Musings: The pilot selfie
Turn the camera around
By Garrett DeMeyer
While posting pictures of ourselves flying for all our friends to see makes us feel good, at the end of the day what good does it really do? Will one more pilot selfie on Instagram encourage the next person to learn to fly? I challenge you to consider what you post on social media and instead of focusing on you (we already know you’re cool; you are a pilot, after all) focus on others and the impact flying can have.
Instead of sharing a picture in front of your airplane, share a flyer for a Young Eagles event at your local airport. Maybe someone will share it with a kid who has always been interested in flight and encourage them to attend. Many of us will never forget our Young Eagles flight. It is an amazing opportunity many people may not know about. (EAA chapters periodically offer free introductory flights to people under the age of 16 at many general aviation airports.)
Spend your time on social media helping those new to flying. Countless groups are dedicated to student pilots, pilots of specific airplanes (type clubs), and regional groups. Odds are someone has a question you can answer. Take time to message new student pilots, provide advice, and encourage them. Often it is little things like this that help future pilots to stick with their training.
The vast majority of people have no idea how safe, fun, and important general aviation can be.Forget about the action camera footage of your laps around the traffic pattern (it never looks as good as the real thing, anyway) and instead post about the positive impact general aviation can have on your community. From flying cancer patients to treatment, or supplies into disaster-stricken communities, GA has a huge impact many people don’t know about. Instead of scrolling past some small airplane landing, a nonpilot may be captivated by the story of a rescue dog who found a new home thanks to general aviation. Emotional stories provide a much more engaging and positive interaction.
Show people the kind of adventures you can have with an airplane. Your Instagram followers know what your face looks like, but they may not know what it’s like to camp by your airplane, or about the diner at the grass strip. They can’t imagine what your hometown looks like from 1,000 feet above. Why not use your opportunity to provide the nonpilot population with a perspective of the world they may never get to know?
It’s easy to lash out in the comments section, but better to try to debunk preconceived notions the general public may have of flying. Weigh in with your support for keeping a local airport open. Promote the economic impact a small airport can have on a city. Cite facts and provide reasons from your viewpoint as a pilot many people may not have considered.
This kind of publicity is critical for our hobby. The vast majority of people have no idea how safe, fun, and important general aviation can be. So instead of sharing another cockpit, why not consider the impact your voice can have? Use your platform for promotion of aviation. While 200 likes on another cockpit selfie might feel good, knowing you made a difference for general aviation will feel even better.
Garrett DeMeyer is a 110-hour private pilot who works in his local flying club office when not attending college.
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