After the Checkride: Introduce a friend to GA
Take someone on their first flight
We’re sure that when you started taking flying lessons, most people in your world were pretty impressed—and more than a little curious. After all, there are only a little more than 600,000 active certificated pilots in the United States (less than 1 percent of the U.S. population), so you’re engaging in a pursuit the average American hasn’t considered. The best way to spread the gospel of general aviation is by taking one of those friends on a first flight.
The best first flights are on a calm day—little to no wind, bright blue skies, nary a cloud. Mornings are best, when the air is still, especially in the winter months. Don't pick a sultry summer day—after all, you want this to be a pleasant experience, not a lesson in the effects of turbulence.
- Fly your passenger over his or her home or town if possible. At 1,000 feet above the highest obstruction, your passenger can see home from an angle few get to see—make sure they’ve brought a camera.
- Keep the flight short, explain what you are doing at all times, and don’t say things like “whoops” or “what’s that?”
- Make sure your passenger is comfortable and secure. Suggest they wear comfortable clothing, haven’t eaten too much right before the flight, and have used the bathroom.
This is an introductory flight, not a lesson, so emphasize the beauty and the joy of flying. Next time, you can suggest a lesson.
