AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2018 - 110

NEWS & NOTES

AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE

Offering a flight?
Brief your passengers well-they'll thank you
BY MACHTELD SMITH

110 | AOPA PILOT July 2018

and humid summer days or gusty winds
and turbulence at altitude. You should
reschedule when these elements are in play
to avoid a bad experience.
* It's a go! On the day of the flight,
give an update on expected conditions.
Discuss ramp safety-including the danger
of a spinning propeller-and help your passengers use the appropriate handholds and
stepping areas to board the aircraft. Make
sure they know how to adjust and lock
their seats and explain the use of seat belts.

NEW FROM ASI

THE FLYING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING.

Are you ready to offer rides and share
the beauty of seeing Earth from above?
Remember to make those flights safe and
pleasant, whether taking friends and family for a $100-hamburger hop or on a long
cross-country to your favorite vacation spot.
Here are some tips to get you started.
* Are you good to go? Nonpilot passengers depend completely on your ability
to assess go-no/go decisions based on your
prudent self-assessment, the weather, the airplane, how comfortable the ride will be, and
potential situations that could jeopardize the
safe outcome of the flight. So, take stock of
your health, skills, and proficiency. Respond
honestly to your assessment and take steps
to address any areas that need to be resolved.
* Passenger comfort. Consider your
flying companions' comfort before and
during the flight. Brief them about what
to expect. For example, suggest they bring
sunglasses and dress comfortably and
appropriately for the aircraft you're flying.
Remind them about the lack of toilet facilities in flight. Anticipate weather conditions
that could affect their comfort, such as hot

* Cabin briefing. Once everyone is
seated comfortably and securely, demonstrate how to open and close the
doors. Show the location of airsickness
bags, emergency exits and windows, and
emergency equipment-such as fire extinguishers and survival gear-and how to use
these. Explain the need for a sterile cockpit
during taxi, takeoff, approach, and landing.
Make sure they know to tell you if they feel
ill, so you can land if needed. If this is a
passenger's first flight, describe how the
engine sound may change during climb,
cruise, and descent, and that gear retraction/extension might make a brief noise.
You may find it helpful to review
the AOPA Air Safety Institute's Critical
Information: The Passenger Safety Briefing
video (www.airsafetyinstitute.org/
passengerbriefing), which offers suggestions to create or improve briefings and how
to broach the sensitive issue of dealing with
an abnormal or emergency situation. Also,
download and customize the Emergency
Equipment Card (www.airsafetyinstitute.
org/passengerbriefingcard) and place copies in reach of each passenger.
If you plan carefully and are considerate of your passengers' comfort level before
and during the flight, everyone will reap
tremendous rewards. Now, go share your
flying passion and elevate your own flying
experience at the same time.
MACHTELD SMITH is an aviation technical

writer for the AOPA Air Safety Institute.

LOST IN THE DARK
JUST AN HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE on
August 27, 2006, the crew of a
regional jet received a clearance
to taxi to Runway 22 at Blue Grass
Airport in Lexington, Kentucky. But
in the darkness, the crew mistook
their position on the airport and
lined up at the wrong runway
for takeoff. Watch the accident
animation (www.airsafetyinstitute.
org/videos/runwaysafety-lexington)
to understand why we can't afford to
lose situational awareness in aviation.

FLYING FROM FOND DU LAC
TO FESTUS
HOW SHARP ARE YOUR VFR FLIGHT
planning skills? This AOPA Air
Safety Institute quiz presents
plenty of challenges to test your
knowledge on this 350-nauticalmile cross-country flight (www.
airsafetyinstitute.org/quiz/
fonddulactofestus).
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2018
