AircraftOwner Online

Take Someone Flying

    Involving the public in activities at the airport is a simple first step in winning more converts to General Aviation. The next step is to take someone flying.

    Like many fellow pilots, I am a huge advocate of the EAA Young Eagles program. Taking young people up in a general aviation aircraft helps familiarize them with GA and helps combat negative ideas they might pick up in the media. But in addition to taking young people up, how about taking anyone else up who wants to go flying? One short flight may well win another General Aviation advocate.

    When I take non-aviation people up flying I always try and explain, in advance, how the airplane works and what they can expect when they get in the air. This includes a review of the controls, a little bit about lift and how wings work (they want to know what’s holding them up), etc. I tell them about starting the engine, communications, traffic separation – everything. Remember, your flying guests will probably know absolutely nothing about flying, yet they are entrusting their lives to you. It’s only natural for them to have questions even if they are afraid to ask you.

    Once you are in the air give them a gentle demo of the flight controls. Show them how easy it is to fly. Whenever I do this people are amazed at how approachable flying is. Of course if you’re already in the air, I find letting my passengers make gentle turns is a good first step in making them comfortable. Whatever you do, avoid “showing off” with rapid maneuvers, and tricks like weightlessness, buzzing the house, and that sort of thing. I cringe whenever I hear someone say their first airplane ride was “scary”. I know that was due 90% to the pilot trying to show off.

Show Up At Other Airports Too

    Sharing your own airport with others is so very important. So is helping our comrades at other airports when they have events. If there is a fly-in and people come out to look at the planes, it’s nice to have airplanes there. Fly-ins, by definition, are not static events. The simple coming and going of airplanes is part of the show. And when people see large numbers of small planes moving around in a pattern and on the ground they get more comfortable
with it.

    When you get out of your plane you will no doubt be able to tell who is an aviation neophyte. Talk to them. Show them your plane. Ask if they are a pilot even when you know the answer already. The fact that you considered it possible that they could fly carries with it the power of positive suggestion – “If this pilot thinks I might be a pilot too, maybe it’s possible.”

So Let’s Make This Summer One of Involvement

    The summer flying season is here! Let’s make this summer one where we all work at being even more involved as advocates for General Aviation. We have a great base to work from. Those are our airports. And we have great tools to work with. Those are our personal enthusiasm and our airplanes. Remember virtually everyone’s “inner self” wants to fly. Help them realize it!