Taking newbies flying...

"Dudley Henriques" wrote:

You have broken the code for flying with newbies. It's really very simple
and every pilot should do it, but unfortunately, pilots not being perfect,
sometimes forget.
The main thing about first timers is anticipating their normal
apprehension and dealing with it PREEMPTIVELY!!!
This is the "secret" for dealing with all passenger issues.
Pilots should be especially aware of even the smallest detail and be
constantly alert to anything at all that might be upsetting to a new
passenger.
The normal procedure is to begin a flight with a newbie assuming
apprehension and "probe" just enough to verify first of all if
apprehension is indeed present, and if it is present, at what level.
The rest is simply devoting the time to make people feel comfortable in
the airplane and in the environment. Notice I mention TWO things here. The
airplane has noises and sounds that will be new to the first timer. These
should be anticipated and again handled PREEMPTIVELY. The environment can
also be an issue as it interacts with the airplane in flight. This should
also be dealt with PREEMPTIVELY as the flight progresses.
In short, a good pilot takes on the role of an active commentator and
"tour guide" so to speak when dealing with new people.
If pilots follow one single golden rule they will never go wrong in this
area. Doctors have the Hippocratic Oath that states "Do No Harm". Pilots
should take their own private oath to "See to it personally, that no one
who ever climbs into an airplane with them will be frightened by something
that pilot either did, or forgot to do to prevent it".
The handling of newbies is as much a responsibility for a pilot as the
preflight, and in fact, it has always been my personal policy when
instructing pilots, to make the issue of dealing with the matters I have
discussed here an active part of the preflight.
Dudley Henriques


I knew I could count on you, Dudley.

--
Dan
C172RG at BFM

"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...

the interesting part is missing: where are the pics of M_?

:-)

Another screwup; I forgot the camera. ;(

Reminds me... I ordered my wife one of those bright red tanktops from
Sporty's that says "Remove Before Flight."

Stefan wrote:
Have I got this right? You are not a flight instructor. (If you are,
please correct me.) Despite this, you hand over the controls to a
stranger.

First - if you had bothered to read and comprehend his post, you would
know this is someone who had been hinting at wanting a ride for a long
time - thus by definition not a stranger but someone he has known for
years.

Second - having a flight instructor ticket is nothing special, and
unfortunately the CFI PTS does little (more like nothing) to
effectively test the ability to monitor an untrained person's flight
and recover from upsets, so the average CFI curriculum does little
(more like nothing) to teach this. This is a skill best learned
incrementally. There is no reason that any reasonably experienced
pilot shouldn't do what Dan did. In fact, that's how good flight
instructors are made - by allowing passengers to take progressively
more action on a flight. It starts with straight and level at
altitude, and eventually progresses to maneuvers, takeoffs, even
landings. That way, when you have that first paying student in the
plane who reasonably expects you to be comfortable with allowing him to
fly, you're not trying to learn it all at once.

And all this *with a passenger in the back*!

Yeah, he really should have briefed the passenger better and let her
know what to expect. He knows that. Other than that, why not with a
passenger in the back? The incremental risk is really minimal, and
intro lessons are routinely done with passengers in the back - by
pilots with way less experience than Dan.

Michael
CFI - ASME, IA, G - as if it matters

"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Have I got this right? You are not a flight instructor. (If you are,
please correct me.) Despite this, you hand over the controls to a
stranger. To a stranger nonetheless who sits the first time in his life in
a small plane. And you don't just hand over the controls at altitude
(which admittedly I have done myself), but right on the ground and you let
him fly the take off. Then you let him fly a 180 at low altitude. And all
this *with a passenger in the back*!

Yes, you screwed up royally. But for a different reason than you think.

Stefan

As Shakespeare said, "Much ado about nothing".

