your passenger(s)

whereisrandall said:
Foreflight gives you a GPS position-referenced map of the airspace (includes graphic overlay SIGMETS and TFRs) - $75 bucks that will totally save your bacon in bizybizy airspace. Plus, a whole bunch of awesome situational awareness, and approach plates for your upcoming instrument ticket. :)

I did 3 touch and gos (2500' strip!) immediately before taking passengers up the first time.
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I finally upgraded from the clunky paper sectionals (which I still keep in my bag) to Foreflight. LOVE it! While I could navigate around the TFR, I actually plan to fly straight through it - it's more direct and avoids having to fly 20 nm over water, which I'm not really comfortable doing yet. It's the outer ring of the MVY TFR for the President's vacay, and it sounds like all I need to do is open my flight plan, stay on FF and have a squawk code.
 
Yep, and be aware that it could go hot at any time, not just the predicted time. Flight following is good. :)

I can't imagine learning to fly in your airspace without Foreflight. A recent student who did his first 6 hours at KBED came up with me in Maine and commented that learning there was like doing it all with bright lights flashing and the radio cranked up.
 
whereisrandall said:
...learning there was like doing it all with bright lights flashing and the radio cranked up.
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Learning to fly out of KBED was like learning to swim by being pushed into the deep end of the pool... with weights on your legs... and sharks in the water.
 
I think it's a great question, even though my PPL is a long way off o already wonder about this too.

My fourth flight, my CFI allowed me to take my two granddaughters up in the back seat. They were perfect passengers (7 and 8 years old) and we had talked about how it will be, and that it was actually a flying lesson for me. They loved it. We did a lot of 360's and some slow flight, then swung by our cabin which was fun for them.

But that is a whole other thing than me being PIC. At this stage in my development of course I don't have the confidence that I can handle all that much, and hope it comes by the time I am told I can solo. And after that...more.

My wife will definitely be my first passenger, and I can imagine it might be a good long while until I feel safe (and I will really objectively evaluate myself) enough to fly grandkids, or our grown children even.

But it also is a weird thing to think that (one of my earlier thoughts) I can take up one of the two (each of our two children have two children) grandchildren but not both...that is a too weird a thought.

But am very interested in the answers here.
 
I passed my check ride and took the brother-in-law flying that same afternoon. The "heavy" feeling of responsibility, like I felt during my first solo, was there all over again. The flight went great and in the following weeks I took lots of other friends and family. The feeling got much more comfortable over time but that doesn't mean I don't realize the huge responsibility I have as PIC with pax.

I'm a 150 hour pilot and have no problems flying my wife and 3 kids all over the place. Just because I'm comfortable, though, doesn't mean I'm not meticulous with each and every flight.
 
Yea I actually think I run into more people who just don't want to fly with me because I am a new pilot...most say, "I would love to go up with you once you have some more time under your belt!" lol...some people say they want to go up with me but I know they probably never will.
 
CC268 said:
Yea I actually think I run into more people who just don't want to fly with me because I am a new pilot...most say, "I would love to go up with you once you have some more time under your belt!" lol...some people say they want to go up with me but I know they probably never will.
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That's exactly my situation as well. I love flying, but I actually hate flying alone. Wanted to spend six or so months building xc time before jumping into instrument rating, but thinking instead I'm just going to start once I hit 20 or so PIC xc hours.
 
I used to tell passengers (airline) who were concerned about whatever that we (crew) intended to look out for ourselves first. Then y'all would be fine too. :D
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
That's exactly my situation as well. I love flying, but I actually hate flying alone. Wanted to spend six or so months building xc time before jumping into instrument rating, but thinking instead I'm just going to start once I hit 20 or so PIC xc hours.
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See if Princess will go up with ya! I mean y'all are buddies and neighbors right? :popcorn:
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
I finally upgraded from the clunky paper sectionals (which I still keep in my bag) to Foreflight. LOVE it! While I could navigate around the TFR, I actually plan to fly straight through it - it's more direct and avoids having to fly 20 nm over water, which I'm not really comfortable doing yet. It's the outer ring of the MVY TFR for the President's vacay, and it sounds like all I need to do is open my flight plan, stay on FF and have a squawk code.
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You can also try to see if they'll let you through with just a squawk code. There was a TFR in a Philly a few weeks ago and the controller allowed me through the outer ring with just my squawk..
 
jordane93 said:
You can also try to see if they'll let you through with just a squawk code. There was a TFR in a Philly a few weeks ago and the controller allowed me through the outer ring with just my squawk..
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The NOTAM says I have to be on an open flight plan, be in active contact with ATC and have a squawk code. Hate to admit it, but, while I always file a flight plan, I rarely open it. I always use Flight Following, though, so more than comfortable there.
 
