Introducing kids to flying concepts early!

I live in Athens, GA near KAHN. On a nice weekend day GA activity is
pretty heavy.

On Saturday I was outside with my kids (6 and 4) while they were doing
various things kids do, including drawing on the driveway with
sidewalk chalk. I noticed a lot of planes in the air so I pulled out
my ICOM radio and tuned it to the ATC frequency. My son (6) asked
what the people were talking about. I got out my handheld GPS to
find N and then used the white and yellow chalk to draw runways (9/27
and 2/20) complete with taxiways and stop & hold short lines. I sent
him in to get some of his die cast airplanes.

Using chalk I showed him where the traffic pattern was and then we
listened for planes to tell us where they were. He learned to listen
for planes requesting to taxi and would move one of his planes to the
stop & hold short line and then he would fly the plane off the runway
once they were given permission to take the runway.

My son may not know what Pokemon is but he is probably the only 6 year
old in the area that understands what turning base and entering a
traffic pattern on the downwind leg means.

I have never been so proud!

As a side note, while we were out there the "little old lady widow
neighbor" came over to say "Hi." While we were talking a pilot
radioed in and talked to ATC. She asked what that was and when I
explained to her that we were listening to the Athens ATC she informed
me that she and a couple of friends got their PP licenses back in
1942. She said they had to pool their gas ration cards to get to the
airport but she learned to fly in a J-3 Cub. She even told me that
she soloed at 7.5 hours. She may be in her '80's but she can still
talk like a pilot. She was quite amazed when I showed her my handheld
Garmin and showed her how I can see airports and look up tower
frequencies. I may offer to take her up once I have my license.

My son may not know what Pokemon is but he is probably the only 6 year
old in the area that understands what turning base and entering a
traffic pattern on the downwind leg means.

Way to go!

Our kids were brought up immersed in aviation as well and (as a result)
understand the national airspace almost instinctively. By doing what you're
doing, you're raising tomorrows pilots, and we should all be thankful for
your effort.

Using sidewalk chalk and a hand-held radio is a truly inspired way to teach
kids (and, as a student, to reinforce the concepts for yourself) -- IMHO
this technique should be incorporated into the curriculum at every
elementary school near an airport. The number of things the exercise
teaches (visualization, communication, spatial relationships) far transcend
aviation.

And take the old lady flying when you get your ticket -- you'll make her
year!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"