There was nothing "wrong" or dangerous in what Dan did Stefan. Pilots do
this all the time, and few of them are instructors. In fact, the first time
I went up for a ride, (AT-6G) I did what could be stretched into (if I was
REALLY stretching that is :-) a reasonable facsimile of a decent slow roll.
Pilots each have to exercise responsibility if and when they hand over the
controls to a passenger as to where and when during the flight this
"changeover" takes place. A pilot letting the front seat pax handle the
controls for a while with the airplane at altitude in cruise poses no
particular threat to anyone. What's REALLY important is that the pilot in
command of the flight not allow ANYTHING to occur during that flight that
either frightens the people flying with that pilot, or endangers the flight
in any way.
Hell, half the pilots I know who aren't instructors can't wait to let people
fly their airplanes during a flight. That single thing has probably been
responsible for more people learning to fly than anything else I can
remember :-)
Dudley Henriques

Here are couple of pics of my daughter flying the Archer last summer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaver1...7594074697690/

I did the takeoff, but she flew the climbout and pretty much all the
way from Bozeman to Great Falls. She's flown with me since she was four
years old. Doesn't yet want to spend the time and commitment it takes
to get her ticket, but I'm comfortable with her flying the airplane.

She does a good job. She could probably handle the takeoff too, if I
let her.

On our day into Great Falls she flew the airplane all the way to short
final, airspeed pegged at 70 knots. She also handled the radios, which
is a story in itself.

I told her to tell Great Falls Approach (a TRSA, actually) that we were
inbound from the south, over the Smith River, with Romeo. She looked at
me kind of funny, then keyed the mike and told the controller, "Uh,
Great Falls, Archer three-niner-mike is 9 south, over the Smith River,
and we have Rambo on board".

Then she gave me this look like, "Why did you make me say that??".

There was a short pause, then the controller came back: "Roger, you
have Rambo on board. Do you have an instructor with you too?".

My daughter: "No, but my dad's with me".

Controller: "Good. Continue".

It was a fun flight.

We've had lots of other flights like that. Lots of fun.

--Walt


Dudley Henriques wrote:
"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Have I got this right? You are not a flight instructor. (If you are,
please correct me.) Despite this, you hand over the controls to a
stranger. To a stranger nonetheless who sits the first time in his life in
a small plane. And you don't just hand over the controls at altitude
(which admittedly I have done myself), but right on the ground and you let
him fly the take off. Then you let him fly a 180 at low altitude. And all
this *with a passenger in the back*!

Yes, you screwed up royally. But for a different reason than you think.

Stefan

As Shakespeare said, "Much ado about nothing".

There was nothing "wrong" or dangerous in what Dan did Stefan. Pilots do
this all the time, and few of them are instructors. In fact, the first time
I went up for a ride, (AT-6G) I did what could be stretched into (if I was
REALLY stretching that is :-) a reasonable facsimile of a decent slow roll.
Pilots each have to exercise responsibility if and when they hand over the
controls to a passenger as to where and when during the flight this
"changeover" takes place. A pilot letting the front seat pax handle the
controls for a while with the airplane at altitude in cruise poses no
particular threat to anyone. What's REALLY important is that the pilot in
command of the flight not allow ANYTHING to occur during that flight that
either frightens the people flying with that pilot, or endangers the flight
in any way.
Hell, half the pilots I know who aren't instructors can't wait to let people
fly their airplanes during a flight. That single thing has probably been
responsible for more people learning to fly than anything else I can
remember :-)
Dudley Henriques

Looks like a beautiful young lady you have there Walt.
This was pretty much how I started too. A few rides with my father abd his
friends, then practically raised by an Air National Guard fighter squadron,
and the rest is history.....well, a good story anyway :-)))
Tell her I said "hi" and to keep at it! :-)
Dudley Henriques


"Walt" wrote in message
oups.com...
Here are couple of pics of my daughter flying the Archer last summer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaver1...7594074697690/

I did the takeoff, but she flew the climbout and pretty much all the
way from Bozeman to Great Falls. She's flown with me since she was four
years old. Doesn't yet want to spend the time and commitment it takes
to get her ticket, but I'm comfortable with her flying the airplane.

