AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 22

FLYING LIFE

Flying with precious cargo

BY NATALIE BINGHAM HOOVER

Tips to reduce stress when carrying loved ones
WE BROUGHT OUR NEWBORN DAUGHTER HOME FROM

the hospital on a sweltering Memphis afternoon,
June 15, 2011. My husband drove 30 mph all the
way home. The speed limit was 40. He had a whiteknuckled grip on the steering wheel and sweat
running down his face that had less to do with the
heat of summer than with the precious cargo riding
in the backseat.
"Do you think it's too hot in here for her?" he
asked me. "Should I slow down a little?" he wondered out loud. Although my husband had been
safely driving cars for his entire adult life, the fact
that he was now a father and a driver added a whole
new level of stress to the car ride experience.
I experienced a similar level of sweat-inducing
stress the first time I loaded up the entire family in

My job is to be pilot. My husband's job is to be dad
and helpful passenger. When my passengers know
what to expect in advance, I am able to focus on
flying the airplane, not playing comforting mom,
helpful wife, or any other role.

The most passengers NATALIE BINGHAM
HOOVER has ever had
was 52, when she
flew a regional jet
for the airlines. Fifty
people. Two dogs.

22 | AOPA PILOT April 2018

our Cessna 172 for a holiday trip to grandma's house.
The kids were 3 years old and 6 months old at the
time. On the drive to the airport, I put in a call to
the weather briefer and tried to hear over the noise.
Who knew that two small people could make such
a ruckus?
Once at the airport, my husband went about the
business of loading the airplane with bags and car
seats while I watched the kids and tried to do the
preflight. When my nonpilot husband asked where
I would like certain bags to be positioned, I snapped
at him. I saw his eyes go wide, but to his credit, he
said nothing. God bless him.
What is the matter with me? I wondered. I've
flown for the airlines. I've done corporate and charter flying. Why does a trip to grandma's house have
me so rattled? Looking back, I can see that the stress
of trying to manage loose children on a busy airport
ramp while also doing a walkaround was just too
much. I was also feeling pressure from the fact that

I was about to load up my most precious cargo and
take them 5,000 feet in the air. The "what ifs" were
wreaking havoc on my normal, laid-back attitude,
not to mention the fact that the kids were doing
what kids do. The 3-year-old wanted a snack. The
baby needed a diaper change. I was trying to be pilot
and mom and wife at the same time.
When we got in the air, the situation didn't get
much better. My husband wanted to chat, and I
could hear the baby crying in the backseat. I consider it a small miracle that we arrived at our
destination safely that day. In hindsight, I can see
how all of the distractions could have been a recipe for disaster.
So, here's what I learned about flying with family. Do a passenger briefing. Yes, we all know that we
should brief our passengers on emergency exits, seat
belts, and fire extinguishers, but I now know there
is so much more to cover. We are especially sensitive to our loved ones' discomfort and fear, so do a
really thorough brief of anything that may be disconcerting in flight, including turbulence, or IMC
encounters.
Also, make sure everyone knows their roles. My
job is to be pilot. My husband's job is to be dad and
helpful passenger. We take separate cars to the airport now. I head out early so I can check the weather
and do my preflight without distraction. He and
the kids also know that a sterile cockpit-at least
for taxi, takeoff, and landing-is something we must
adhere to. Being quiet is a bit of a foreign concept for
a 3-year-old, but we're working on it. During cruise,
my husband handles any backseat issues while I fly
the airplane. Another thing to keep in mind when
flying with young passengers is that they may not be
able to handle rapid pressure changes, so I always
plan early, slow descents down from altitude.
When my passengers know what to expect in
advance, I am able to focus on flying the airplane,
not playing comforting mom, helpful wife, or any
other role. Passengers are also able to enjoy the
flight more when they see that their pilot is calm
and relaxed. In the end, I think the very best thing
we can do for our loved ones is to focus on getting
them safely to their destination.
AOPA
WEB

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http://www.myaviation101.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018

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