Bad Passengers........
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Bad Passengers........
I remember reading what someone had written in another thread recently about taking someone up and them being a pain in the bum. Can't remember the finer points but I am sure some of you have taken up 'the pax from hell', so, tell us all about it here if you wouldn't mind...... 
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I have actually decided I can't bear passengers full stop. Passengers who can fly sit there mentally criticising everything you do and non-flying passengers sit there asking a string of annoying questions!
More seriously though, I did have one passenger who I nearly had to smack in the chops.
He was 9 years old and his daddy was a client of mine. I promised to take him flying which I duly did. He asked if he could have a go and I agreed once I had explained what effects the movement of the stick had. He nodded as I explained (clearly not taking it in).
I told him he had control and he pulled back on the stick so hard that I'm surprised the elevator didn't fall off. I took control and politely bollocked him. Once things had calmed down he took control again and did averagely for 10 minutes as I kept a lookout.
On the return to the strip I told him it was time for me to take control and he woldn't let me!!! He absolutely refused to let go of the stick exclaiming that he could land it as daddy had flight sim and he'd had loads of goes and never crashed yet! (as if that was supposed to fill me with confidence).
I expalined there was no way on God's earth that he would be landing the plane and that if he didnt let go of the stick I would have to tell his Dad that he had misbehaved. This didn't work. I told him that i'd have to make him sit in the back but his retort was "just you try". I told him that there was nothing else I could do than to call a MayDay and say that I had been hijacked!! (by a 9 year old)!!
He just stared ahead gripping the stick with both hands and screaming at me every time I tried to prise his hands off it.
The only thing I could do to get him to stop was to say, "Well that's it then. I'll be off, good luck".
He looked at me strangely and said "wadya mean". I replied "Well I don't carry 2 parachutes and if you're landing this then I reckon I'm safer taking the parachute" as I went for the door handle.
He let go, started crying, and grabbed my arm within a split second!
We landed within 5 minutes and his father wanted to know what the tears were for when his son jumped out. The boy replied "I really hate him Daddy, he's horrid"........................
What would you have done? This boy was obsessed.
Moral of the story.........make sure you know the kid you're taking flying. There are some pretty horrible ones out there!!
More seriously though, I did have one passenger who I nearly had to smack in the chops.
He was 9 years old and his daddy was a client of mine. I promised to take him flying which I duly did. He asked if he could have a go and I agreed once I had explained what effects the movement of the stick had. He nodded as I explained (clearly not taking it in).
I told him he had control and he pulled back on the stick so hard that I'm surprised the elevator didn't fall off. I took control and politely bollocked him. Once things had calmed down he took control again and did averagely for 10 minutes as I kept a lookout.
On the return to the strip I told him it was time for me to take control and he woldn't let me!!! He absolutely refused to let go of the stick exclaiming that he could land it as daddy had flight sim and he'd had loads of goes and never crashed yet! (as if that was supposed to fill me with confidence).
I expalined there was no way on God's earth that he would be landing the plane and that if he didnt let go of the stick I would have to tell his Dad that he had misbehaved. This didn't work. I told him that i'd have to make him sit in the back but his retort was "just you try". I told him that there was nothing else I could do than to call a MayDay and say that I had been hijacked!! (by a 9 year old)!!
He just stared ahead gripping the stick with both hands and screaming at me every time I tried to prise his hands off it.
The only thing I could do to get him to stop was to say, "Well that's it then. I'll be off, good luck".
He looked at me strangely and said "wadya mean". I replied "Well I don't carry 2 parachutes and if you're landing this then I reckon I'm safer taking the parachute" as I went for the door handle.
He let go, started crying, and grabbed my arm within a split second!
We landed within 5 minutes and his father wanted to know what the tears were for when his son jumped out. The boy replied "I really hate him Daddy, he's horrid"........................
What would you have done? This boy was obsessed.
Moral of the story.........make sure you know the kid you're taking flying. There are some pretty horrible ones out there!!