She does a good job. She could probably handle the takeoff too, if I
let her.

On our day into Great Falls she flew the airplane all the way to short
final, airspeed pegged at 70 knots. She also handled the radios, which
is a story in itself.

I told her to tell Great Falls Approach (a TRSA, actually) that we were
inbound from the south, over the Smith River, with Romeo. She looked at
me kind of funny, then keyed the mike and told the controller, "Uh,
Great Falls, Archer three-niner-mike is 9 south, over the Smith River,
and we have Rambo on board".

Then she gave me this look like, "Why did you make me say that??".

There was a short pause, then the controller came back: "Roger, you
have Rambo on board. Do you have an instructor with you too?".

My daughter: "No, but my dad's with me".

Controller: "Good. Continue".

It was a fun flight.

We've had lots of other flights like that. Lots of fun.

--Walt


Dudley Henriques wrote:
"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Have I got this right? You are not a flight instructor. (If you are,
please correct me.) Despite this, you hand over the controls to a
stranger. To a stranger nonetheless who sits the first time in his life
in
a small plane. And you don't just hand over the controls at altitude
(which admittedly I have done myself), but right on the ground and you
let
him fly the take off. Then you let him fly a 180 at low altitude. And
all
this *with a passenger in the back*!

Yes, you screwed up royally. But for a different reason than you think.

Stefan

As Shakespeare said, "Much ado about nothing".

There was nothing "wrong" or dangerous in what Dan did Stefan. Pilots do
this all the time, and few of them are instructors. In fact, the first
time
I went up for a ride, (AT-6G) I did what could be stretched into (if I
was
REALLY stretching that is :-) a reasonable facsimile of a decent slow
roll.
Pilots each have to exercise responsibility if and when they hand over
the
controls to a passenger as to where and when during the flight this
"changeover" takes place. A pilot letting the front seat pax handle the
controls for a while with the airplane at altitude in cruise poses no
particular threat to anyone. What's REALLY important is that the pilot in
command of the flight not allow ANYTHING to occur during that flight that
either frightens the people flying with that pilot, or endangers the
flight
in any way.
Hell, half the pilots I know who aren't instructors can't wait to let
people
fly their airplanes during a flight. That single thing has probably been
responsible for more people learning to fly than anything else I can
remember :-)
Dudley Henriques

Walt,

Great pics...

I sure wish I'd had someone to take me flying at that age...how great for
you both!

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

Thanks Dudley, I'll tell her you said hi. She's a good kid.

--Walt


Dudley Henriques wrote:
Looks like a beautiful young lady you have there Walt.
This was pretty much how I started too. A few rides with my father abd his
friends, then practically raised by an Air National Guard fighter squadron,
and the rest is history.....well, a good story anyway :-)))
Tell her I said "hi" and to keep at it! :-)
Dudley Henriques


"Walt" wrote in message
oups.com...
Here are couple of pics of my daughter flying the Archer last summer.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/weaver1...7594074697690/

I did the takeoff, but she flew the climbout and pretty much all the
way from Bozeman to Great Falls. She's flown with me since she was four
years old. Doesn't yet want to spend the time and commitment it takes
to get her ticket, but I'm comfortable with her flying the airplane.

She does a good job. She could probably handle the takeoff too, if I
let her.

On our day into Great Falls she flew the airplane all the way to short
final, airspeed pegged at 70 knots. She also handled the radios, which
is a story in itself.

I told her to tell Great Falls Approach (a TRSA, actually) that we were
inbound from the south, over the Smith River, with Romeo. She looked at
me kind of funny, then keyed the mike and told the controller, "Uh,
Great Falls, Archer three-niner-mike is 9 south, over the Smith River,
and we have Rambo on board".

Then she gave me this look like, "Why did you make me say that??".

