Are We There Yet?

A foam earplug, cut in half lengthwise, is the perfect size for small ears.

First flights should be fun. When the big day comes, make sure the weather is good, and keep it under an hour.

Children can be the most cooperative, curious, and cheerful of airborne companions. On the other hand, if aerial introductions are done unwisely, they can also become most difficult, distracting, and very unhappy. When it comes to taking your kids--or those of anyone else--off into the wild blue, there are some things we absolutely must carefully consider.

First, most people are born with a fascination for things that fly. That often extends into adulthood; it's no news that airshows are among the most highly attended of outdoor events. But it is how that innate natural wonder is nurtured and developed that can help the future of pilot demographics. Much of this can be done even before you go near an airplane. For older kids, you might initiate a brief aviation-related discussion of geography using a sectional chart, attempt to spark an interest in mathematics by explaining a simple equation related to fuel endurance, or describe the basic physics inherent in the four forces of flight. The subject of aviation is an absolute gold mine for both improving the technological prowess of future generations as well as simply ensuring the strength of our numbers in the decades to come. Of course, for kids of any age, you can always simply take them to an airshow.

When it comes time to actually take a young person flying, here are some personal observations--including one or two things that I myself could have accomplished more successfully, had I known better.

The first lesson I learned, the hard way, was to walk before trying to run--or more appropriately, to consider your audience before you're ready to go full tilt. Naturally, one of the best ways to introduce anything new to kids, whether it is a second language or something else, is to start 'em out young. But be careful, because mistakes can set you back. Like the time I brought my then-toddler son to the airport to sit in the pilot's seat of old 3741V, the Cessna 150 that I was flying at the time from Montgomery County Airpark in Maryland, outside of Washington, D.C. It was neatly tied down, and I opened the door, picked him up, and popped him up onto the right seat.

He was enjoying his (literally) hands-on experience so much (with the yoke in this case), that I thought, Gee, wouldn't it be neat if I could let him hear what the engine sounded like (even if I racked up a whole tenth of a Hobbs hour)? So I went through a quick prestart checklist, and the engine roared to life. But I didn't realize that the sound I so enjoyed might not be very gentle to the tender ears of a 2-year-old. That precious little boy screamed in absolute terror, and any hopes of his falling in love with airplanes were flattened--for five years.

Now about the subject of cacophony and discord, and noise in general: Be careful when it comes to safeguarding their hearing. For those of you who plan to fly infants, babies, or even toddlers, there is one inexpensive and very easy way to protect their delicate ears. Take a pair of those cylindrical foam earplugs that you can buy almost anywhere for less than a buck, and cut one lengthwise. Each of those, rolled up and gently inserted about halfway into each ear canal, will do wonders--especially when used in conjunction with a headset made for smaller folk (several headset manufacturers offer them).

Any tendencies toward ear troubles should be carefully monitored; some kids are more prone to it than others. In some children, the Eustachian tube remains nearly horizontal for a longer time (unlike the more sloping configuration later in life), which can interfere with its functioning, causing more infections. In some kids, pressure equalization can be problematic. A pediatrician can often prescribe a decongestant.

In general, be extra careful not to climb or descend too rapidly. The best thing to do is combine this segment of the flight profile with snacks, to keep the jaws moving; bottles for the babies, slightly older kids could have fruit, and bigger kids (and adults) often do well with chewing gum to clear the ears. For kids out of diapers who also have short-term bladders, go easy on the liquids, by the way.

Another lesson I well remember was also one learned the hard way, this time during an instrument flight from our home airport in Maryland to an airport near my parents, who were living in northern New Jersey at the time. This lesson commenced sometime after my wife had given our son a nice big glass of fruit juice (unbeknownst to me) immediately before we'd left the house. And we didn't have a spare empty bottle of any kind aboard. (Little boys can get away with doing that, and in the company of others!) I remember vividly how, at 5,000 feet over Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I had to practically make an emergency descent to get him to a bathroom, and barely in time at that.

This is strategic as well as logistical: play hard to get. At the outset, flights should be fun, and approached carefully. Start out with "cockpit familiarization" (minus any sudden sound effects, of course), standing by the fence watching takeoffs and landings, or just talking. When the big day comes, make sure it's a friendly sky, with smooth air, and keep it under an hour. If possible fly over their house, their school, or anything familiar. Remember that children are not sitting as high up as you are, so be sure to use a cushion or booster seat (strapped in properly, as recommended by the manufacturer) to help them see out those windows.

Your goal is to quit while they are still wanting more! A celebratory post-flight photo makes for a great souvenir item, by the way, as does an AOPA Project Pilot first flight certificate. You can customize and download it from Flight Training Online.

The next step up, of course, is a trip with a purpose--even if it's just to have fun. For example, one of our first family flights was to Cumberland, in western Maryland, where we rode a steam train to Frostburg and back on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, and then visited the Transportation and Industrial Museum. If you want it to stay fun, though, be sure to do some homework beforehand. (Obviously, it is also your job to work out a schedule, and arrange all those other travel logistics, so everything flows smoothly.)

A few other guidelines will assure a good experience for all. Do not fly with kids under 4 without a second adult, especially under instrument flight rules or in high-traffic areas. Next, bring books, pillows, and blankets, especially if leaving early in the evening, or if flight time and "nap time" overlap. Staying up late the night before can be an advantage during longer trips later on, if any certain someones might get a little grumpy when they miss a nap.

Enter instrument meteorological conditions with all the more forethought to potential turbulence and other workload challenges. Kids can pick up on emotions, and if something happens and you aren't happy, they won't be happy. After age 4 or so, depending on precocity--don't all pilots have bright kids?--they can be made to feel like they are in on the action (and to some extent, they could be) by helping to hold checklists, charts, and the like.

Near or at the top of the list of the most important things, of course, is to pick the right weather. Expand their horizons gently, keep flights cozy and comfortable, and whatever you do, don't make too big a production of airsickness bags. (If you're a parent, you'll know the signs, and of course, have the bags handy in case they do need them.)

Just as you wouldn't rush important strategic decisions, don't rush flying fever. And preflight (and fly) extra carefully; you're carrying precious cargo!

Jeff Pardo is an aviation writer in Maryland with a commercial pilot certificate for airplanes, and instrument, helicopter, and glider ratings. He has logged about 1,300 hours since 1989. Pardo has also flown for the Civil Air Patrol.

Want to know more?
Links to additional resources about the topics discussed in this article are available at AOPA Flight Training Online.