Flying young ones, what to do???

Omega232Devils · #1 11-15-2011, 09:47 PM

Hey RVr's,
I have a question for those of you who have flown kids before. I am very excited to fly to Phoenix and pick up my niece this weekend and fly her back to San Diego for Thanksgiving. (Assuming the proseal on my tank cures by then!) She will turn 8 years old next week and is very smart and is very excited about the flight.
What advice do you guys who routinely fly kids have for a first timer? How much do you get them involved? Are there any special tricks to prevent them from getting nervous or scared?

It is important that she enjoys the flight, because if she does it means more flight time for me!

Thanks,

Dan

aarvig · #2 11-15-2011, 10:03 PM

The fact that she is excited about it already leans the odds of a successful experience in your favor.
I had my children flying the plane from the first time they were in the cockpit. Under your watchful eye allow them to take the stick and turn the airplane and go up and down. If you can, fly over their home or someplace they would recognize. Keep all maneuvering to IFR standards...standard rate turns, slow climbs and descents. Keep it as smooth as possible. Most of all, lay the groundwork for the rules and then keep it fun and keep them involved. Good luck!
By the way, just in case, have a puke bag on the plane...you never know if you'll need it!

Sig600 · #3 11-15-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega232Devils

Hey RVr's,
I have a question for those of you who have flown kids before. I am very excited to fly to Phoenix and pick up my niece this weekend and fly her back to San Diego for Thanksgiving. (Assuming the proseal on my tank cures by then!) She will turn 8 years old next week and is very smart and is very excited about the flight.
What advice do you guys who routinely fly kids have for a first timer? How much do you get them involved? Are there any special tricks to prevent them from getting nervous or scared?

It is important that she enjoys the flight, because if she does it means more flight time for me!

Thanks,

Dan

I've done probably 50 or more young eagle flights in an RV-6A... Only kid that ever got sick challenged me to try and make him sick.

Crawl walk run. Keep it smooth, the vents open, and keep her engaged and she'll have a blast. Make sure she can see too. Just make it clear to her that it's ok to speak up if she's nervous, feels funny, or wants to ramp it up and try flying. Keep a bag handy but don't use the word "sick" at all, or else that's all she'll think of.

DaAV8R · #4 11-15-2011, 10:05 PM

Take a good cushion for her to sit on. A good view outside the plane seems to help prevent motion sickness.

David_Nelson · #5 11-16-2011, 06:10 AM

In addition to the above great ideas, I'd also have a spare/old paper sectional(s) handy. Keep her engaged by tracking your (her) progress on it; recognising landmarks; calculating time/distance, etc. Let her know that there are other technologies other than moving maps and GPS's.

Let her listen in on the radio but also let her know that if she asks a question you may be able to answer just then because you're busy doing something. Perhaps some kind of a hand gesture just to say "I hear you but I'm a bit busy at the moment. I'll be right with you." I'd do this before departure.

I don't know what her experience level is, so, I'd also suggest setting expectations on what your actions are going to be from takeoff, cruise, and landing; what the sight picture is going to look like on takeoff/landing; what noises/sounds to expect; what to grab onto if she gets scared/startled (when you hit that first bit of turbulence); what your actions are going to be in case of an emergency.

Can you deviate a bit from your course to see some landscapes that you wouldn't normally see from a car?

Consider also her sensitivity to temperature and light. Might carry an extra blanket, sweater, fleece jacket, sun glasses, etc. A camera/smart-phone, etc.

Have a great flight and remind her to have fun!

/\/elson

Vern · #6 11-16-2011, 06:53 AM

I bought a child's headset for those small heads. The noise of an RV without good headset protection can be painful on young ears. If teens, then no problem as their music is already louder than an RV!

DEWATSON · #7 11-16-2011, 07:28 AM

I think I would have her mother give her something for motion sickness several hours before she flew. It won't hurt her and it will insure that she won't be sick from such a long flight. I'd want her first cross country experience to be a good one. She may become a flying buddy for you if all goes well.

jjconstant · #8 11-16-2011, 10:02 AM

I let them know about any major change before it happens. On take-off "it's going to get really noisy for a little while". I pre-announce turns and the direction of the turn to lessen the feeling that they will "fall out" of a turn towards their side. I especially pre announce the first power reduction, especially in fixed pitch planes so they don't think there's something wrong with the engine. After doing this for the maneuvering exiting the pattern I've noticed they're a lot less nervous.

I'm very interested in the other responses...anything to make that first impression the best it can be

Jeremy Constant

David_Nelson · #9 11-16-2011, 11:12 AM

If she does any of the flying, how about an honorary 'logbook'? Not sure how that would get logged, though. If this matures into something greater, I think this would be something neat to look back on.

Andrew M · #10 11-16-2011, 12:59 PM

As all ready noted, knowing what to expect helps a lot with the nervousness. My son was afraid to fly at age three. So I explained to him how being a little afraid feels a little like being excited, the fear is because you don't know whats going to happen. So for our first (with dad) take of run I coached him. Hear the wing getting ready? Feel the power speeding up?? BIG SMILES from Dad, the whole time, and he followed along. "Can't wait until we tip up and ZOOM to the sky!! Getting emotional ques from you, AND her parents when they drop her off with you, can really set the tone for the whole experience.
The biggest concern was ears. Letting him know that ears pop on the way up and down, and putting him in charge of the gum to hand out to the family gave him the control to cope with the discomfort.
I imagine nothing but good times for you and your niece.