How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Flying with Passengers
Article appeared in Flying Magazine November, 2015 by John King – 
Iliamna is a great fly-in fishing destination in Southwestern Alaska. In early summer, however, it often has rain, with low ceilings and visibilities. The day of our departure was no exception. As we prepared for our IFR departure, the mountains all around were in the clouds. There is no radar at the airport, and missing the mountains meant we would have to very carefully follow the complicated departure procedure found in the front of the terminal procedures book.
Martha and I were briefing it one more time just before engine start when a passenger in back cupped his hands and hollered, “Do you have a flight plan?” It was a bad time to be distracted.
Frankly, my first reaction was annoyance. Of course we had a flight plan—it was clearly going to be an IFR departure. This passenger was a retired fighter pilot and test pilot and should know that. Then I realized it was a playful gesture, intended to be fun. Still, it took me a beat to figure out how to answer. Then I hollered back, “Hell no. We don’t need no stinking flight plan!” Our passenger was pleased.
The distraction was only momentary and we successfully completed our briefing and departure with no problem. However, it did serve to remind us that distraction from passengers at critical times can be a real risk factor.
To mitigate that risk we brief our passengers to limit conversations with us to safety issues until we are in cruise. But unlike in the airlines where pilots are shielded from their passengers before and during a flight, passengers in general aviation have free access to the pilot or pilots and very often forget the rule.
General aviation pilots are the functional equivalent of the gate agent, ramp agent and cabin flight attendant as well as being the pilot. As a result, passenger distraction can interfere with your concentration even before you get in the airplane.
We try to get to the airplane before our passengers arrive. This allows us to do a careful pre-departure briefing with each other as well as our pre-flight inspection of the aircraft. Our plans are often foiled by passengers who politely want to make sure they don’t delay things, and also arrive early.
The first thing they will say is, “How can I help?” While we are inclined to say, “Let us concentrate for a bit,” we have found that it works much better if we give them something to do. We show passengers who will fly with us frequently how to load and secure the baggage compartments. This allows us to resume our briefing and do the aircraft inspection, which in our plane has some unusual items—like horizontal stabilizer jack screw position, tricky fuel door latches, and nose-wheel steering pin—that require special attention.
Besides distraction, another risk from passengers can come from the pressure they may put on you to complete a trip. We learned how powerful this pressure can be on another Alaska trip, this time in our Cessna 340. The left engine’s turbocharger wasn’t behaving properly, and we made an unscheduled landing at Sitka to sort things out. The mechanic at Sitka wasn’t familiar with turbochargers, so we called our home shop and got a list of things for the Sitka mechanic to do.
After he went through the list, the engine ran fine. So Martha and I got everyone on board and I taxied out to the runway. In the run-up area I realized that I didn’t know for sure what the problem with the engine had been, so I couldn’t have 100% percent confidence in it. And we were about to head off at night on a trip near the range limit of the airplane, over an area with very few alternatives—all of which had high minimums. Plus, Martha was coming down with something and was feverish, and I was becoming aware that I was exhausted.
I taxied back to the ramp, shut the engines down, and announced we were going to spend the night in Sitka. One of our passengers was livid about the sudden change in plans. He pointed out the inordinately high cost of Sitka hotel accommodations, his urgent need to get to his destination for business, the loss of time with his family, and every other objection he could think of. We really like this person, and I felt incredible pressure. We did spend the night in Sitka, but it took tremendous willpower to resist the pressure.
In retrospect we realized that we had left ourselves vulnerable to this pressure by not heading it off before we ever departed. We now advise passengers before every trip that it could very well be delayed or cancelled for numerous reasons including weather, a mechanical problem, or pilot fatigue or illness. Plus, we always explain that unlike in the airlines, we don’t have back-up airplanes or crew members. If problems arise en route, or on the distant end of the trip, they could well be stranded. They would be responsible for their own transportation from then on.
The speech works, too. One time on startup, one of our starter motors failed. We had already given our the-trip-could-be-cancelled speech, so we told our passengers, “If you really need to get home today, you should go over to the airline terminal and get on a flight.” One of our passengers took us up on it. We got a new starter motor installed that same morning, and beat the passenger home. But setting the terms in advance let us work through the problem without feeling inordinately rushed.
Failure to set passenger expectations in advance can have tragic results. There is the case of the Gulfstream crew going into Aspen in bad weather. The pilots had all sorts of pressure applied to them including reportedly having a passenger stand between them in the cockpit just before descent and tell them, “It is really important that I get there tonight.” Everyone on board died in the attempt.
