Stop Scaring Your Passengers

One of the more common complaints heard when pilots gather is that someones spouse and kids wont fly with them or dont like flying in little airplanes. The person issuing the lament insists he (its almost invariably he) cant figure out why. Often the reason is he has scared the bejabbers out of his family members at least once and has displayed absolute cluelessness when it comes to making the flight an enjoyable experience.

rdurden

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots often unintentionally scare family and friends by failing to understand their passengers' perspective, leading to anxieties about seemingly normal flight procedures or conditions.
Key issues stem from poor communication and neglecting passenger comfort, exemplified by running fuel tanks dry without warning, constant "fiddling" with controls, choosing turbulent air over smoother routes, and overlooking basic needs like cleanliness, motion sickness, or restroom breaks.
To ensure an enjoyable experience and encourage repeat flights, pilots must proactively communicate what to expect, explain flight procedures, and prioritize passenger comfort by avoiding unnecessary anxieties and catering to their physical needs.

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One of the more common complaints heard when pilots gather is that someone’s spouse and kids won’t fly with them or “don’t like flying in little airplanes.” The person issuing the lament insists he (it’s almost invariably he) can’t figure out why. Often the reason is he has scared the bejabbers out of his family members at least once and has displayed absolute cluelessness when it comes to making the flight an enjoyable experience. In some cases, the things the pilots do are perfectly safe, but they don’t realize that their passengers don’t understand what is happening and get scared.