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#1
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Passenger Comfort.....
I'm a relatively new commercial pilot and have had several passengers
with NPE...near puke events! Some have been uncomfortable from the moment we start the tow, others at altitude and others while thermaling. I keep the chatter going, recommend steady breathing and to look at the horizon. I make sure the air vent is open as well. Can anyone offer some tips to keep the passengers from losing it? I want each one to have a great ride and first gliding experience. I keep the manuevers gentle and frequently ask how they are doing. It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy. Thanks in advance, Douglas |
#2
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Why try letting them fly the glider.
This I find distracts them and they end up thinking about other things rather than puking. Also make sure they are looking out at the horizon and admiring the view. Some people put their heads down and look inside when they start to feel off and this just makes it worse. Paul wrote in message ups.com... I'm a relatively new commercial pilot and have had several passengers with NPE...near puke events! Some have been uncomfortable from the moment we start the tow, others at altitude and others while thermaling. I keep the chatter going, recommend steady breathing and to look at the horizon. I make sure the air vent is open as well. Can anyone offer some tips to keep the passengers from losing it? I want each one to have a great ride and first gliding experience. I keep the manuevers gentle and frequently ask how they are doing. It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy. Thanks in advance, Douglas |
#3
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Paul wrote:
Why try letting them fly the glider. I assume you meant, "why not...?" Also make sure they are looking out at the horizon and admiring the view. Some people put their heads down and look inside when they start to feel off and this just makes it worse. Good advice here. It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy. Don't discount the power of suggestion -- but I'm not sure how to get around it without leaving them uninformed. Jack |
#4
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On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 02:48:58 GMT, Jack wrote:
Paul wrote: snip It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy. Don't discount the power of suggestion -- but I'm not sure how to get around it without leaving them uninformed. Jack I used to operate a commercial glider operation. I kept a gallon size zip lock bag in the front seat pocket but I never told the passenger about it. I would then watch the passenger for signs of there getting sick. (I was in the back seat.) If they started sweating a lot on not such a hot day, or became uresponsive when questioned I would directly ask them if they were not feeling well and tell them where the bag was. I did not tell them about the bag before launch because a discussion between many commercial operators suggested that telling them where the sick sac was would often times make passengers more prone to getting sick. I also avoided giving rides when it was extremely hot or when the visibility was poor, i.e. no clear horizon. With no clear horizon I found passengers had more of a problem. In five seasons of giving rides commercially and 7 seasons of giving rides for my club, I only had three or four people get sick. Unfortunately one of them was my former fiancee. (The gallon bag was so they would not have any trouble with aim. They also could seal it after they were done and I did not have to smell.) |
#5
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One thing I have learned - Make sure your passengers - Never look at the wingtip
circling close to the ground. The apparent retrograde motion seems to trigger motion sickness very reliably in those who are succeptible. We also make as little point of the air-sick bag as possible, and just enloy the flight. If the passenger is enjoying the flight we might extend it, but generally keep first flight to 20 minutes max. Some folk never get comfortable. So far I have never made a passenger more than queasy. There are those who have made someone throw up, and those who will some day make someone throw up... JC wrote: On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 02:48:58 GMT, Jack wrote: Paul wrote: snip It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy. Don't discount the power of suggestion -- but I'm not sure how to get around it without leaving them uninformed. Jack I used to operate a commercial glider operation. I kept a gallon size zip lock bag in the front seat pocket but I never told the passenger about it. I would then watch the passenger for signs of there getting sick. (I was in the back seat.) If they started sweating a lot on not such a hot day, or became uresponsive when questioned I would directly ask them if they were not feeling well and tell them where the bag was. I did not tell them about the bag before launch because a discussion between many commercial operators suggested that telling them where the sick sac was would often times make passengers more prone to getting sick. I also avoided giving rides when it was extremely hot or when the visibility was poor, i.e. no clear horizon. With no clear horizon I found passengers had more of a problem. In five seasons of giving rides commercially and 7 seasons of giving rides for my club, I only had three or four people get sick. Unfortunately one of them was my former fiancee. (The gallon bag was so they would not have any trouble with aim. They also could seal it after they were done and I did not have to smell.) -- Bruce Greeff Std Cirrus #57 I'm no-T at the address above. |
#6
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I wrote an article about "Give a Better Glider Ride" in the April 2004
