Getting my elderly Grandfather in a plane...

Snaggletooth

Snaggletooth

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Dustin
As most of yall know, I got my PPL recently. Well, my Grandmother is already wanting to go up with me. Problem is, I want to also bring along my Grandfather, but he had a stroke a few years ago and he now has limited mobility as the Stroke effected the right side of his body. Getting him in a C172 should not be much of a problem, it's getting him out, especially, in an emergency is what scares me.

I would love to take him up for a Flight while I can. Both My Grandmother and my Grandfather are getting up in age, and down in health and I want to make this one big memory while I have the chance.

So please, if you have any ideas on how to do this the best, please tell me.
 
Snaggletooth said:
As most of yall know, I got my PPL recently. Well, my Grandmother is already wanting to go up with me. Problem is, I want to also bring along my Grandfather, but he had a stroke a few years ago and he now has limited mobility as the Stroke effected the right side of his body. Getting him in a C172 should not be much of a problem, it's getting him out, especially, in an emergency is what scares me.

I would love to take him up for a Flight while I can. Both My Grandmother and my Grandfather are getting up in age, and down in health and I want to make this one big memory while I have the chance.

So please, if you have any ideas on how to do this the best, please tell me.
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Getting him out of a car in an emergency would likely be a problem.

Nothing personal, but there is some stuff you just have to not worry about. I'm sure my dad would have been glad to die in an airplane wreck a few years earlier...

Do it.
 
Snaggletooth said:
As most of yall know, I got my PPL recently. Well, my Grandmother is already wanting to go up with me. Problem is, I want to also bring along my Grandfather, but he had a stroke a few years ago and he now has limited mobility as the Stroke effected the right side of his body. Getting him in a C172 should not be much of a problem, it's getting him out, especially, in an emergency is what scares me.

I would love to take him up for a Flight while I can. Both My Grandmother and my Grandfather are getting up in age, and down in health and I want to make this one big memory while I have the chance.

So please, if you have any ideas on how to do this the best, please tell me.
Click to expand...

When I took my grandfather for his last flight before he passed, I took him in a 172. Getting him out in an emergency would be as simple as reaching between his legs, grabbing the seat slider, and sliding the seat all the way back, removing his seatbelt, and then removing him from the other side of the plane. There may be injury, but its an emergency, and that has to be accepted.

I would practice pulling the seat slider from the left seat before hand, and you'll see how easy it will be. It takes longer than a normal emergency egress, but not much. Also, train the grandmother to help if you can.
 
Do it while you can.

One of the regrets I have is that I never took my dad up in my plane before we lost him. We had a couple of chances 7-8 years ago, but there was "always tomorrow". By the time I moved back to the DC area, his mental skills had degraded enough that it wasn't going to happen. :(

And now, there are no more tomorrows. :(
 
SkyHog said:
I would practice pulling the seat slider from the left seat before hand, and you'll see how easy it will be. It takes longer than a normal emergency egress, but not much. Also, train the grandmother to help if you can.
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Right wing low with left rudder and the door open works well to ;)

Seriously Snag, do it. I brought my step dad up several times and he loved it. He had a bum leg and and the 172 is a far better choice than a Cherokee. When I would get him in and out of the 172 I made sure I had a small step stool. That helped a lot.
 
That and someone strong to lend a hand. But do it. The day will come when you'll not be able to. The key to interacting with our gerontologically challenged relatives and friends is to make certain there are no regrets.
 
How long does it take for him to get into and out of a car? When Dad first had his stroke, it took 30 minutes or more for him to get out of the car. Eventually, he got that down to something reasonable. Wasn't flying before he died, so can't tell you how that would go, but Great-Grandmother was in her 90s when we took her flying. The small stepstool was a necessity. She needed it to get in. To get out, just get both legs swung out and with one person behind for confidence and one in front as a spotter, just slide to the ground. The person from behind has hands under armpits, in front supports waist and arms. I'd make sure his good leg has firm footing or potential for firm footing before starting the slide. Getting untangled from the wheel strut is comical, but doable.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Getting him out of a car in an emergency would likely be a problem.

Nothing personal, but there is some stuff you just have to not worry about. I'm sure my dad would have been glad to die in an airplane wreck a few years earlier...

Do it.
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I agree. How would he get out of a commercial airliner in an emergency? I've seen lots of passengers who probably wouldn't make it out on their own although they are theoretically supposed to be able to do that. How do you get a patient out of an air ambulance? How about when they are breathing with a ventilator?

Really I think you have more chance of getting him out of a 172. The doors open pretty wide.
 
I'll guarantee that you are a lot more worried about something happening than they are. Using the kitchen stool, Mom climbed up in my Cessna 180 when she was 94, so we could fly to Odessa to see her brother Bill who was 97 at the time. She's 97 now and it would take a bit more planning, but we may go see her younger brother Jim (the WW-II P-51 pilot) in Colorado Springs soon. He's only 93 now.
 
Thanks for all the tips guys. Very helpful.


