Flight Training - May 2020 - 13

ASI NEWS

BY ALICIA HERRON

HAVE A SEAT, SHUT THE DOOR
GO BEYOND THE BASIC PASSENGER BRIEF
WHEN YOU PASS YOUR CHECK-

ride, you'll gain the privilege of
flying passengers. And while
sharing the joy of general
aviation is unique and worthwhile, passengers are a new and
potentially distracting factor
to deal with in flight. Here
are some tips to make your
post-checkride flying a success.
It takes immense trust to
be a passenger, and if you want
someone to fly with you more
than once, make their first flight a positive experience that's memorable for all the right
reasons. Be patient and don't make assumptions about what nonpilots do or do not
know. We pilots are used to small airplanes, but something seemingly as simple as a GA
seatbelt can be daunting. Getting in and out of the airplane-a task you may do without
thinking-may require a detailed demonstration. Set aside time before yelling "clear!"
to give a solid briefing and allow your passengers to ask questions. Waiting until after
engine start is too late-the time and money pressure of a running Hobbs meter can lead
to a rushed delivery of vital information.
Advise your passengers to do their best not to talk during radio communications.
Even fellow aviators can have trouble with this one, so anticipate asking for silence. Consider using sterile cockpit procedures below a certain altitude and during high-workload
phases of flight like takeoff and landing. The "isolate" button is your friend.
Teaching your passengers what to do in an emergency likely won't frighten them.
They're more likely to be impressed by your concern for their safety, and knowing what
to do "just in case" will be a comfort. And, of course, if something unexpected does happen, it is in everyone's best interest that your passengers are familiar with what to do.
Check in on them throughout the journey: after start-up, before takeoff, and in
flight. Even the most resilient and adventurous among us can have a change of heart.
Be understanding and prepare yourself for the idea that you might have to cut the trip
short. This is a great reason to make a first flight local-save the cross-country for later.
Don't deliberately frighten your passengers-feeling true fear in the air will keep
someone from ever flying with you again. Save stalls for solo flight or dual instruction,
and use gentle, coordinated turns. Let them know before you reduce power-to the
uninitiated, the sound of lower rpm midflight might sound like an engine failure.
Added stress aside, flying with passengers can be highly rewarding. How often do
we get to introduce someone to something totally new? And just think: If your passenger likes the flight, they might become a pilot, too.
alicia.herron@aopa.org

For more tips on giving a thorough passenger briefing,
watch this AOPA Air Safety Institute video.
airsafetyinstitute.org/passengerbriefing

'THERE I WAS...': RUNWAY EXCURSION
ASI is delighted to welcome back its inaugural podcast guest: U.S. National Aerobatic
Champion Patty Wagstaff. Wagstaff returns to tell about an incident in September 2019 in
which she and a fellow pilot experienced a runway excursion in Wagstaff's V-tail Beechcraft

AOPA.ORG/FT 13

http://aopafinance.org/firsttimebuyer http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org/passengerbriefing http://www.AOPA.ORG/FT

Flight Training - May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - May 2020