I have to admit, there was a period when I was green to the Mooney when I wouldn't take up Mrs. Steingar or anyone else because I felt behind the airplane. I was doing my best, but everything was new and shiny. Had to get up to make it all work, wasn't a CFI in town who could help me either.
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
The NOTAM says I have to be on an open flight plan, be in active contact with ATC and have a squawk code. Hate to admit it, but, while I always file a flight plan, I rarely open it. I always use Flight Following, though, so more than comfortable there.
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NOTAM at Philly also said that too but they let me in with just a squawk code. Probably easier just to file a flight plan instead og guessing if they'll let you in with just your code.
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
That's exactly my situation as well. I love flying, but I actually hate flying alone. Wanted to spend six or so months building xc time before jumping into instrument rating, but thinking instead I'm just going to start once I hit 20 or so PIC xc hours.
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If that's the case, I would just jump right in to instrument training. You can build the cross country hours while doing your training, and you won't have to fly alone while you add hours. Nothing says that once you get your instrument rating that you have to dash off into the first clouds you see regardless of your comfort level. You can continue to build your experience and comfort level, and you can continue to use an instructor as necessary/desired after you get it. I suspect that if you tell folks that you have your instrument, they will be much more respectful of your abilities, and would be much more willing to go along.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
You should have seen him do a double take when I came up from under the wing drinking Low Lead.
@AggieMike88 didn't flinch one bit... but OD... :)
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What would've gotten my attention is, during the preflight, you were in the cabin messing with the red handle, then there is a bang, and this happens on top of the rear fuselage:

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But I still got a laugh at your GATS jar prank.... very creative and so very you.
 
PPC1052 said:
If that's the case, I would just jump right in to instrument training. You can build the cross country hours while doing your training, and you won't have to fly alone while you add hours. Nothing says that once you get your instrument rating that you have to dash off into the first clouds you see regardless of your comfort level. You can continue to build your experience and comfort level, and you can continue to use an instructor as necessary/desired after you get it. I suspect that if you tell folks that you have your instrument, they will be much more respectful of your abilities, and would be much more willing to go along.
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Thanks, PPC. Is it uncommon to not like flying alone right after getting your PPL? What's weird is that I'm kind of a loner in most aspects of my life... a textbook introvert. So, as someone who adores alone time, what's up with hating it when I'm flying? Again, I'm sure it's something I'll get over after I have more hours under my belt.
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
Thanks, PPC. Is it uncommon to not like flying alone right after getting your PPL? What's weird is that I'm kind of a loner in most aspects of my life... a textbook introvert. So, as someone who adores alone time, what's up with hating it when I'm flying? Again, I'm sure it's something I'll get over after I have more hours under my belt.
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Can't speak for others, but I did think to myself that I was paying my CFII to be my friend. But I was okay with it. I have a three year old, so we have been pretty tied to the house the last couple of years. I am hoping next year I can really start to take my wife and son places rather than burning holes in the sky. But the good thing is now I have the extra rating to show for it.
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
Thanks, PPC. Is it uncommon to not like flying alone right after getting your PPL? What's weird is that I'm kind of a loner in most aspects of my life... a textbook introvert. So, as someone who adores alone time, what's up with hating it when I'm flying? Again, I'm sure it's something I'll get over after I have more hours under my belt.
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Maybe it's just a mix of you are a doing a very cool thing (maybe we aren't supposed to talk about it like that, and I don't mean we ARE cool, just doing a cool thing) and want to share that, as well as its incredibly beautiful up in the sky and you don't get the same feeling in a jetliner, wanting to share that great view with someone?
 
PPC1052 said:
Can't speak for others, but I did think to myself that I was paying my CFII to be my friend. But I was okay with it. I have a three year old, so we have been pretty tied to the house the last couple of years. I am hoping next year I can really start to take my wife and son places rather than burning holes in the sky. But the good thing is now I have the extra rating to show for it.
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It's kind of like being in a Fraternity...you pay to have friends! I was a GDI in college though..."******** Independent."
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
Thanks, PPC. Is it uncommon to not like flying alone right after getting your PPL? What's weird is that I'm kind of a loner in most aspects of my life... a textbook introvert. So, as someone who adores alone time, what's up with hating it when I'm flying? Again, I'm sure it's something I'll get over after I have more hours under my belt.
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Opposite here. I am also quite the loner but directly post PPL, I wanted to fly solo all the time. Just me and my control over this new machine with nobody else to think about.
Most of my first 200 hours was just flying around any chance I got, mostly alone realizing my childhood dream of flying. Just me and my inner kid (His name is Beth).

Now (~ 4 years and 350 hours in) I start going "Do I really want to spend a couple hundred bucks in the heat to play with this toy Beth?"
Sometimes I do.

Mostly I track down people that haven't flown in a small plane and share. I try to make a mission if I can.

I am as enamored with flight as ever but Beth is more satisfied and also having my first (and hopefully only) encounter with friends losing their lives in crashes, I do a lot less joy riding alone just because I am bored that day and want to go cram an hour of flight in whenever I can.
 
No pinch-hitter instruction, but I fly alone mostly; if someone else is in the plane, it's usually another pilot. Before I left CAP, I'd sometimes have self-loading ballast on board, but usually in the back seat. In those cases, I'd minimize the yank-and-bank, work to keep it smooth - but those folks generally had very little GA experience.
 