Sometimes direct passenger interference can be a risk. Once on a small lake in Michigan we were participating in a party for the pilots and crew of the blimp we occasionally piloted. Martha was giving rides in a steam-powered boat, and I was giving rides in an Aeronca Chief on floats. A local boat owner rescued some of our partiers from their disabled watercraft, and the blimp crew brought the Good Samaritan to me and asked if I would give him a ride in the floatplane. I said, “Sure.”
After we got airborne, I realized the Good Samaritan was really drunk. Then he said, “You know, I used to fly. I’ll bet I could fly this.” When I didn’t respond, he said, “Can I try flying it?” I thought, “If I give him the controls, how will I get them back from him?” Then I realized in this case he would hand the controls back to me voluntarily.
When floats are added to an airplane, the extra area in front makes the airplane less stable in yaw. This airplane was downright negatively stable in yaw. Without nearly perfect rudder control, the airplane would skid very unpleasantly sideways. I decided not to tell him about this as I handed the controls over to him. As he over-controlled, we slewed alarmingly back and forth from one side to the other. Soon he said to me, “I guess it’s been longer than I realized. Why don’t you take the controls?” I didn’t tell him my secret, but I did promptly land and get him out of the airplane.
The incident really scared me. I felt lucky to have gotten out of the situation so quickly. It made me realize that part of my job as a pilot is to screen the passengers who will fly with me. Having someone get on board inebriated, or bring alcohol on board, is a serious risk factor.
When considering the risks of carrying passengers, not to be ignored is the effect the presence of passengers can have on the pilot. Some pilots may want to impress their passengers by demonstrating their skills or their ability to get utility from their aircraft. Other pilots report they perform less well with passengers because they are concerned about what the passengers will think of their performance.
Even though we in general aviation usually know our passengers pretty well, and they often are friends, the mere presence of any passengers does add risks to a flight. As pilot-in-command, it is our responsibility to identify those risks and mitigate them.
My usual passenger is my wife, who is not a pilot (and doesn’t want to be) but per the CRM I had drilled into me as a student, she is more of an asset than a distraction. Helps with spotting traffic and double-checking checklist items. I actually feel my landings are better with a passenger, maybe due to my being more focused on their ride and thus outside my own head and seat, or maybe because it is more like the primacy of the flight training experience. In fact, I take a little “mascot” with me when I fly solo just so it feels like I have a passenger 🙂
I do think most passengers are tempted to get chatty during takeoff and landing, the most dynamic parts of a flight, so that has to be kept in mind, and part of the pre-flight briefing.
Ms Martha and John, you’re Amazing, very good read. Thank you for the details.
I remember my first VHS Kings video, 24 years ago. your passion for Aviation; Safety inspired me to enroll at a 141 Program. And become a pilot.
However if it wasn’t for King Schools. CFI Program. I would have not received my Graduate, flight Instructor Certificate.
Thank you Martha and John.
Always anthony.
Great article as usual! I’ve been a King Schools client for many years and have a closet devoted to their VHS tapes, compact discs and the like.
I’m a Mooney 201 pilot/owner and have a plastic surgery practice. Every time I consent my elective surgery patients for their procedure, I use the teaching styles I’ve learned from John and Martha, particularly the smooth and effective art of ‘repetition’ John has taught me…in a way, my patients are also my passengers!
Such a relevant lesson for pilots, especially new and low time pilots. We all learn through your experience John and Martha! Hopefully we all gain from your experience and we can manage our risk better for it. Thank you!
Great relevant article.
Hey Kimberly, best regards from one of your buddies at KRIU. We miss you and Mike.
I’ve been to Iliamna a few times now since getting my license and enjoy going there from Anchorage. I took your ground school many years ago and have always appreciated what I learned from both of you. You consistently have been able to put flying skills into practicable explanations.
Third generation King fans. I got both my private and instrument with King…..video tapes back then. My son then soloed in a glider at 14, powered on his 16th BD and certificate at 17. Written all thanks to King. Now, two of our G’kids; boy 14 has started in gliders and girl, 15, is getting started in power. Bought both the King private ground school. My goodness streaming is so much better than those VHF tapes or CD’s. Thanks so much
“Known” John and Martha King for decades now. They are still my first choice any sort of aviation training.
Great article! As a retired charter/tour pilot thank you John for all the helpful tips all these years.
We are late sixties and thanks to John and Martha, private pilots. We are about to get our IFR ratings. Once again, King videos all the way. We both scored mid to high nineties on all our written tests. My wife and I love all your help and sage advice. Keep up the good work.