Bad Passengers........my old man. 30+ years as an Aerodynamicist and he cant stand flying in light aircraft! Doesn't trust em'....even though he knows in incredible detail how and why these metal things fly!
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The worst bit is that I still have dealings with his pa and there are frequent hints about "When might I be able to take their daughter flying".
If she's anything like her bro' then i'll be searching for a size SMALL straight jacket on ebay before she comes near my plane.
If she's anything like her bro' then i'll be searching for a size SMALL straight jacket on ebay before she comes near my plane.
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Possibly the funniest thread in a while - what an annoying little b**tard - I think next time an inverted flight may be in order, with no seatbelt and the accidental unclipping of the canopy 
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While this kid was a right brat, it has to be said that children can get frightened and nobody should fly with a child in the front seat (especially if there is no other adult in the plane) unless they are pretty sure about the kid's mental stability.
I wouldn't take my children up alone (oldest is 10) yet.
I wouldn't take my children up alone (oldest is 10) yet.
I remember reading an accident report from the US many years ago in which a father was flying with his son who had recently been hospitalised for mental illness. Unknown to the father, the son had stopped taking his medication.
In the cruise, the son suddenly and unexpectedly pulled the mixture control to ICO. The father, somewhat surprised, managed to keep the engine going by restoring the normal state of affairs. Not satisfied with this, the son then reached across, turned off the magnetos, removed the key and threw it out of a window.
The father made a satisfactory dead-stick landing, AFAIR with no injuries sustained by either party.
In the cruise, the son suddenly and unexpectedly pulled the mixture control to ICO. The father, somewhat surprised, managed to keep the engine going by restoring the normal state of affairs. Not satisfied with this, the son then reached across, turned off the magnetos, removed the key and threw it out of a window.
The father made a satisfactory dead-stick landing, AFAIR with no injuries sustained by either party.
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Actually, bookworm, the same situation could arise with adults too 
I would think there are more mentally unstable adults than there are mentally unstable children.
Thankfully it happens rarely, if ever, otherwise nobody would want to instruct. But with no FDR, no CVR, one can never tell.
I would think there are more mentally unstable adults than there are mentally unstable children.
Thankfully it happens rarely, if ever, otherwise nobody would want to instruct. But with no FDR, no CVR, one can never tell.
Why do it if it's not fun?
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Apologies if you've heard this one before - I'm sure I must have told it a dozen times, at least half of those on this forum.
An instructor once told me of a trial lesson he did - the woman grabbed hold of the controls immediately after take-off, pressed the push-to-talk button, and started reciting the Lords Prayer over and over. He had to physically wrestle the controls from her and return for a very prompt landing. Once safely on the ground, he asked her what she thought she was doing (although I don't think he phrased it quite so politely), and she told him that the only reason she wanted to fly was to be closer to God. He suggested that she might like to find an alternative way of getting closer to God next time.....
I think I must have been fortunate not to have had any bad stories about pax so far. Many of my pax have been pilots, though, and those that haven't have all been close friends and family - people I know very well. And no children, except in the back seat with their parents. That will all change once I find myself a job as an instructor, though, I'm sure
FFF
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An instructor once told me of a trial lesson he did - the woman grabbed hold of the controls immediately after take-off, pressed the push-to-talk button, and started reciting the Lords Prayer over and over. He had to physically wrestle the controls from her and return for a very prompt landing. Once safely on the ground, he asked her what she thought she was doing (although I don't think he phrased it quite so politely), and she told him that the only reason she wanted to fly was to be closer to God. He suggested that she might like to find an alternative way of getting closer to God next time.....
I think I must have been fortunate not to have had any bad stories about pax so far. Many of my pax have been pilots, though, and those that haven't have all been close friends and family - people I know very well. And no children, except in the back seat with their parents. That will all change once I find myself a job as an instructor, though, I'm sure
FFF
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Interesting to see IO540 will not take his kids up even thought hey are 10.
How about everyone else? What age have you taken your youngest up at..?
How about everyone else? What age have you taken your youngest up at..?
