When You Take A Person Up For Their First Airplane Ride, You Have A Chance To Enrich The Future Of General Aviation; Don’t Blow It!

It’s a simple fact; most people are uncomfortable if thrown into a situation where they have no control and little knowledge of what is going on. Of course, it’s amplified when you add in the altitude factor and then toss in a good dose of pre-programmed fear of flying.

If your passenger is a first-time flyer, you want to provide a good first flight experience. One way to do this is to put them to work. What we’re discussing here holds true in a complex airplane or a simple light sport aircraft. Make them part of your cockpit resource management (CRM).

Make your first-time flyer an official crew member. That is, explain to them that they are part of the crew when they fly with you and are welcome to make comments or ask questions. Most important, urge your passenger to let you know if any part of the flight feels uncomfortable for them, either from physical discomfort or from not knowing what is happening. 

Now that they are an official part of your CRM, include them in the preflight inspection, or at least let them know that one has been completed. However, don’t overload your new passenger with details. Walk the fine line between scaring them and simply showing them you are prudent.

Once seated in the cockpit, review their part of the cockpit duties. This includes learning how to manage the seat belt and shoulder harness, and how to latch and open the door or canopy (if you have one). As your passenger accepts these simple responsibilities, they gain control; that’s an emotional plus.

Instruct your first-time flyer to become an extra pair of eyes, both on the ground and in flight. Before making a turn while taxing or flying, ask your passenger to look for traffic. It won’t take long before they start looking before you ask.

While in the run-up area, brief them on what they will hear on the radio. If we are using a common traffic advisory frequency, explain that many aircraft will be on the same frequency, and they will hear other airport names. Their job is to make sure they tell you if they hear a call for your airport. Also explain your call sign so the passenger can tell if you are talking.

If we are at an airport with radio controlled traffic, the radio briefing takes on an additional safety role.  Ask your passenger to back you up on the communications. You may find that the first time flyer finds the radio work more fun than the flying.

The first time passenger might be excited and ready to go, or timid and fearful. If he or she falls into the timid and fearful category, it’s even more important to welcome your passenger as a crew member and put them to work.

Last but not least, a first-time flyer should always be taught the pleasure of the after flight bug cleaning task.

(Image of Zenith Zodiac from file)

FMI: www.eaa.org  www.aopa.org