What I love about the Kings is that they’re so personable relatable.One can identify with them and incorporate their knowledge and experience.They share their “mistaken “ so We don’t have to repeat them.
As fun as John is, I have mimicked Martha since I have most of their videos, first on VHS then on DVD now Streaming. I fly a Mooney thanks to them, I love quoting both of them, and I take the life flights approach, I listen to the passengers but it goes in one ear and out the other, always concentrating on flying. “Stay out of the trees everyone” and remember Keep Moving Forward, Luigi wants to know where did you fly to today.
Relevant and useful article. Thank you.
Great emphasis here on our responsibility to mitigate the inherit risk imposed by our passengers. “Get there-itis” can be deadly!
As a rule, I always make my passengers aware of my conviction that flying on our own schedule in our own aircraft is part of the adventure of the trip!
Always plan for delays and detours! If that won’t do, PLEASE go buy a ticket on an airline! I will do what I can SAFELY do, and no more, so if you absolutely have to get there on time,DRIVE or go by airline!
Great candor,
Appreciate your willingness and ability to share challenges and situations.
We can all learn from this.
Just beginning my flying lessons.
RJS
As currently a student pilot with about 75 hours, I have to admit that my mindset has not been on passengers BUT I’m so glad that you introduced the subject and associated concerns. When I reach that point the point that I may have passengers with me, I am sure to remember some of your experience’s prior to take off…. thank you so much for sharing!
Passengers can be a dangerous distraction without even trying. I was flying three friends into Frankenmouth in a Cessna Cutlass. As I turned downwind to base at an unfamiliar airport, a backest passenger decides to vomit. Quietly and without fuss – but distracting at a very bad time. Luckily her friend in the back seat was a natural-born flight attendant (and maybe CFI) who firmly told me “I’ll take care of her, YOU fly the plane”. Well duh – why didn’t I think of that?
Amen
Unfortunately the FAA WILL NOT grant a private pilot license nor can one solo if one is diagnosed with PTSD. I’m a Vietnam Veteran diagnosed as such..
John & Martha,
I’m so fortunate to have been flying since the early 70’s and through the years I’ve enjoyed the king family’s educational products the 15 vhs tapes for my instrument rating all those years ago and recently a FIRC in 2022. Well done and truly appreciated.
Warmest regards
Bill W
Wonderfully informative, frank and detailed article — as usual. Thank you!
Ellen K.
Indianapolis
Great article! Ego causes the most fatalities. External pressure is a challenge to an unhealthy ego.
I do so appreciate your admitting to your own mistakes. As a veteran pilot and role model to us all, it helps to know that even you could do things better at times. Your materials have been and ARE a great help to me.
You’re pressuring the PIC can often be tragic. Sometimes the pilot may try to overlook the correct choices. I live in N. Ohio and study crash reports. (Not a pilot, really wanted to be.)
Very well written and appreciated, John!
Smart article. I too have noticed pressure applied to myself as the pilot. And have noticed that I intrinsically have become cagier in how I deal with “friends” and family who want to go flying with me. Better pre-flight briefings on my part would be wise.
So…As PIC you voluntarily allowed an inebriated passenger to take control of the aircraft. SMH.
He wrote, “After we got airborne, I realized the Good Samaritan was really drunk.”
(Oops – just realized you were referring to controls, not departure. Perhaps he felt that being diplomatic and not creating a row over momentary control of the aircraft was a better choice)
Given the potentiality of getting into an altercation with a drunk stranger of unknown temperament vs exercising 91.3(b), I know which I would have picked in this situation. Let’s hope that should you ever find yourself in such an unfortunate situation, you have the humility to share the experience and lessons learned just as Mr. King has done here.
Thanks for the suggestions of how to better behave as a passenger when I am not the pilot in command.
Excellent stories and application. Thank you.
Thanks for the good article. I live in Anchorage and fly a 206 on Aerocets and a PA-12 in 35″ Bushwheels
I’m trying to find either video instruction for or a local flight instructor for training with my 206 use of it’s S-Tec 55x autopilot and it’s interface with the Garmin 750xi
Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks- Kirk
I always love to read what you right. So many years of experience. And you be so transparent about your own wrong decisions, I am sure helps save lives.
Iliamna, great, I used to fly an Otter for Lake Clark Air, Glenn Alsworth , the owner is a friend of mine. Loved flying floats out there,
Great article! Thanks!
Excellent article and important, but under appreciated topic. Provides me with more to consider.
Passenger pressure can be most stressful. However, once I announce a safety based decision, I’m sticking to it without regard to passenger pressure. I view it as an essential aspect of serving as Pilot in COMMAND.
Keep up the good work.
George