I Learned About Flying From That: Seizing Control

Steven Davis

Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 09:09 PM ET

Verified

** To see more of Barry Ross' aviation art, go
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Key Takeaways:

A Young Eagles pilot experienced a critical incident when a Boy Scout passenger panicked during takeoff, grabbing the yoke and pulling it back, causing a dangerous pitch-up and near-stall situation.
The pilot physically intervened to regain control of the aircraft just above the ground, then instructed the panicked passenger to hold onto their shoulder belt for the remainder of the flight.
This experience led the pilot to implement new safety protocols, such as requiring front-seat passengers to hold their shoulder belts during critical flight phases, prioritizing physical actions over verbal reassurance for panicked individuals, and advocating for post-flight debriefs and sharing information about such passengers with other pilots.

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I keep my Cherokee at Ramona Airport (KRNM) in Southern California and am actively involved with other pilots there in an organization that offers introductory flights to youngsters through a program called Young Eagles. It is a very worthwhile program that offers kids ages 8 to 17 the opportunity of a free introductory flight along with exposure to the aviation community and, ultimately, the joy of flying.

I have flown about 150 kids since I joined the Young Eagles. One of the selfish joys of flying kids is seeing their thrill and excitement about the entire process, from walk-around preflight to buttoning up and getting in the air.