Originally Posted by
Pilot DAR
I once did agree to taking a mentally challenged young fellow. Unfortunately, I probably should not have with the right side control wheel in. He decided to fly, and I landed the plane fighting him on the controls, as he refused to let go. It worked out, but was messy. I just could not convey that he had to let go. Gently swatting his hands made him more eager to hold on. Now, new passengers don't get a control wheel at all, unless I want them to have it, and I install it for them.
I'm a volunteer for the Stichting Hoogvliegers (Airsmiles Foundation) in the Netherlands. We fly with both physically and mentally sick/handicapped children all the time. I have personally done well over a hundred such flights.
For a situation like this, I have developed a mini-test. While still on the ground I sit them down at the RHS controls (great moment to check if any booster seats are needed btw) and tell them I want their attention now for a short flying lesson. I then tell them how the aircraft is controlled (left, right, up down) and let them feel the control movements. I also work them through a "my controls/your controls" routine. I then check if they understood it, by letting them perform the same routine with no physical input from me - it's all verbal from this point. So again, hands on knees, and then I tell them they can steer, so they can take the controls. I then tell them I want to go left (or I point to the left) and they need to input the proper control, in the same measured proportion I did earlier. Same for right, up and down. And then I tell them I want control again, so the hands need to go on the knees again.
If they can follow the routine and perform it properly right back to me, and without being distracted by "helping" parents (a nuisance) or stuff happening on the apron, then I take them up in the RHS. But if they can't hear, understand and follow my instructions on these six simple tasks (take control, left, right, up, down, release control) I will not take them in the RHS. If we go flying at all, then they go in the back.
A side advantage of this is that if I refuse to take the kid in the RHS, then the parents have witnessed the routine and understand why I made that decision. Prevents a lot of arguments.