Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

"she is actually relieved when she notices the descent is starting; without these event 'cues' then she worries that the pilot may be lost, they have forgotten where they're going etc. So instead of enjoying the cruise, she sits there getting frantic with worry.

Equally she also takes a lot of comfort in memorising the sequence of crew activities from (say) the outbound flight, and then taking satisfaction when she sees the same things happening on the return leg, in line with her expectation."

This strikes me as more than a run-of-the-mill fear of flying. What does her treating therapist suggest?