Passenger Brief

ChemGuy said:
"I prefer to keep my eyes shut during takeoff and, especially, landing. You should probably do the same to make this a more enjoyable experience."
Click to expand...
I was wondering where I had seen the sunglasses you like to wear... They are the same model that Zaphod wears.
 
I'll often put a SWA spin on the checklist...

"In case one of you two catches fire, the extinguisher is located here."


And when I have Young Eagle kids that just....won't....keep.....quiet.... I thank the aviation engineers for that ISO button on my PSE audio panel.
 
Joey4420 said:
My briefing, keep in mind I am still a student pilot.

Passenger%20Briefing.jpg
Click to expand...
How are u student pilot and carrying pax?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
I keep the briefing short and concise and calm.. I worry if I throw too many details at them it'll A.) either make them nervous or C.) most of it will get forgotten and should there be a real emergency they'll forget the critical parts.. here is my general briefing in this general order:

1.) where are we flying that day and what are we doing. Even if they already know "we're going to Palm Springs" I'll tell them a little about the route, and interesting items they may see along the way
2.) air vents, I learned this after people complained of it being too hot or cold... also I find that people get more easily motion sick if the climate is too warm or cold
3.) some basic stuff about the cockpit, like, don't grab the yoke, and since I fly Cessnas I check the seat and tell them not to grab the yoke if it slides back
4.) if it's their first time flying in a small plane a little summary of "it's normal to feel some bumps and movements, that's nothing to worry about"
5.) when we land you may hear a whistle, that's fine
6.) no talking in taxi, takeoff, landing - unless it is an urgent health need. I tell them I do this so I can focus and hear the radio, and that once we're up in the air and safe away from the airport and traffic I'll let them know
7.) to not be afraid to tap me on the shoulder if anything is not right, they don't feel well, etc., we can turn back anytime and there are many small airports so we can be on the ground usually in as quick as 15-20 minutes if we absolutely need to (I leave the second part out about time to land if that's not realistic)
8.) if there is any kind of emergency or issue I'll let them know
9.) go over the seatbelt and door, and I have them shut and open the door as well as buckle the seatbelt so I know they know how to do it

^I leave the seatbelt and door last, so if there is anything they remember it is that. Cessna doors are pretty easy to use, but Pipers have that extra handle on top

*Note, I did show my wife where the push to talk was to call ATC in response to her question once during cruise "I just thought, what would I do if you suddenly had a heart attack?" So I figured it brought her peace of mind to know how to use that lifeline... and that the plane would keep flying in trimmed flight

*Also, just as general etiquette once we're in the air I try to keep a light conversation going, usually about the flying or the sightseeing we're over. I find this has several benefits:
A.) it tends to relax people who may other wise be a little nervous
B.) it actually also keeps me focused
C.) I would easily be able to tell if someone starts to not feel well... usually you can tell even before they do if they start having signs of motion sickness etc.
 
George Mohr said:
instruct them not to grab the yoke if the seat moves.
Click to expand...

I tell them that if they feel the need to grab something then grab the shoulder belt. This is because there are reasons besides a sliding seat that might cause them to grab the yoke. Plus, if you tell them not to grab the yoke then they might grab the door latch instead.
 
Seat belts, exits, fire extinguisher, vents, don't touch the controls or radios. I'll fill them on the route and points of interest after we're airborne and out of the airport area. If I need them to be quiet, saying "wait" or giving the "hold up for a second" gesture takes care of it.

I don't want to lose their attention or overload them with detailed technical information. If they have a question, I'll answer it, but won't go overboard with a passenger briefing.
 
WannFly said:
How are u student pilot and carrying pax?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

CFI is a PAX and the DPE will be soon. Always use your checklist, even when I solo'd I followed my checklist and spoke it outloud.
 
I use SAFETY like AggieMike. Used it on my checkride and the DPE loved it.
 
