre-flight notification system that reminds the user to prepare in the days before

Design for the real context

• Complete offline functionality — all content available without internet connection during the flight
• Calm and minimalist interface — designed not to add stimuli during moments of high anxiety
• Optimized audio for cabin headphones, with adapted volume and frequencies
• Large typography and wide buttons — when hands are trembling, the interface must be easy to use

Key technical decisions

Results

PEMAV has become the digital complement to Spain’s leading course for overcoming fear of flying:

• 5.0★ on App Store — perfect score with real user ratings
• 98% success rate of the PEMAV method in its in-person courses
• Available on iOS and Android, with support for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
• Led by Alfonso de Bertodano — Boeing 787 pilot with 18,000+ flight hours and psychologist specialized in phobias
• Users report usefulness beyond flying — daily anxiety and general stress management
• Adoption by in-person course attendees as a post-course reinforcement tool

Tech stack

• React Native (Mobile app iOS and Android)
• Node.js (Backend API)
• Native audio engine (High-quality offline playback with custom bridge)
• Firebase Cloud Messaging (Notifications and pre-flight reminders)
• RevenueCat (In-app subscription management)
• AsyncStorage + cache system for offline content
• Background audio session management (iOS/Android)