lieberma
10-15-2004, 06:45 PM
Alright, I am a flyboy who loves to fly.
I have so far taken 8 people up in my plane who have either never left terra firma or been in a GA (General Aviation) plane.
I own a 4 seat Beech Sundowner and I am looking for tips to ease the stress of a first time flight to a new passenger.
So far, this is what I do and I want to improve on what I do on the following! In ( ) are the "inside or technical terms)
I always insist on the first time passenger to do the preflight inspection with me. I try to relate how my inspection of the plane will in relationship to a car they may own. For example, one of my questions I will ask the first time passenger, is when was the last time they had physically walked around their car to see if their tires were properly inflated. So far, I have had everybody say no to that question. I then say, this is why this airplane we are getting on is safer then the car they drive.
After preflighting the outside of the plane, we get in the plane, and I explain what all the "basic instruments" do, where they are located. After sitting in the plane, and explaining the bits and pieces of parts that I will move, pull and push, I then explain that the airplane goes through a three part inspection and the first part was inspecting the outside. Of course, I show them how to use the seatbelts, sunvisor, airvents and so on.
I explain that if anything fails on the three part inspection, we don't fly, no ands ifs or buts about it. I tell my first time passenger, that I would rather dissapoint you on the ground then in the air. Knowing that I am putting safety first and foremost, I am hoping this is easing their minds about the safety of our flight. I use a "checklist" and I explain this checklist is to ensure that I don't forget anything to compromise the safety of the flight.
After starting up the engine, I explain how the airplane is steered, for those that don't know, it is steered by your feet, NOT the "wheel" (yoke) that sits in front of you. I then explain that we will go to the end of the runway (taxi), test the engine and re-test the moveable parts of the outside of the airplane. On testing the engine (runup), it is required that I add power with the brakes on. I explain that I am testing the spark plugs (mags), testing the carberator (heat) and listening for any unusual noises. I explain the plane will not take off while I am holding the brakes. After everything passes, I explain this ends part two of the inspection.
Part three of the inspection is testing the control parts, where I move the "wheel", checking the wings (aileron), the tail parts (rudder and elevator) and so on. I show the passenger what happens when I move parts, and ask them to see what's happening with the wings, and tail. After I moved, jiggled, pushed and pulled all control parts and everything passed, I then explained that we are ready for take off. I explain all the speeds of the plane before we take off so they can hopefully relate how it feels in relationship to their car.
One of the best parts of taking a first time passenger up is that they get to hear the air traffic controllers over the radio, and I explain to them that WE ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT as the Southwest Flights, Deltas and so on. I explain to the passenger they will hear them talk to the same person I am talking to. They always will ask, can the air traffic controllers hear us, and I say no, they cannot hear us unless I am pushing a button to talk outside the airplane.
I try to take off on a gentle climb rather then the normal climb rate. I try to make my turns very shallow. I try to take the first time passenger over their house. I also try to fly when the sun is setting since that is when the air is most smoothest.
When it comes to landing, I explain that I will be using parts of the plane they have not seen, so I try to expain in plain English that I will be using the "air brakes" (Flaps) to slow the airplane down, and that it will get much quieter then the climb and cruise flight (I have to reduce the power of the engine to come down!). I had one passenger, that thought I had turned off the engine as it does make that much difference in sound level. She also had troubles understanding that even though it got quieter, the plane could still fly.
On landing, I explain to the passenger, that the back wheels will touch the ground first, and then the front wheel, and we will roll down the runway until the first turn off (taxiway).
So far, I have had nobody get airsick, as I do pick days where I knew it would be calm air (turbulence is predictable!!!) and the reactions were that I never expected it to be so fun or smooth.
Now that you have been on a "cyberflight" with me, is there anything I can do to improve the briefing of a new passenger.
If anybody is interested, I would be more then happy to post pictures of what it looks like from the front seat on a web page. I already have a website with some "front seat" views in the air and on approach to landing. I can post the URL if anybody would be interested.