issue of "Soaring" magazine, that was well received. Here's a few tips: Consider not making the glider ride into a soaring flight. Five shallow turns in a thermal at most - then work "lift streets". The initial glider ride should be about 15-20 minutes, and in the cool, calm air of the morning. Constant turning under a bit of "G" and seeing the world go 'round every 20 seconds may not be a happy introduction to the joy of soaring. If they liked the short flight, then take them up again for the soaring flight, later in the day. Of course, if you are not flying coordinated, you are making them uncomfortable, and if you are talking too much - trying to explain the concepts of the yaw string, glider aerodynamics, thermals, etc. to them - then you are not allowing them to enjoy the quiet, and make their own adjustments to the new sensations. In 38 years of giving thousands of glider rides, I've made less than 10 passengers sick. Think about how new it must be to your passenger in every sensory aspect. Give them time to adjust and they will be back for more. If you are not an instructor, I'd be careful about having them fly the glider. (Just the stick, as the rudder is more than they need to know about at first. Read Derek Piggott's chapter for instructors in his book, "Gliding Safety" and how to teach turns.) 'Telling passengers where to look - out at the horizon is OK, as long as the rate of turn is slow. You are to be commended for wanting to share soaring with your passengers, but consider sharing it a small piece at a time. Too much candy makes one sick! Try to look up that article in April 2004 "Soaring", or I can email it as a file. Burt Compton Marfa Gliders, west Texas USA www.flygliders.com |
#7
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Thanks all for the tips. I'll look up your article Burt. After
reading the replies, I think my biggest mistake has been the power of suggestion. I've made too much of a point about the airsick bag, and probably have been questioning the passengers to frequently to see if they are OK. I'll switch to the "hidden" gallon zip locks, and won't mention it unless it's needed. I've been having them look at the horizon which seems to have helped. I really do keep it mellow unless they say they are OK with the turns. I'll also keep my mouth shut more! But I still will point out the sights....on a good day, the passengers can see NY, Phillie, and the ocean. Thanks again for all the replies and tips. I take giving rides very seriously, if we can give a "newbie" a good experience the first time out, they may come back for more. Douglas |
#8
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Just want to put in a good word for a product called the Relief Band. It is an FDA-approved medical device (proven effective)than can be purchased online for about $75 and is available in many drug store chains. It is effective for motion sickness, morning sickness, and most other nausea. I have found it effective 85% of the time. It is worn like a watch and gives an adjustable small electric shock to the inside of the wrist. Get the one that has replaceable button cell batteries (they last about 40 hours). So when you must give a ride on a hot bumpy afternoon to a passenger that just had a big lunch you might have them put on a relief band before the get in the glider. Barf bag as backup. |
#9
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I'll second that. I first bought the "Relief Band" for my wife who was using
a medication that made her nauseous. It is important to follow the directions (the "tingle" feeling must extend up the center of the hand and to the middle fingers. Also, have the pax put the band on *before* the flight and then show them how to turn it on. Trying to get the thing installed properly after the onset of nausea is a guaranteed way to fill the barf bag! -- bumper ZZ (reverse all after @) "Dare to be different . . . circle in sink." "Stuart Grant" wrote in message oups.com... Just want to put in a good word for a product called the Relief Band. It is an FDA-approved medical device (proven effective)than can be purchased online for about $75 and is available in many drug store chains. It is effective for motion sickness, morning sickness, and most other nausea. I have found it effective 85% of the time. It is worn like a watch and gives an adjustable small electric shock to the inside of the wrist. Get the one that has replaceable button cell batteries (they last about 40 hours). So when you must give a ride on a hot bumpy afternoon to a passenger that just had a big lunch you might have them put on a relief band before the get in the glider. Barf bag as backup. |
#10
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Burt is right on the money. I like to do first flights in the
calm, cooler sunset air. I also sometimes do a very short pattern tow for the first flight, then a second flight that is longer if desired. I use slow roll rates and gentler banks, and load the C.G. fairly forward. I often avoid thermals for the very first flight. Sometimes (often?) we get people who really aren't first timers. They are hang glider or airplane or ultralight pilots. One of the "first flights" with one of these guys was over 3 hours. I once went up with another guy, student pilot? Yeah right! We thermalled for over 3 hours and I had to ask him to land so I could pee (I did an improper pre-flight). Turbulent air is what soaring is all about. But some "rides" just want gliding, not soaring. I personally enjoy giving a "glider" ride as much as a "soaring" ride, if that's what the customer asks for. Unfortunately, at some places and some parts of the day, the air is so turbulent that "gliding" isn't a possibility. In article .com, wrote: I wrote an article about "Give a Better Glider Ride" in the April 2004 issue of "Soaring" magazine, that was well received. Here's a few tips: Consider not making the glider ride into a soaring flight. Five shallow turns in a thermal at most - then work "lift streets". The initial glider ride should be about 15-20 minutes, and in the cool, calm air of the morning. Constant turning under a bit of "G" and seeing the world go 'round every 20 seconds may not be a happy introduction to the joy of soaring. If they liked the short flight, then take them up again for the soaring flight, later in the day. Of course, if you are not flying coordinated, you are making them uncomfortable, and if you are talking too much - trying to explain the concepts of the yaw string, glider aerodynamics, thermals, etc. to them - then you are not allowing them to enjoy the quiet, and make their own adjustments to the new sensations. In 38 years of giving thousands of glider rides, I've made less than 10 passengers sick. Think about how new it must be to your passenger in every sensory aspect. Give them time to adjust and they will be back for more. If you are not an instructor, I'd be careful about having them fly the glider. (Just the stick, as the rudder is more than they need to know about at first. Read Derek Piggott's chapter for instructors in his book, "Gliding Safety" and how to teach turns.) 'Telling passengers where to look - out at the horizon is OK, as long as the rate of turn is slow. You are to be commended for wanting to share soaring with your passengers, but consider sharing it a small piece at a time. Too much candy makes one sick! Try to look up that article in April 2004 "Soaring", or I can email it as a file. Burt Compton Marfa Gliders, west Texas USA www.flygliders.com -- ------------+ Mark J. Boyd |
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