Just a note. I've seen several people mention the seat sliding back in a Cessna. I've experienced it in a Piper as well, so all the same rules should be considered for any model with a sliding seat. In my case, the seat slid as soon as I added power for takeoff, and I quickly pulled the power and resecured my seat.
 
midwestpa24 said:
In my case, the seat slid as soon as I added power for takeoff, and I quickly pulled the power and resecured my seat.
Click to expand...
Hasn't happened to me yet, but when it does I hope I remember to hang on to the throttle and let go the yoke rather than vice versa.
 
asicer said:
Hasn't happened to me yet, but when it does I hope I remember to hang on to the throttle and let go the yoke rather than vice versa.
Click to expand...

And I knew better, I started out in Cessnas many years ago and always did the check. I admit I didn't put much emphasis on the seat in the several Pipers I fly. A lot of the time I may not even adjust the seat once I get in, so I didnt even think to check it. Fortunately it happened immediately after applying power, so I wasn't moving very fast and could kill the throttle quickly.
 
orange said:
Wow, for most of my passengers, if I mentioned the words "fire extinguisher, open door to avoid getting trapped, or off-airport landing", I'd be flying alone.
Click to expand...
Maybe that's the idea.
 
AggieMike88 said:
I was wondering where I had seen the sunglasses you like to wear... They are the same model that Zaphod wears.
Click to expand...
Do you also tell your passengers that the knack to flying lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss?
 
So a DAL pilot friend of the family got a FA to do the full pre-flight bit wearing nothing but high heels and played that for (select) people in his Bonanza via DVD (at the time) player. That was the best GA passenger briefing I've seen.
 
Radar Contact said:
So a DAL pilot friend of the family got a FA to do the full pre-flight bit wearing nothing but high heels and played that for (select) people in his Bonanza via DVD (at the time) player. That was the best GA passenger briefing I've seen.
Click to expand...
I was concerned for a moment until I remembered that both KLM and Aeroflot codeshare with Delta.
 
I suggest that they can scream as much as they feel they need to; it is normal, and it really doesn't bother me (I am accustomed to it).
 
Last edited:
asicer said:
Hasn't happened to me yet, but when it does I hope I remember to hang on to the throttle and let go the yoke rather than vice versa.
Click to expand...
That might not go very well during climbout

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
asicer said:
Hasn't happened to me yet, but when it does I hope I remember to hang on to the throttle and let go the yoke rather than vice versa.
Click to expand...

WannFly said:
That might not go very well during climbout

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
We hope this would never happen, but the best thing to do is to check it during the run-up and always be prepared by having the airplane trimmed properly. If this were to occur, an airplane that's trimmed will be able to fly hands off long enough for you to sort things out.
 
AggieMike88 said:
I'll often put a SWA spin on the checklist...

"In case one of you two catches fire, the extinguisher is located here."


And when I have Young Eagle kids that just....won't....keep.....quiet.... I thank the aviation engineers for that ISO button on my PSE audio panel.
Click to expand...
I have never had that problem, with 40 kids flown now. The kids say little or nothing. I've been making a point to say it's OK to chat or ask questions above 1000 AGL, but they don't.

But CAP requires them to be 12. YE gets them at 8. Maybe that's the difference?

The one thing I add for kids that no one has mentioned yet is to insist they use the bathroom before we leave. It sucks to have to pee at 5000.
 
Friend of mine shared a bad passenger experience. Does the preflight, briefing, everything is normal. Gets out to the runway and just as he puts the power in, the passenger (who has his seat all the way forward) plants his feet flat on the floor, making his knees the stopping limit for the yoke.

If it's your first time flying with him, he politely asks you to keep your feet and legs down.
 
I tend to keep them short, in part not to scare them with being in "a tiny plane". I vary them as some have flown many times in general aviation and I've flown a few (Angel Flight patients) that have never been in any plane ever in their life. Many of my passengers sleep the whole flight.

MAKG1 said:
The one thing I add for kids that no one has mentioned yet is to insist they use the bathroom before we leave. It sucks to have to pee at 5000.
Click to expand...