Thanks for a great forum!
Allen
I have so far taken 8 people up in my plane who have either never left terra firma or been in a GA (General Aviation) plane.
I own a 4 seat Beech Sundowner and I am looking for tips to ease the stress of a first time flight to a new passenger.
So far, this is what I do and I want to improve on what I do on the following! In ( ) are the "inside or technical terms)
I always insist on the first time passenger to do the preflight inspection with me. I try to relate how my inspection of the plane will in relationship to a car they may own. For example, one of my questions I will ask the first time passenger, is when was the last time they had physically walked around their car to see if their tires were properly inflated. So far, I have had everybody say no to that question. I then say, this is why this airplane we are getting on is safer then the car they drive.
After preflighting the outside of the plane, we get in the plane, and I explain what all the "basic instruments" do, where they are located. After sitting in the plane, and explaining the bits and pieces of parts that I will move, pull and push, I then explain that the airplane goes through a three part inspection and the first part was inspecting the outside. Of course, I show them how to use the seatbelts, sunvisor, airvents and so on.
I explain that if anything fails on the three part inspection, we don't fly, no ands ifs or buts about it. I tell my first time passenger, that I would rather dissapoint you on the ground then in the air. Knowing that I am putting safety first and foremost, I am hoping this is easing their minds about the safety of our flight. I use a "checklist" and I explain this checklist is to ensure that I don't forget anything to compromise the safety of the flight.
After starting up the engine, I explain how the airplane is steered, for those that don't know, it is steered by your feet, NOT the "wheel" (yoke) that sits in front of you. I then explain that we will go to the end of the runway (taxi), test the engine and re-test the moveable parts of the outside of the airplane. On testing the engine (runup), it is required that I add power with the brakes on. I explain that I am testing the spark plugs (mags), testing the carberator (heat) and listening for any unusual noises. I explain the plane will not take off while I am holding the brakes. After everything passes, I explain this ends part two of the inspection.
Part three of the inspection is testing the control parts, where I move the "wheel", checking the wings (aileron), the tail parts (rudder and elevator) and so on. I show the passenger what happens when I move parts, and ask them to see what's happening with the wings, and tail. After I moved, jiggled, pushed and pulled all control parts and everything passed, I then explained that we are ready for take off. I explain all the speeds of the plane before we take off so they can hopefully relate how it feels in relationship to their car.
One of the best parts of taking a first time passenger up is that they get to hear the air traffic controllers over the radio, and I explain to them that WE ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT as the Southwest Flights, Deltas and so on. I explain to the passenger they will hear them talk to the same person I am talking to. They always will ask, can the air traffic controllers hear us, and I say no, they cannot hear us unless I am pushing a button to talk outside the airplane.
I try to take off on a gentle climb rather then the normal climb rate. I try to make my turns very shallow. I try to take the first time passenger over their house. I also try to fly when the sun is setting since that is when the air is most smoothest.
When it comes to landing, I explain that I will be using parts of the plane they have not seen, so I try to expain in plain English that I will be using the "air brakes" (Flaps) to slow the airplane down, and that it will get much quieter then the climb and cruise flight (I have to reduce the power of the engine to come down!). I had one passenger, that thought I had turned off the engine as it does make that much difference in sound level. She also had troubles understanding that even though it got quieter, the plane could still fly.
On landing, I explain to the passenger, that the back wheels will touch the ground first, and then the front wheel, and we will roll down the runway until the first turn off (taxiway).
So far, I have had nobody get airsick, as I do pick days where I knew it would be calm air (turbulence is predictable!!!) and the reactions were that I never expected it to be so fun or smooth.
Now that you have been on a "cyberflight" with me, is there anything I can do to improve the briefing of a new passenger.
If anybody is interested, I would be more then happy to post pictures of what it looks like from the front seat on a web page. I already have a website with some "front seat" views in the air and on approach to landing. I can post the URL if anybody would be interested.
Thanks for a great forum!
Allen