Kids in the Plane
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: In the Hangar
I've had both my kids in my Cessna 210 since they were about 10 weeks old. The 4 yo absolutely loves it, the 1 yo & the missus just fall asleep. It is sooo much nicer to do 1hr 20mins in the plane vs 8 hours in the car with kids this age to go visit oma & opa.
We use their seats from the car. I have an adult headset that I put on the 4yo. Nothing for the 1 yo.
Its all good !
We use their seats from the car. I have an adult headset that I put on the 4yo. Nothing for the 1 yo.
Its all good !
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 0
From: Oxford
Having now tried it... don't do single-pilot IFR/IMC with a three-year-old and no other adult. I got overloaded at the point when Brize asked me to contact Gloucester on box 2 - two radios plus the 3-year-old was more than I could handle!
But with another adult (and preferably an audio panel which can isolate the pilot for busy times) - fine.
Tim
But with another adult (and preferably an audio panel which can isolate the pilot for busy times) - fine.
Tim
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Both my boys (age 10 and 6) love it. The younger one is probably the keenest but tends to be a little overexcited and talks a lot which is rather wearing. The eldest is much quieter and we have been away together on several overnight trips since he was 5 or so. He is rather blase about the whole thing and on long flights tends to play his gameboy. Both have been flying since they were small. Both made their first flights aged about 18months and both fell asleep. When they were small we used car seats and small ear plugs and I always flew with another adult on board. Now I get by with a booster seat and cushions but they do have a child's headset.
Like Gingernut I don't fly with them together, nor do we fly as a family - just in case. This is largely due to spousal pressure. Odd that, as we have no qualms about travelling the length of the country in a car.
This year we are planning a longer trip and the possibility of single pilot IFR with a child on board is a little worrying.
Like Gingernut I don't fly with them together, nor do we fly as a family - just in case. This is largely due to spousal pressure. Odd that, as we have no qualms about travelling the length of the country in a car.
This year we are planning a longer trip and the possibility of single pilot IFR with a child on board is a little worrying.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
I've always had two trains of thought about this. I don't have kids and don't plan on having kids for several years yet (lol probably a decade), but what I would worry about is that taking the kids up from a young age, they would find it blase eventually and would not see the thrill and excitment of it when they come to choosing careers, hobbies etc. I have been surrounded by aviation to a certain extent when I was very young (like my uncle flying me around on a dinner tray playing flying saucers) to having lego and toy aircraft. I didn't fly in a light aircraft until I was 15 but before then I was hooked on Microsoft Flight Sim and knew it inside out. So flying was always a big thrill and adventure and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a real aircraft. Now I have my PPL and I am in a UAS and I feel like I am fulfilling my dreams, so if I wanted my kid to be a pilot, I'm not sure if flying them as they grow would be conducive. Then again, they should have the opportunity to decide their own futures!
Anyone have any opinions on this?
Anyone have any opinions on this?
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: UK
Ridgerunner, I have beeen in and around aircraft since I was a baby, my father used to fly us regularly and had an Auster based at Shoreham. Both my brothers are commercial pilots and I myself am a PPL(H) so I think it's good to start young. It has in no way diminished the thrill I get everytime I go up.
Al.
Al.