I make sure to ask all of my passengers if they need to use the restroom before we leave and let them know how long the flight will be and that like a car, there's no bathroom in the plane. So far I've been lucky, no unscheduled stops for bathroom breaks. But then the flights are between 1.5 and 3 hours with most around 2 hours. We made sure my neighbor didn't have his usual cup of coffee and a glass of OJ in the morning before leaving Cape Cod. We planned on flying 3 hours to the lunch stop and that wouldn't be possible if he did his usual routine. :oops:
 
TheTraveler said:
Friend of mine shared a bad passenger experience. Does the preflight, briefing, everything is normal. Gets out to the runway and just as he puts the power in, the passenger (who has his seat all the way forward) plants his feet flat on the floor, making his knees the stopping limit for the yoke.

If it's your first time flying with him, he politely asks you to keep your feet and legs down.
Click to expand...
I had a kid plant his feet on the footrests during taxi once.
 
Radar Contact said:
So a DAL pilot friend of the family got a FA to do the full pre-flight bit wearing nothing but high heels and played that for (select) people in his Bonanza via DVD (at the time) player. That was the best GA passenger briefing I've seen.
Click to expand...

I call shenanigans, we are going to have to see this video.
 
Mistake Not... said:
...I had the hot version of the cold pax. Guy sat there absolutely miserable for almost an hour before he saw me adjust my vent and was like "Oh, that's where that is."
Click to expand...

During pax brief, the vent control is the only item they're allowed to touch.

Mistake Not... said:
Any checklist for young kids, like 10 or so? So many things I'd like to convey, but without overloading and WITHOUT scaring.
Click to expand...

Get a booster pillow or seat for them to see. If they can't see forward well, and forget their vent control (warm) you might get a puke accident.
 
danhagan said:
During pax brief, the vent control is the only item they're allowed to touch.
Click to expand...

In the Mooney (M20e), Tiger and DA40 the vent control looks identical to the parking brake and are located next to each other. I'd hate to land with a brake on.
 
My passenger briefing:
"I've survived 4 fatal plane crashes. In three of them I was the only survivor, in the fourth there was one other survivor. I'm not sure what went wrong, there."

I usually prefer flying alone. My wife doesn't listen to a word I say, so the briefing doesn't phase her one bit when she decides to join me.
 
Shepherd said:
My passenger briefing:
"I've survived 4 fatal plane crashes. In three of them I was the only survivor, in the fourth there was one other survivor. I'm not sure what went wrong, there."
Click to expand...
Sounds sorta like the news report about the C152 that crashed in a cemetery just outside of College Station. Last I had heard, the rescue squad from Texas A&M had recovered over 97 bodies and counting.
 
asicer said:
In the Mooney (M20e), Tiger and DA40 the vent control looks identical to the parking brake and are located next to each other. I'd hate to land with a brake on.
Click to expand...

My vent controls are furthest and lowest item outside ... my parking brake is center console.
 
I keep a passenger briefing card in each seat back or side pouch, and have them follow along as I brief them. I've attached mine (in doc format) if anyone wants any ideas. Just rename it to delete the .zip from the end and it will be a regular Word doc.
 

Attachments

  • PassengerBriefing.doc.zip
    76.5 KB · Views: 28
SoCal RV Flyer said:
For me it's seat belts, fire extinguisher location/operation, how to unlock/slide the canopy, and where the Life Hammer is in case we flip in an off-airport landing. (Usually the plexi breaks when you flip, but good to have the tool just in case).

I also tell them that in case I'm incapacitated, hold down the radio's flip/flop button for 5 seconds to call up the emergency frequency...then declare an emergency and get vectors to someplace with long runways like Chino or Ontario.

Hey, they're riding in an Experimental aircraft built in a garage...what did they expect? :D:D
Click to expand...
I point out the hammer for egress and then say "You can also use it if you see any rats running around, but try not to use it on the pilot. If you do use it on the pilot, here's how to switch on the autopilot..."
 
I noticed nobody mentioned what they would tell the passenger if something happened to the pilot.
 
If I could get that Maule 222 video to say "Commander" or 42Whiskey - I would use that - e-mail it in advance!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top