AuntPeggy said:
How long does it take for him to get into and out of a car? When Dad first had his stroke, it took 30 minutes or more for him to get out of the car. Eventually, he got that down to something reasonable. Wasn't flying before he died, so can't tell you how that would go, but Great-Grandmother was in her 90s when we took her flying. The small stepstool was a necessity. She needed it to get in. To get out, just get both legs swung out and with one person behind for confidence and one in front as a spotter, just slide to the ground. The person from behind has hands under armpits, in front supports waist and arms. I'd make sure his good leg has firm footing or potential for firm footing before starting the slide. Getting untangled from the wheel strut is comical, but doable.
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It does not take him long at all to get out of the car.
Sounds like a small step stool will be a must. I'll let my Grandmother know, and see what she thinks.
 
The most rewarding flight I've ever made is when I took my fiancee's terminally ill grandfather (who had pretty much adopted me as his own grandson too) up for a sightseeing flight. We went at a time when he was feeling well, but his mobility wasn't great. No problems getting him the 172, and just had to stand outside his door and help him down afterwards.

Now that he's gone, the look on his face and his shout of 'Wahoo!' after he got out of the plane will be one of my fondest memories for years to come.

If you have the opportunity to take your grandfather up now, do it!
 
Snags, I took my father on a flight in an Archer originating in Meriden, CT KMMK. We flew out to Nantucket (with my Mother) for lunch one fine day. On the way we overflew a line of tall ships sailing into New London Harbor for some festival, then continued on. My Mom and Dad both had some trouble climbing into the PA-28 but, as they spent many years living aboard a boat traveling in those waters, they enjoyed the trip immensely. They still talk about it today. My Dad will be 94 on Thursday and my Mom is 89. Both of their health has declined so that they really couldn't make the trip today. Yes, that is sad, but at least they had that flight. There is no reason not to do it.

One little bonus: My Dad told me that his very first flight in an airplane was in a Cessna owned by Uncle Bert - right there at MMK! That had to be in the 1930s.... What a nice memory!

-Skip
 
Well, I went down to their house today an invited them on a Flight around the area to all his favorite places. I can't wait.
 
wabower said:
I'll guarantee that you are a lot more worried about something happening than they are. Using the kitchen stool, Mom climbed up in my Cessna 180 when she was 94, so we could fly to Odessa to see her brother Bill who was 97 at the time. She's 97 now and it would take a bit more planning, but we may go see her younger brother Jim (the WW-II P-51 pilot) in Colorado Springs soon. He's only 93 now.
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so what you're saying is you're not going anywhere soon?
 
Having taken my 86 yo aunt last summer, I recommend a step stool such as

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/chicago/040108stools.jpg

Not the wooden one in the center! It's stable, has handles for balance, and can fold up in the aircraft. Available at Target and other big-box stores.

Make sure it's the C172 and not a low-wing. The doors are much larger. It may take 2-3 people (one inside helping, one outside helping and another just in case).

Make sure it's a calm, cool day.
 
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I recently took a fellow board-members father up for a flight. He was not terribly mobile. His home health aide and I backed him up to the 182 door and then lifted him in. Then the aide and his wife went around to the other side and climbed in my door.

I suggest a stool and two people assisting, it worked for us! If you have access to a larger airplane like a 182, it can make it easier.

It was a privilege to give this gentleman a ride - you should definitely take your grandfather up.
 
Snaggletooth said:
As most of yall know, I got my PPL recently. Well, my Grandmother is already wanting to go up with me. Problem is, I want to also bring along my Grandfather, but he had a stroke a few years ago and he now has limited mobility as the Stroke effected the right side of his body. Getting him in a C172 should not be much of a problem, it's getting him out, especially, in an emergency is what scares me.

I would love to take him up for a Flight while I can. Both My Grandmother and my Grandfather are getting up in age, and down in health and I want to make this one big memory while I have the chance.

So please, if you have any ideas on how to do this the best, please tell me.
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Emphasis mine.

Not calling anyone out in this thread, the stories are awesome, and I'm sure we've all gone a long way to convince snag that he should do it, but he is specifically requesting information about how to handle emergency egress.

I'm curious what everyone's method of that is too. I planned for it, but also was willing to take that extra risk that an emergency would be very, very bad for him. He was a pilot though, so I think he understood.
 
Snaggletooth said:
As most of yall know, I got my PPL recently. Well, my Grandmother is already wanting to go up with me. Problem is, I want to also bring along my Grandfather, but he had a stroke a few years ago and he now has limited mobility as the Stroke effected the right side of his body. Getting him in a C172 should not be much of a problem, it's getting him out, especially, in an emergency is what scares me.

I would love to take him up for a Flight while I can. Both My Grandmother and my Grandfather are getting up in age, and down in health and I want to make this one big memory while I have the chance.

So please, if you have any ideas on how to do this the best, please tell me.
Click to expand...

This is how we did it with Francis, a stroke victim, If you fly nice and easy and your aircraft is in good shape, You shouldn't have worries about something happening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fOqaU96iLI
 
As far as egress goes - my plan in the 182 would be to get everyone in the back seat out my door, and then I'd run over to the passenger door, and pull him out and over my shoulder and run.

It was clearly understood and agreed that my first duty was to the other ambulatory pax in the back seat and then to him.

Similar thing when my wife and daughter are in the back - wife's by the door but her job is to get the kid out first, throwing her if necessary.
 
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