Passenger Comfort.....

My two cents...

When I meet someone I ask if they have flown in a small aircraft before.
Next I ask them if they have any troubles with motion sickness (boats,
planes, etc.). I explain that while most people don't have any issues
with motionsickness, it can happen. Then go on to the usual briefing and
you should have some idea as to how suceptible they may be to getting
sick on the flight.

Once they are in the glider and strapped in I've always explained to
them that I want to make them as comfortable on THEIR flight as possible
and if they should happen to start feeling "off" that the best thing is
for them to TELL ME if they are not feeling well. If that happens, I'd
rather bring them back to the gliderport rather than have them get sick.
I then point out the ziplock and explain "just in case it comes on
suddenly".

During the flight it's important, based on their level of flying
experience, to be sure to tell them what's happening and it's not a good
idea to do any serious thermalling until you've found out if you've got
a trooper or not. A sudden turn, etc. if they are anxious is a good way
to make a benign situation bad. Anyone who's done a lot of rides
probably has a story of the person who showes up for a glider ride with
1000+ hours in power who "never gets sick" and a couple cored turns in a
thermal and they are sweating bullets.

With all that said, pay attention to how much they are talking and ask
them how they're doing, particularly after your first few gentle turns
thermalling.

If they start feeling poorly, level out, shallow turn toward the
gliderport, GENTLY ease out the spoilers, and take 'em home. If it
starts, then it is highly unlikely that they'll feel better so best plan
is to get them on the ground because no one is likely to ever return
after an intro ride if they actually get sick. They are your customer
and it's important to keep that in mind.

If they are a little green when you land, you can explain that with the
more exposure they get, typically the motion sickness will go away.

Gary
(8 years of rides, zero pukes)

wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm a relatively new commercial pilot and have had several passengers
with NPE...near puke events! Some have been uncomfortable from the
moment we start the tow, others at altitude and others while
thermaling. I keep the chatter going, recommend steady breathing and
to look at the horizon. I make sure the air vent is open as well.

A little communication goes a long way. My first question is always "have
you ever been in a small plane before?" This opens a conversation that usually
can give you an idea of the experience they are looking for. Continue the
conversation a bit during the flight, they will tell you what they want if
properly prompted. Simple questions like "are these turns OK?" are absolutely
basic. With kids, I always explain that the glider banks through turns "just
like a bicycle". They understand that concept instantly and are prepared for
the sensation.

I have learned a lot about giving glider rides by simply hanging back and
listening to my passengers talk to their families & friends after a flight.
What do they talk about? Things that are everyday for you might be
life-defining moment for someone else; something as simple as steering the
glider around a cloud, or flying in formation with a bird.

I have had to make a few quick landings to get queasy passengers on
terra-firma, but only had one actually get sick in the glider. It turned out
that she was in the "family way" and had actually brought her own sick sack!

Vaughn

I'll second that. I first bought the "Relief Band" for my wife who was using
a medication that made her nauseous.

It is important to follow the directions (the "tingle" feeling must extend
up the center of the hand and to the middle fingers. Also, have the pax put
the band on *before* the flight and then show them how to turn it on. Trying
to get the thing installed properly after the onset of nausea is a
guaranteed way to fill the barf bag!
--
bumper ZZ (reverse all after @)
"Dare to be different . . . circle in sink."

"Stuart Grant" wrote in message
oups.com...

Just want to put in a good word for a product called the Relief Band.
It is an FDA-approved medical device (proven effective)than can be
purchased online for about $75 and is available in many drug store
chains. It is effective for motion sickness, morning sickness, and most
other nausea. I have found it effective 85% of the time. It is worn
like a watch and gives an adjustable small electric shock to the inside
of the wrist. Get the one that has replaceable button cell batteries
(they last about 40 hours).

So when you must give a ride on a hot bumpy afternoon to a passenger
that just had a big lunch you might have them put on a relief band
before the get in the glider. Barf bag as backup.

In article ,
dan wrote:

I think fresh air and a clear view out of the cockpit are the best way to
minimize airsickness. Never give a non-pilot a backseat ride.

That's rather difficult to avoid. At our club you are not allowed to
fly from the back seat unless you are an instructor. I've got 250 hours
total time, 68 hours and 95 flights of it giving rides, all with the
passenger in the back seat.

I've had two people get sick. One friend got sick at the end of an 80
minute flight in 1993. I don't fly first-timers for that long any more.
Another friend got sick on her first glider flight earlier this year.
She's been fine on subsequent ones and we think she may have started
with residual car sickness from a "sightseeing route" on the way to the
airport, and unwise food just before the flight (a big hot chocolate).

--
Bruce | 41.1670S | \ spoken | -+-
Hoult | 174.8263E | /\ here. | ----------O----------

Vaughn wrote: I have learned a lot about giving glider rides by simply
hanging back and
listening to my passengers talk to their families & friends after a
flight.
What do they talk about? Things that are everyday for you might be
life-defining moment for someone else; something as simple as steering
the
glider around a cloud, or flying in formation with a bird


Vaughn,
That's an excellent suggestion! I've been fortunate enough to have
given some rides to late 80's early 90's year old customers, and the
excitement from the family watching, and the passenger themselves has
been a real learning experience. I'll pay more attention to the
comments in the future.

Thanks again for all the replies, I definately picked up some
techniques that I'll try this weekend. I've been asking if they've
ever flown in a small plane or been in a sailboat....I didn't think
about comparing it to a bicycle ride.

