Flying with passengers.

[oilcanbland]

I just got my private last weekend, at 53 hrs. I was just wondering how long after you all got your private, that you started taking people up for rides. I feel very confident in my flying, but I don't know how a passenger would affect my concentration. I'm thinking about taking up my girlfriend up for a ride tonight. Just wondering what everyone has to say. Thanks.

 

[ILLINI]

You probably have more practice with distractions than you realize. Instructors make for very good distractions. Always talking and pulling engines on you, etc. I'm sure you've closed your ears to what your instructor was saying at one point or another in your training because you were so busy concentrating on a certain task. Your girlfriend will be just as easy to block out, besides you're probably used to that too. Just kidding!

Make sure you give her a proper preflight briefing. Things to include would be use of seatbelts, door location and usage, keep hands and feet clear of controls, sterile cockpit procedures, help in scanning for traffic, sounds she may hear (stall horn on landing), tell her to tell you if she's not feeling well, and anything else you may want to add. Explain to her that you may be occupied during various phases of the flight where you will be unable to talk to her. I would recommend keeping all discussion related to the flight until you are at cruise and outside of the busy airspace. Then when you feel comfortable enough to talk, you should initiate the conversation so she knows its ok for her to talk.

You should be fine. Just do what you've been doing for the past 53 hours. One more thing to add would be to make sure you are night current before you take passengers up. You know... 3 landings to a full stop during "night" time. Are you going to be flying in an area where you are familiar with? Remember, things look a little different at night. You may not be able to use many of the landmarks you used during the daytime. Make sure you are always aware of your position and don't bust any airspace or TFRs.

Have fun! And congrats on your PPL!

 

[El Cid Av8or]

I passed my private checkride and then flew my roommate to Hilton Head for dinner that evening.

To help with the passenger factor, I try explaining everything I am doing to make the passenger(s) feel more comfortable. Most tell me it works and that they have a greater appreciation for flying afterwards. Some will not get on an airliner but will fly in the small ones since they can see everything that is going on.

You should be fine. Good luck anyways.

P.S. Congrats on the private certificate

 

[TXCAP4228]

It doesn't seem like all that long ago that I passed my check ride and took my first passenger (also my girlfriend at the time). EL CID is right on, explain everything, she'll be way impressed with your knowledge.

And I hestitate to menion it but somebody has to. Bring a couple of sic-sacs along just in case. Its not romantic to brief it before the flight or even to think about it, but its a lot more romantic than the alternative.

Have a great flight!

 

[AZaviator]

Yes, as ILLINI said, a preflight briefing is very important. When I used to take friends up, I told them, once we were on take off roll, not to talk to me, until I said something first. Basically, don't speak until you're spoken to. It seemed to work very well.

Also, have a plan for when you fly, meaning, rather than flying around aimlessley for a few hours, plan on either going somewhere or doing some sort of sight seeing from the air. It makes it much more enjoyable for the passenger.

Last, if you feel comfortable doing it, let your passenger fly. They'll get a big kick out of it.

Have fun!

 

[Chunk]

Something else to think about....

When you get more comfortable taking passengers, don't fall into the trap a lot of young pilots get into and try to "scare pax"...sounds totally ridiculous, but that's the reason my mom hates GA planes....she and my dad took a ride with a coworker one time (decades ago) who thought it'd be fun to do stalls and pretend the engine died, etc. It took some convincing to get my mom up in the air with me after I got my private....we had a great ride, but she's still freaked out by that knuckleheads ride.

Chunk

 

[abenaki]

Try to keep the ride short the first time out....maybe a half hour or so........It's a new experience for your girlfriend or whomever hasn't been up before so don't overwhelm them.

And a big DITTO on the no-showing off clause. There are too many idiots who scare the beejeesus out of people on their first ride thinking that they are some kind of macho man. Basically, they're just idiots who successfully turn off people from aviation.

Keep it smooth, try not to go over 20 or 30 degrees of bank, be deliberate in your actions and think through where you're going to go and plan out your flight well and stick to it......

And watch the WEATHER!

 

[habubuaza]

I agree with all the posts. I remember when I got my private it was such an awesome day. It was my 17th birthday, that evening my girlfriend took me to dinner, and that night we took my favorite C152 and flew to East Hampton and back. It was the greatest time, and my girlfriend was in awe as to how beautiful and smooth the night time sky was. I also remember doing a few NY city tours at night with my friends shortly after that. Do you guys remember that? Anyone ever do that years ago, fly around where JFK tower brought you below 500' south of Rockaway beach. Do you remember that you literally could fly right up too and around the Statue of Liberty legally? How about the corridor up the hudson river? Man! Those were the days, how many remember that? Sorry to get nostalgic but I couldn't help it. The long and the short is, relax, be smart, be safe and have fun.