Flying with a 7yr old
Joined: Sep 2001
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 2,787
Likes: 208
From: Toronto
- Never, ever allow a child to roam the cabin unsupervised. There has been at least one sad case of a child falling out the baggage door.
- Cross-wind landings can be hard on a young child's tummy. I have twice had to do a clean up after landing as you there's nothing you can do for the child when he gets sick in the flare.
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Essex
Flying with a 7 yr old
Giving children of any age a trip in a light aircraft is a great way to provide the world with future pilots! Some are put off straight away, but I believe that many will have the seed sown in their minds for a future career. My son first flew with me at the age of eighteen months, continued the experience on through childhood, I bought him a flying lesson at the local club for his thirteenth birthday, he now flies Tornados for a living.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Reading
Thanks everyone for your advise.
I'm pleased to report that she loved it and we even had to take a detour on the way home so that she could see her house & school.
A couple of other things for anyone considering it:
She was told that she can't go infront of the wings unless she's been invited by me
We agreed that when I put my hand up in the middle of the ac, everyone stops yapping.
The only problem is: She wants to know where we're going next week
I'm pleased to report that she loved it and we even had to take a detour on the way home so that she could see her house & school.
A couple of other things for anyone considering it:
She was told that she can't go infront of the wings unless she's been invited by me
We agreed that when I put my hand up in the middle of the ac, everyone stops yapping.
The only problem is: She wants to know where we're going next week
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
From: East Anglia
Nice one... Did the mum enjoy it too?
In 18+ yrs of taking people up for flights I've never had anyone who hasn't wanted to go up again. I think that fear of the unknown before the flight worries most people. The actual flight is a pleasant surprise.
Next time ask for permssion to do a steep turn. My daughters love them and they also like it when I pull the nose up and then push it down...probably +1.5G and around 0 G.
They call it an 'up and downy' as in " Dad, can we do some up and downies?".
I also give them an old map with the route marked and a chinagraph pencil to mark things off. Also giving them a camera and responsibility for recording the trip. They enjoy it more when they are involved, even if they are just duplicating whatever you are doing.
In 18+ yrs of taking people up for flights I've never had anyone who hasn't wanted to go up again. I think that fear of the unknown before the flight worries most people. The actual flight is a pleasant surprise.
Next time ask for permssion to do a steep turn. My daughters love them and they also like it when I pull the nose up and then push it down...probably +1.5G and around 0 G.
They call it an 'up and downy' as in " Dad, can we do some up and downies?".
I also give them an old map with the route marked and a chinagraph pencil to mark things off. Also giving them a camera and responsibility for recording the trip. They enjoy it more when they are involved, even if they are just duplicating whatever you are doing.
