Don't Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Don’t Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Editorial Staff

Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 10:34 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

A pilot recounts a pleasure flight where his passenger became unexpectedly airsick, despite assuring him she did not suffer from motion sickness.
Recalling unconventional advice, the pilot instructed the airsick passenger to use her left shoe as a receptacle, fabricating a story about air safety regulations requiring it.
This unusual instruction, combined with the imminent landing and the passenger's reluctance to soil her footwear, served as a successful psychological deterrent, preventing actual vomiting.

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In the mid-1990s, I worked at McDonnell-Douglas in Southern California and would rent a Cessna 152 every Wednesday at 5:00 pm to fly out of Long Beach airport for pleasure and to keep current.

Co-workers knew of my flying routine and one day, a young woman asked if she could get a ride with me. I said yes and as a basic passenger rule, I asked whether she got airsick or carsick. I was assured it would not be a problem.