Passenger Comfort.....

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 02:48:58 GMT, Jack wrote:

Paul wrote:

snip

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.

Don't discount the power of suggestion -- but I'm not sure how to get around
it without leaving them uninformed.


Jack

I used to operate a commercial glider operation. I kept a gallon size
zip lock bag in the front seat pocket but I never told the passenger
about it. I would then watch the passenger for signs of there getting
sick. (I was in the back seat.) If they started sweating a lot on
not such a hot day, or became uresponsive when questioned I would
directly ask them if they were not feeling well and tell them where
the bag was.

I did not tell them about the bag before launch because a discussion
between many commercial operators suggested that telling them where
the sick sac was would often times make passengers more prone to
getting sick.

I also avoided giving rides when it was extremely hot or when the
visibility was poor, i.e. no clear horizon. With no clear horizon I
found passengers had more of a problem.

In five seasons of giving rides commercially and 7 seasons of giving
rides for my club, I only had three or four people get sick.
Unfortunately one of them was my former fiancee.


(The gallon bag was so they would not have any trouble with aim.
They also could seal it after they were done and I did not have to
smell.)

One thing I have learned - Make sure your passengers - Never look at the wingtip
circling close to the ground. The apparent retrograde motion seems to trigger
motion sickness very reliably in those who are succeptible.

We also make as little point of the air-sick bag as possible, and just enloy the
flight. If the passenger is enjoying the flight we might extend it, but
generally keep first flight to 20 minutes max.

Some folk never get comfortable. So far I have never made a passenger more than
queasy. There are those who have made someone throw up, and those who will some
day make someone throw up...

JC wrote:
On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 02:48:58 GMT, Jack wrote:


Paul wrote:


snip

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.

Don't discount the power of suggestion -- but I'm not sure how to get around
it without leaving them uninformed.


Jack


I used to operate a commercial glider operation. I kept a gallon size
zip lock bag in the front seat pocket but I never told the passenger
about it. I would then watch the passenger for signs of there getting
sick. (I was in the back seat.) If they started sweating a lot on
not such a hot day, or became uresponsive when questioned I would
directly ask them if they were not feeling well and tell them where
the bag was.

I did not tell them about the bag before launch because a discussion
between many commercial operators suggested that telling them where
the sick sac was would often times make passengers more prone to
getting sick.

I also avoided giving rides when it was extremely hot or when the
visibility was poor, i.e. no clear horizon. With no clear horizon I
found passengers had more of a problem.

In five seasons of giving rides commercially and 7 seasons of giving
rides for my club, I only had three or four people get sick.
Unfortunately one of them was my former fiancee.


(The gallon bag was so they would not have any trouble with aim.
They also could seal it after they were done and I did not have to
smell.)



--
Bruce Greeff
Std Cirrus #57
I'm no-T at the address above.