n287hg

I have had my private license since 2005 on got my instrument in July 08 and I am working on my commercial right now. I fly on a regular basis to keep my skills sharp. Too this day my parents/ friends/ siblings say they will NOT get in a little plane with me behind the controls. Are your family and friends like this or am I the only one

Booker

Maybe it's just you. Just kidding, of course. Seriously, though, my mom says that she'll never go flying with me in a GA plane as long as she'll have to tell me how much she weighs.

Herkdrv

Hey even I have zero desire to get into those things. Now if you were headed to a Caribbean island on a float plane..... I'd still take the boat

jban642

Never had that problem before. I think some times just the thought of a little plane makes people nervous. As I made my way home after another lovely trip(weather delays and small airports with out ILS.) on the MD-88 I caught some ones conversation about that airplane is small. If they only knew how small they can get.

flyandive

My family was hesitant at first. My dad was the first one then my mom, then my brother and sister. Once word got around that there was nothing to worry about then they were willing. All of them have been up with me more than once on the GA side of things. My parents have non-reved in the back of a few of my flights at Comair.

USMCFLYR

I immediately took my family and friends flying. My step-father though was not a fan of small airplanes and once I had landed (he tells me nearly 20 years later) let out a HUGE sigh of relief........only to hear me say "well I can do better than that" and did a touch and go

USMCFLYR

Ewfflyer

Taken everyone in my family except my dad's side. They are nervous folks, grandma's chlosterphobic(grandpa did go), and my uncle on that side is just the same way.

It happens, I wouldn't sweat it. You could try enticing them into a nice little breakfast flight or something early morning when you're chances of good flying conditions exist!

Slice

Reminds me of my first flight post license. I took my brother up within hours of passing my check ride. Had to mess with him a little by doing a power on stall. Enter the pattern and request a touch and go. We touch down and he screams yes and holds up his hands, about that time the powers going back in and away we go... He's flown with me since a few times.

ufgatorpilot

I used to be that family member that wouldn't go in a "little airplane." My sister got her ratings at a Part 141 school and I refused to go with her. Though I never had problems with flying as a passenger in big jets, I said, "no way, those little planes crash all the time!!!" I even got very upset when my parents went up with her, and my rule was that they were not allowed to both go with her at the same time. She never really pushed me to go with her, but just told me how much fun it was and how much I would love it. Then one day, I decided to take a flying lesson. I don't know why I changed my mind, but I'm so glad it did because that was a life-changing decision for me.

I think that people just don't like feeling like they have no control. Don't take it personally that your family/friends don't want to go flying with you. I am sure they have no doubt that you are a wonderful pilot.

SkyHigh

I don't really like to have passengers. My kids did not even know that I had a plane until a year and a half ago. Since then I have rarely taken them up. Airport bums occasionally try to hitch a ride when I go up but I have to turn them away. I enjoy the peace of flying by myself and for some reason since I am a flight instructor everyone expects me to relinquish the controls to them. I also don't like dealing with airsickness, explanations or passenger demands. I don't like to feel obligated to offer the left seat either. No pax, no way.

Skyhigh