For me, one of the great things about aviation events is the opportunity to speak with members and other pilots about not only governmental and political issues, but personal experiences with general aviation flying. Last month's EAA's AirVenture '98, with its record Oshkosh crowds, provided plenty of these impromptu discussions.
One that really hit home took place when my wife Lois and I happened to sit down at a crowded picnic table to eat our lunch and struck up a conversation with a new student pilot. If you have read my columns in the past, you know how coveted new pilots are to me personally, and to the industry as a whole. There haven't been enough of them, and growth in this category spells survival for general aviation; it also goes a long way in helping to solve the present airline pilot shortage that was long predicted but slow in happening.
Like many of today's students, "Jack" appeared to be in his 30s, was working in the computer field, and had the time and resources to take up something he had wanted to do for some time: learn to fly. Jack had been training for slightly more than two months, had soloed and passed his private pilot knowledge exam, and was planning to finish by the end of September. He is atypical of most students, since he had committed himself to taking lessons three or four times a week. Jack lived in a suburb southwest of Chicago and was actually on a dual cross-country flight using Oshkosh as a destination. What a great idea! On this Sunday, the flight school had three airplanes, each with an instructor and a couple of students, making this 130-nm trip for training purposes. Each student got one leg, and Jack's leg in the Cessna 172 was up to Oshkosh — so it was the back seat for him going home. It was quite evident after just a few minutes of talking with this pilot that the aviation "bug" had really bitten him.
As we got to know Jack a little better, he began to express concern about life after his private pilot certificate. He and his wife had discussed their budget, and he had allocated what most of us would consider a generous amount to his continuing aviation hobby. There was no question that an airplane of some sort was in his future. But it wasn't a concern for airplanes, regulations, or even politics that might affect his flying. It was whether his wife would go up with him — and enjoy it — after he got his ticket.
Oftentimes, especially when Lois is present, this subject comes up with even the most seasoned, high-time GA pilots, male or female. When one spouse doesn't share the experience, often the children aren't allowed to fly. As we talked to Jack, both of us realized that of all the advice he was seeking, this might be the most critical to keeping him involved in aviation for the long term. Out came as many suggestions as we could think of in the midst of the world's greatest aviation event.
First, Lois (the ultimate Weather Channel viewer) told Jack to be sure to pick a nice day for his spouse's first flight. Plan to make it a short trip, less than half an hour one way; and be sure that it takes place during the morning hours, when the air is the smoothest. Work up to the first flight by sharing some of the preplanning at home. Show the prospective passenger the chart, with your course line drawn, and indicate the route you will take and landmarks you will pass over.
As you do your walkaround and runup, be sure to indicate what you are doing and why. Explain how an airplane is certified and routinely checked — unlike a car — and don't emphasize the negative. For instance, when you are running up the engine for a magneto check, don't talk about what happens if one fails, but indicate the added reliability of having two. At the same time, don't get too technical; just share enough knowledge to indicate to your important passenger that you know what you're doing. After all, the passenger will not be taking a check-ride of his or her own after this flight.
Once under way, don't fly right to your house and enter a steeply banked turn. Keep the turns during this trip as shallow as possible. Discourage your passenger's looking down at sites, or have an airsickness bag ready. Over our many years of flying, the most common cause of passengers' in-flight sickness has come from directing them to look down at landmarks all the time.
Finally, Lois shared my greatest fault, one that really got to her. Watch what you say in the cockpit. Remember, your spouse/friend is hanging on your every movement and word in the air. On our first flight together, I let out a quiet but audible four-letter expletive. "What's wrong?" she screamed, looking to see if a wing had fallen off. Realizing the alarm I had created, I sheepishly replied, "I dropped my pen on the floor."
When we looked at our watches, the 10-minute break for lunch had turned into an almost 45-minute conversation. As we prepared to leave, Lois asked the student pilot if he was a member of AOPA. "Of course," he replied. He had joined right after he started taking lessons, and used many of our services already. AOPA Online on the Internet was marked as his home page on his Web browser, and he found Pilot's "New Pilot" articles to be very helpful. Then he realized why Lois had asked. His face lit up as he realized who the couple was that had shared all this personal information with him. We walked away realizing that no matter who you are or how much you fly, we all share the same concerns. Many of us have found solutions to share with others, since we're all together in this endeavor of general aviation flying.
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