There was a short pause, then the controller came back: "Roger, you
have Rambo on board. Do you have an instructor with you too?".

My daughter: "No, but my dad's with me".

Controller: "Good. Continue".

It was a fun flight.

We've had lots of other flights like that. Lots of fun.

--Walt


Dudley Henriques wrote:
"Stefan" wrote in message
...
Have I got this right? You are not a flight instructor. (If you are,
please correct me.) Despite this, you hand over the controls to a
stranger. To a stranger nonetheless who sits the first time in his life
in
a small plane. And you don't just hand over the controls at altitude
(which admittedly I have done myself), but right on the ground and you
let
him fly the take off. Then you let him fly a 180 at low altitude. And
all
this *with a passenger in the back*!

Yes, you screwed up royally. But for a different reason than you think.

Stefan

As Shakespeare said, "Much ado about nothing".

There was nothing "wrong" or dangerous in what Dan did Stefan. Pilots do
this all the time, and few of them are instructors. In fact, the first
time
I went up for a ride, (AT-6G) I did what could be stretched into (if I
was
REALLY stretching that is :-) a reasonable facsimile of a decent slow
roll.
Pilots each have to exercise responsibility if and when they hand over
the
controls to a passenger as to where and when during the flight this
"changeover" takes place. A pilot letting the front seat pax handle the
controls for a while with the airplane at altitude in cruise poses no
particular threat to anyone. What's REALLY important is that the pilot in
command of the flight not allow ANYTHING to occur during that flight that
either frightens the people flying with that pilot, or endangers the
flight
in any way.
Hell, half the pilots I know who aren't instructors can't wait to let
people
fly their airplanes during a flight. That single thing has probably been
responsible for more people learning to fly than anything else I can
remember :-)
Dudley Henriques

Dudley Henriques wrote:
There was nothing "wrong" or dangerous in what Dan did Stefan. Pilots do
this all the time, and few of them are instructors. In fact, the first time
I went up for a ride, (AT-6G) I did what could be stretched into (if I was
REALLY stretching that is :-) a reasonable facsimile of a decent slow roll.


My first time at the controls was with a Navy recruiter in a T-34B after I took
the NFO test and scored reasonably well. We took off after a safety briefing
that left me with the impression that if anything went wrong, well, it'd been a
good life. I mean, the pilot was going to get out OK but I sure as hell wasn't
going to remember a word of what he told me.

That being done, we took off and the fellow showed me what an airplane could do.
It went up and down (we looped) and it went around (we rolled). So far so
good... he probably did several other things but all I really remember was this
was the first time I'd ever experienced G in an airplane. I didn't disgrace
either myself or my ancestors by redecorating the cockpit.

Then the fellow let me take the controls. We went up and down (gingerly) and
turned left and right (gingerly). Now that we were straight and level (more or
less) I began to get a little green around the gills.

I was never so glad to get down on the ground. Of course, I claimed the ride
was the greatest experience of my life as I wiped the sweat from my brow and
swallowed frequently. But I didn't disgrace myself.

Here it is some 30 years later and the only time I've ever gotten nauseated in
an airplane since was riding in the back of an Arrow while somebody else flew
it. But I've never puked. There's a few times I almost **** my pants but
that's a different story.

Now, with newbies, I give my best airline ride. I figure any fool can jerk an
airplane around but it takes talent to be smooth. But I don't explain
everything in advance... I just do what needs to be done and answer questions as
they come up. I haven't lost a passenger yet or had anybody refuse to ride with
me a second time.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:49:25 +0000, Ron Lee wrote:

If something seems odd don't dance around the
bush...state what you are thinking.

The kid did that. It wasn't an immediate threat, so he accepted the
response. As the threat became more immediate, he inquired again.

He sounds very level-headed, in fact. I like the "I really don't want to
die today" comment. No yelling, but designed to get through to an
elk-gazing pilot.

- Andrew