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News & Media After the check ride: Take someone on a date

After the check ride: Take someone on a date

Romance is in the air

February 1, 2017
Movies are made of this kind of stuff—a tuxedo-clad jet-setter whisks his supermodel date off in his Gulfstream V to dinner on a remote island. A bold helicopter pilot lands on the top of a building where a romantic dinner for two awaits.
TNN February
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Pilot checklist

Brief the flight. A good passenger briefing can prevent unwanted surprises in the air and allay a nervous passenger’s fears.

Keep your focus. Don’t let captivating conversation from your special someone distract you from your primary job of flying. Explain to your date that you may need them to stop talking so you can listen to a radio call or focus on critical flying tasks.

Point out local landmarks. Familiar sights such as one’s home or the local downtown area take on an exciting new dimension viewed from above.

Check for passenger comfort. Are light turbulence or your practical-test-worthy 30-degree banks turning your passenger’s face green? Be prepared to make gentler turns or even cut the flight short if your passenger is ill or uncomfortable. Keep in mind your date may be reluctant to admit he or she is feeling uneasy.

But you don’t need thousands of dollars and a hedge fund to take someone on a flying date—and you certainly don’t need a tuxedo or evening gown. Especially if you live close to an attraction such as an amusement park, hiking trails, or event complex, you can chart a flight to the closest local airport and grab a taxi or the airport courtesy car to get you to the destination. And the flight is the perfect ice-breaker—just you and your date humming along, no distractions except ATC, and plenty to talk about as you skim over landmarks not seen from anywhere but this vantage point.

As with any first flight, make sure your date is comfortable and secure, that the air is smooth and clear, and that he or she isn’t fearful of any surprises—you should discuss this beforehand. A first flight on a first date isn’t something you spring on someone who hasn’t flown before.

It (hopefully) goes without saying that if this is a dinner date, you’ll be the designated driver and not drink. Your passenger should take it easy, too. Nothing ruins a flying date like turbulence on a too-full stomach and that extra glass of wine.

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