scared passengers
- Thread starter montanapilot
- Start date
PeanuckleCRJ
Poodle Wrangler
Re: scared passengers helped me
I'm kinda afraid of heights too.. don't even think of putting me in one of those glass walled elevators on the side of a building.
The first mistake was putting her in the back seat. Anytime I'd take my girlfriend flying I'd put them in the left seat. I'd show them how to taxi (sit on your hands!)...walk them through the takeoff if they were comfy... and such. Remember people have a certain conception of small planes..and when they are put at the controls and right at the action..they feel more comfortable and in control of the situation..even though you are doing the work. Nothing beats the look on their face when they hear you talk on the radios too.
One girl I dated though never really got over her fear. She got alot better after a few flights, but still was a nervous wreck.
I'm kinda afraid of heights too.. don't even think of putting me in one of those glass walled elevators on the side of a building.
The first mistake was putting her in the back seat. Anytime I'd take my girlfriend flying I'd put them in the left seat. I'd show them how to taxi (sit on your hands!)...walk them through the takeoff if they were comfy... and such. Remember people have a certain conception of small planes..and when they are put at the controls and right at the action..they feel more comfortable and in control of the situation..even though you are doing the work. Nothing beats the look on their face when they hear you talk on the radios too.
One girl I dated though never really got over her fear. She got alot better after a few flights, but still was a nervous wreck.
Windchill
Well-Known Member
Re: scared passengers helped me
[ QUOTE ]
I'm not afraid of great heights, I'm afraid of falling from great heights!
[/ QUOTE ]
Rented a 172G again while I'm here in Dover, DE visiting my parents. Dad was eager to go again, mom still won't go. She told me she wants to go during the day, where she can see more ... somehow that will make her feel much better.
I told her night time = smoother air (generally speaking), easier to spot other aircraft due to a/c lighting, and the other benies of flying at night, like being able to tell cities from a further out distance.
Like said on here before though, if they're afraid, they're afraid and leave 'em behind.
[ QUOTE ]
I'm not afraid of great heights, I'm afraid of falling from great heights!
[/ QUOTE ]
Rented a 172G again while I'm here in Dover, DE visiting my parents. Dad was eager to go again, mom still won't go. She told me she wants to go during the day, where she can see more ... somehow that will make her feel much better.
I told her night time = smoother air (generally speaking), easier to spot other aircraft due to a/c lighting, and the other benies of flying at night, like being able to tell cities from a further out distance.
Like said on here before though, if they're afraid, they're afraid and leave 'em behind.
naunga
New Member
Here's what I'd do...
- Smooth air. Good weather.
- Take them through a through pre-flight
- Keep the first flight short. I'd say 15 minutes tops. There's nothing wrong with leaving her wanting more.
- No hotdogging.
- Now this will probably spark some controvery, but keep the emergency proceedures to a minimum. Anxiety is the mind processing all the things that COULD go wrong regardless of solutions to said problems. So going over in detail what to do in case of fire, smoke, forced landing, and the rapture is likely to fuel her anxiety not ease it. Even though it will increase your workload a bit in an emergency you can always walk her through openning the door IF something happens. This is how I'd handle it anyway.
- Don't assume that she wants to learn how to fly. Keep the coversation light. Tell her to ask any questions that she has. Some people don't like to talk a lot when they're fearful, because they focus their mental energies into calming themseleves. If she doesn't want to talk do push it. Talk with your buddy and monitor her.
- Keep a sick-sac in your pocket just in case, but don't even mention airsickness. Most airsickness is more mental than physical.
- I'd put her in the right seat if she's cool with it. That way she can see the instruments and confirm that the plane is still flying.
- She should probably go with a very experienced CFI for her first flight....unless of course you're an experienced CFI.
The last thing I'd say is don't press the issue. If she doesn't want to fly then don't make her. Let her spend time watching the planes take off and land at the airport. After a while she may actually decide that she's being irrational and ask to go up.
My two cents.
Naunga
- Smooth air. Good weather.
- Take them through a through pre-flight
- Keep the first flight short. I'd say 15 minutes tops. There's nothing wrong with leaving her wanting more.
- No hotdogging.
- Now this will probably spark some controvery, but keep the emergency proceedures to a minimum. Anxiety is the mind processing all the things that COULD go wrong regardless of solutions to said problems. So going over in detail what to do in case of fire, smoke, forced landing, and the rapture is likely to fuel her anxiety not ease it. Even though it will increase your workload a bit in an emergency you can always walk her through openning the door IF something happens. This is how I'd handle it anyway.
- Don't assume that she wants to learn how to fly. Keep the coversation light. Tell her to ask any questions that she has. Some people don't like to talk a lot when they're fearful, because they focus their mental energies into calming themseleves. If she doesn't want to talk do push it. Talk with your buddy and monitor her.
- Keep a sick-sac in your pocket just in case, but don't even mention airsickness. Most airsickness is more mental than physical.
- I'd put her in the right seat if she's cool with it. That way she can see the instruments and confirm that the plane is still flying.
- She should probably go with a very experienced CFI for her first flight....unless of course you're an experienced CFI.
The last thing I'd say is don't press the issue. If she doesn't want to fly then don't make her. Let her spend time watching the planes take off and land at the airport. After a while she may actually decide that she's being irrational and ask to go up.
My two cents.
Naunga
mtsu_av8er
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I'd say 15 minutes tops. There's nothing wrong with leaving her wanting more.
[/ QUOTE ]
Uh-huh! So, what does the Mrs think about that??
I'd say 15 minutes tops. There's nothing wrong with leaving her wanting more.
[/ QUOTE ]
Uh-huh! So, what does the Mrs think about that??
naunga
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd say 15 minutes tops. There's nothing wrong with leaving her wanting more.
[/ QUOTE ]
Uh-huh! So, what does the Mrs think about that??
[/ QUOTE ]
Hey baby I'm just talkin' flyin' here.
Of course no woman can get enough of the Naunga-love-machine.
<cue Isaac Hayes>
Mmmmm...ooooo....yeah baby...
Good love6-9969
Good love6-9969
Good love6-9969
It ain't how good I make it, baby, it's how I make it good!
<fade out Isaac>
Naunga
[ QUOTE ]
I'd say 15 minutes tops. There's nothing wrong with leaving her wanting more.
[/ QUOTE ]
Uh-huh! So, what does the Mrs think about that??
[/ QUOTE ]
Hey baby I'm just talkin' flyin' here.
Of course no woman can get enough of the Naunga-love-machine.
<cue Isaac Hayes>
Mmmmm...ooooo....yeah baby...
Good love6-9969
Good love6-9969
Good love6-9969
It ain't how good I make it, baby, it's how I make it good!
<fade out Isaac>
LAX_Airport
New Member
Re: scared passengers helped me
Poor Chicky........(So much for her mile high club pass!)
Poor Chicky........(So much for her mile high club pass!)
Coney
New Member
Hey, Montana. I agree with many who've already replied. I think people who have such intense fears about flying in small planes are going to be awfully tough to console. It's not for everyone. We all have our own fears, too. Truth is, I won't go scuba diving in the ocean because I'm scared of being attacked by a shark (or anything that causes bodily harm). Rational or not, I'm not going in.