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Ok it’s time to disagree with the general tone of the thread. I LOVE taking people up for their first flight. I am so privileged to be able to fly, to share this is a huge blessing. I fortunately own shares in a Chipmunk and YAK 52, also operating a Rallye. The amount of fun, joy and understanding this has given has outweighed the one Bad experience I had with a PAX. My own fault and I’m sure that no one wants to hear my day of making a T^&t of myself. Over the years there are now 3 ATPL’s as a direct result of a pax flight with me. (Lost aBl**%y good estate agent and Bank Manager as a result).
Most Bad pax can be attributed to a poor attitude by the pilots. My experience to qualify this statement is from flying frightened Pax in gliders to being part of a fear of flying course in a pax jet. I almost feel incumbent so show friends and acquaintances the privilege of flight that I treasure so much.
Regards to all
That old romantic called WIDE
Most Bad pax can be attributed to a poor attitude by the pilots. My experience to qualify this statement is from flying frightened Pax in gliders to being part of a fear of flying course in a pax jet. I almost feel incumbent so show friends and acquaintances the privilege of flight that I treasure so much.
Regards to all
That old romantic called WIDE
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Mr Wolfie previously said:
"Monocock - that's the funniest post I've read in ages".
Actually I've changed my mind. I've just read the Survival Kits thread started by MLS-12D and that is even (unintentionally) funnier.
"Monocock - that's the funniest post I've read in ages".
Actually I've changed my mind. I've just read the Survival Kits thread started by MLS-12D and that is even (unintentionally) funnier.
Not so N, but still FG
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Cheers, Wide, you old softie you. I must confess that I enjoyed Monocock's merry tale, however.
360 Baktrak: my dad too! He's not an aerodynamicist, but he is an engineer. He knows all the theory, but is still convinced that flying is the work of Beelzebub. He's been up with me once, and insisted on going straight back down. My mum, by contrast, loves it, and would have me flying inverted rejoins if she had her way. My wife hates flying generally, but likes flying in small aeroplanes. Does a very good hostie job on longish trips, but won't go upside down (if airline pilot anecdotes are to be believed, real hosties don't mind which way up they go).
I haven't had any any dodgy passengers, although occasionally I get mildly cheesed off by friends who enjoy the flight but then insist on playing up the idea that it's all horrendously scary when talking to other friends who are dubious about getting into small aeroplanes.
360 Baktrak: my dad too! He's not an aerodynamicist, but he is an engineer. He knows all the theory, but is still convinced that flying is the work of Beelzebub. He's been up with me once, and insisted on going straight back down. My mum, by contrast, loves it, and would have me flying inverted rejoins if she had her way. My wife hates flying generally, but likes flying in small aeroplanes. Does a very good hostie job on longish trips, but won't go upside down (if airline pilot anecdotes are to be believed, real hosties don't mind which way up they go).
I haven't had any any dodgy passengers, although occasionally I get mildly cheesed off by friends who enjoy the flight but then insist on playing up the idea that it's all horrendously scary when talking to other friends who are dubious about getting into small aeroplanes.
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I took my daughter (age 7) up and she loved it, though she kept trying to hurry me through the runup and pre-takeoff checks.
Once in the air, despite my attempts to level off smoothly, loud 'rollercoaster-style' screams came over the headphones.
The final insult to my piloting skills were a series of complaints about how bad the landing was ...
Once in the air, despite my attempts to level off smoothly, loud 'rollercoaster-style' screams came over the headphones.
The final insult to my piloting skills were a series of complaints about how bad the landing was ...
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Have flown with my daughter since she was six (now 10). She even came along for dual lessons during my PPL, happily sat in the back reading a book whilst I did circuits! She's probably the best passenger I have; never complains, loves turbulence, gentle on the controls, and thinks all my landings are wonderful!
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My two (3 and 5) love flying and the oldest has been coming with me since she was 2. I even bought her a log book which we have filled in each time she has been!
So far she has amassed 76 hrs as PIC
(That's Passenger In Childseat in her language)
So far she has amassed 76 hrs as PIC
(That's Passenger In Childseat in her language)