I read Peter Egan’s columns in Cycle World and Road & Track for three decades of my life. I try to emulate his candor and colloquial storytelling style here on these pages. Every so often, Peter would put together a humorous top-10 list. If memory serves, it usually revolved around the failure of Lucas electronics in English sports cars or the 10 things your motorcycle says about you. Most people don’t know that Peter is a pilot as well. As someone in the upper percentile of his fan base, what better way to pay homage than to take a page from his book and write a top-10 list for Flying? And so, I give you the “top 10 things passengers ask when they get in my airplane for the first time.”
The Question
Key Takeaways:
- The most common question passengers ask general aviation pilots—"Don’t you have to tell someone we’re coming?"—reveals a widespread public surprise and discomfort with the perceived lack of stringent regulation in GA.
- This recurring query highlights a broader societal preoccupation with schedules and rules, contrasting with the freedom and autonomy afforded to pilots and the American value of exploration.
- The author suggests that general aviation exemplifies a successful balance between individual liberty and necessary government oversight (FAA), largely due to pilots' inherent pragmatism and commitment to safety, allowing for less bureaucratic control than passengers expect.
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