Man when I got my PPC I flew from McGuire AFB NJ to Montgomery AL w/ wife and 6 month old daughter VFR. Mostly pilotage as I wasn't that great on VORs. Only got lost twice, second time I got on 121.5 as I knew I was getting low on fuel and couldn't find my refueling airport. I was close as I found out later but FSS on 121.5 told me to dial in Toccoa VOR (Foothills now) and fly to it and I'd fly right to the Toccoa airport. Found it, refueled, and headed back out. Didn't bother wife and we flew the reverse route later back to McGuire. Did better on that leg.
 
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LongRoadBob said:
But it also is a weird thing to think that (one of my earlier thoughts) I can take up one of the two (each of our two children have two children) grandchildren but not both...that is a too weird a thought.
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The hell did you just say? :D
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
also having my first (and hopefully only) encounter with friends losing their lives in crashes...
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I was actually really solid after my checkride... super confident and ready to take to the skies, braving them alone, Viking sword in hand. I got a couple flights in, then the one and only pilot I'm close to locally went and got himself in a plane crash (he's OK), and it really messed with my head. Something about it hitting so close to home... and so soon after I got my ticket in hand... I don't know. I think that's my problem right now.

I've done three solo flights the last two weeks, but it's like suddenly the silence in the plane and the empty seat next to me really bothers me. I need to find a way to revive that feeling I had post-checkride. I'm taking my 1st pax down to the Cape this weekend and hoping that will snap me out of it.
 
@Cajun_Flyer - more training will do it.

You may want to consider starting your Instrument Rating right away, and keep flying with CFIs and pilot friends. Just post private cert, there's still so so much that's new and challenging - I flew lots with a CFII after getting my Private, and learned tons more in a short time.
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
Weather permitting, I'm popping my pax cherry on Sunday... taking a friend up for a tour around Cape Cod! There's going to be a TFR in the area (thanks Obama), so can't wait to see how many F-16s I pick up on this one.
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More likely you'll pick up a Blackhawk or V-22. It's an impressive sight in an exercise. I'd hate to see either of those for real.

Don't screw up inside the TFR and for GAWD's sake, monitor 121.5 like you were taught. Flight following or not.
 
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No pressure. Biggest problem is managing pee stops for the pax....
 
MAKG1 said:
More likely you'll pick up a Blackhawk or V-22. It's an impressive sight in an exercise. I'd hate to see either of those for real.

Don't screw up inside the TFR and for GAWD's sake, monitor 121.5 like you were taught. Flight following or not.
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YER ON GEEEEEEEEERRRRRRD!
 
MAKG1 said:
More likely you'll pick up a Blackhawk...
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My agency participates in drills with Blackhawks from time to time... super cool, but definitely do not want to meet any of them while airborne.
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
My agency participates in drills with Blackhawks from time to time... super cool, but definitely do not want to meet any of them while airborne.
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You really don't want to meet these Blackhawk crews. They sometimes don't play nice. Plus they have little penises. :p
 
Cajun_Flyer said:
I was actually really solid after my checkride... super confident and ready to take to the skies, braving them alone, Viking sword in hand. I got a couple flights in, then the one and only pilot I'm close to locally went and got himself in a plane crash (he's OK), and it really messed with my head. Something about it hitting so close to home... and so soon after I got my ticket in hand... I don't know. I think that's my problem right now.

I've done three solo flights the last two weeks, but it's like suddenly the silence in the plane and the empty seat next to me really bothers me. I need to find a way to revive that feeling I had post-checkride. I'm taking my 1st pax down to the Cape this weekend and hoping that will snap me out of it.
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Offer to safety pilot for instrument students (or instrument rated pilots). It'll introduce you to the instrument world a bit (don't be too anxious to learn too much without a CFII, though), will get you in the air more often, will get you flying with other people, may not cost you anything to get some loggable time (since you're doing them a favor) and will probably build confidence again.
 
Lachlan said:
The hell did you just say? :D
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I don't KNOW...

I was getting mealy mouthed about even putting into direct words my fears at this point. Actually as I think about it, I got nervous (ahead of time, not while driving) the first few times I drove my grandkids somewhere. Ridiculous. I'm a good and safe driver, and I put on extra attention to safety when they are in the car but especially the first few times I was nervous because of precious cargo. So what I meant, our daughter has to girls, and it was fine taking them up together with the CFI at my side, alone a passing thought was "maybe shouldn't fly with both at the same time" because...what if something happened.

The dumb thought was me and one grandchild gone, at least there is one more left, but of course that is also stupid. I think I got it from my company which used to not allow two of us who know a particular data system fly commercial on the same flight.

I also imagine it will really be go the way it did with the car. I'll take them up, be just a little bit sharper even than normal if possible, and take no chances.
It will be fine. But only when I feel I can safely control the situations that might arise, and proven to myself I'm a safe pilot. It seems a very long way off, and is at this point.

But like the OP, I kinda wondered about others with even lots of experience, if they ever get those thoughts?
 
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