Technique / Passenger Briefing

The Passenger Briefing

One of the great joys in flying is sharing your newfound freedom with another person. You don’t get that privilege until you earn your sport, recreational, or private pilot certificate. When you start to carry passengers, you’re handed an awesome responsibility: ensuring their safety and comfort, as well as their enjoyment of the flight. A good passenger briefing helps you accomplish this.

There are probably as many ways to give a briefing as there are pilots. I know a Cessna 172 owner who printed up a small booklet that he hands out to first-timers; it covers everything from how fast the airplane typically flies to how it got its nickname—“Murphy Brown.” New pilots should focus on the essentials of safety. As you gain experience, you can embellish your briefing based on the airplane you fly and the personalities of the people you’ll be carrying aloft with you.

1. In and out

Show your passenger how to open and close his door, and then ask him to demonstrate it for you. Don’t let him slam it. Show him where the baggage compartment is, how it opens, and discuss whether it can or should be used as an exit. Is your passenger expected to open the door in the event of an off-airport landing? If so, make sure you communicate that.

2. Seatbelts and shoulder harnesses

Your passenger must know how to put on and take off the seatbelt and shoulder harness; again, have him demonstrate for you. FAR 91.107 stipulates that your passenger must wear them during taxi, takeoff, and landing; do everyone a favor and ask passengers to keep them fastened at all times while in the aircraft. 

Two types of seatbelts

Airplanes are generally built today with two types of seatbelts—three point, like you'd find in a car, and four-point, which most passengers won't be used to. Watch closely to make sure it's fastened correctly. 

3. Airsickness bags

Airsickness isn’t a pleasant subject, but don’t let that prevent you from showing your passenger where he or she can find a bag if the need arises. Ask him to tell you if he starts feeling queasy; explain that there are things that can be done (opening a vent; looking outside, toward the horizon) that can help ease the symptoms. Make the point that you can’t help him if he doesn’t confess. 

4. Don’t touch

All those knobs, gadgets, and buttons! Most of your nonflying friends won’t dare mess with them, but a few might not be able to resist. Explain that they cannot touch any of the controls, switches, or knobs unless you say they can. Remind them not to rest their feet on the rudder pedals. 

5. Can I help?

Once you’ve established the boundaries in the cockpit, let passengers know what they can do—look for traffic, or hold the chart and follow along. With your say-so, passengers can tune radios and even hold straight and level flight if they’re willing.