Douglas

wrote:
I'm a relatively new commercial pilot and have had several passengers
with NPE...near puke events! Some have been uncomfortable from the
moment we start the tow, others at altitude and others while
thermaling. I keep the chatter going, recommend steady breathing and
to look at the horizon. I make sure the air vent is open as well.

Can anyone offer some tips to keep the passengers from losing it? I
want each one to have a great ride and first gliding experience. I
keep the manuevers gentle and frequently ask how they are doing.

It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I
point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy.

Thanks in advance,

Douglas

Tell passengers they should not look down at low wing tip while turning
and to look instead out toward the horizon.

wrote:
I'm a relatively new commercial pilot and have had several passengers
with NPE...near puke events! Some have been uncomfortable from the
moment we start the tow, others at altitude and others while
thermaling. I keep the chatter going, recommend steady breathing and
to look at the horizon. I make sure the air vent is open as well.

Can anyone offer some tips to keep the passengers from losing it? I
want each one to have a great ride and first gliding experience. I
keep the manuevers gentle and frequently ask how they are doing.

It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I
point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy.

Thanks in advance,

Douglas

Doug,

Alexander Technique. Used by actors and musicians. You will note that
most NPEs are preceded by some physical changes. The shoulder raise and
the head tilts back. This is a posture indicating stress. While it does
not cause the motion-based nausea, it contributes to the feeling of
discomfort. Placing a hand on the passenger's shoulder can help to
relax him. I'll also suggest that they nod "yes" to relieve the tension
in the back of the neck. This will typically reduce the tension in the
abdomen. (I have a very short canned speech to explain that sitting
semireclined causes some physical strain that can contribute to
airsicknesses, but there is an easy and effective remedy... positive
suggestion.)

I've found this a particularly effect means of managing reduced g
sensitivity. Not a cure by any means, but it helps to keep the body
from adding physical strain to the psychological. Other recommendations
are equally valid: look outside, let 'em fly, point out interesting
features...

(Actors and musicians use the Alexander Technique to cope with
performance anxiety-based body tension, which often leads to nausea and
vomiting.)

wrote:
I'm a relatively new commercial pilot and have had several passengers
with NPE...near puke events! Some have been uncomfortable from the
moment we start the tow, others at altitude and others while
thermaling. I keep the chatter going, recommend steady breathing and
to look at the horizon. I make sure the air vent is open as well.

Can anyone offer some tips to keep the passengers from losing it? I
want each one to have a great ride and first gliding experience. I
keep the manuevers gentle and frequently ask how they are doing.

It seems the ones who say they will be fine, and laugh at me when I
point out the airsick bag, have been the one's to get queasy.

Thanks in advance,

Douglas

I preffer the snap roll off tow followed into a 5 G loop.

If they can handle that they can handle thermaling a 10knotter right
after that at 50 degree bank.

Al

Burt is right on the money. I like to do first flights in the
calm, cooler sunset air. I also sometimes do a very short pattern tow
for the first flight, then a second flight that is longer if desired.

I use slow roll rates and gentler banks, and load the C.G. fairly forward.
I often avoid thermals for the very first flight.

Sometimes (often?) we get people who really aren't first timers.
They are hang glider or airplane or ultralight pilots.
One of the "first flights" with one of these guys was over 3 hours.
I once went up with another guy, student pilot? Yeah right! We
thermalled for over 3 hours and I had to ask him to land so I could
pee (I did an improper pre-flight).

Turbulent air is what soaring is all about. But some "rides"
just want gliding, not soaring. I personally enjoy giving a
"glider" ride as much as a "soaring" ride, if that's what
the customer asks for. Unfortunately, at some places and some
parts of the day, the air is so turbulent that "gliding" isn't
a possibility.


In article .com,
wrote:
I wrote an article about "Give a Better Glider Ride" in the April 2004
issue of "Soaring" magazine, that was well received.

Here's a few tips: Consider not making the glider ride into a soaring
flight. Five shallow turns in a thermal at most - then work "lift
streets". The initial glider ride should be about 15-20 minutes, and
in the cool, calm air of the morning. Constant turning under a bit of
"G" and seeing the world go 'round every 20 seconds may not be a happy
introduction to the joy of soaring. If they liked the short flight,
then take them up again for the soaring flight, later in the day.

Of course, if you are not flying coordinated, you are making them
uncomfortable, and if you are talking too much - trying to explain the
concepts of the yaw string, glider aerodynamics, thermals, etc. to them
- then you are not allowing them to enjoy the quiet, and make their own
adjustments to the new sensations.

In 38 years of giving thousands of glider rides, I've made less than 10
passengers sick. Think about how new it must be to your passenger in
every sensory aspect. Give them time to adjust and they will be back
for more.

If you are not an instructor, I'd be careful about having them fly the
glider. (Just the stick, as the rudder is more than they need to know
about at first. Read Derek Piggott's chapter for instructors in his
book, "Gliding Safety" and how to teach turns.) 'Telling passengers
where to look - out at the horizon is OK, as long as the rate of turn
is slow.

You are to be commended for wanting to share soaring with your
passengers, but consider sharing it a small piece at a time. Too much
candy makes one sick!

Try to look up that article in April 2004 "Soaring", or I can email it
as a file.

Burt Compton
Marfa Gliders, west Texas USA
www.flygliders.com



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Mark J. Boyd