Download - Midwest Flyer Magazine

the media for a demo ride several daysBEFORE the event. It’s free publicityfor your operation, and if the piececomes out the day before the event,it helps the charitable or communityoperation to turn out crowds.Though the donor of the aircraftcan receive reimbursement for fuel forthe event, consider doing somethingspecial for them. I suggest a post-eventget-together to thank them. The pilotswill feel that they have been a part ofsomething good.Be sure to have “learn to fly”promotional material (AND someonethat can sell flight training) ready toanswer questions about learning to fly.Remember, the people taking the rideshave already expressed a desire to fly, sothey are potential flight students.Consider offering an “upgrade.”We can tell them, “Yes, you can takethe airplane ride, but for not a lot moremoney, you can fly the airplane yourself!Would you like to book an introductoryflight lesson?”Consider using one of your fourallocated events during an EAA YoungEagles promotion, if you have theaircraft and pilots available to do so.Adults often live vicariously throughtheir kids. Parents will bring them outto a Young Eagles event, but wouldlike to go up, themselves. The kids gofor free during the Young Eagles event,but the adults can be accommodatedon a separate flight. (Don’t forget thatEAA and the local EAA chapters arealso non-profit organizations, andare therefore eligible and this canhelp EAA.) Note that EAA is nowconsidering doing a “Grey Eagles”program for adults, which can be partof it. Kids get the free program (andthe recognition that comes with it),and adults get to participate as well bybuying a ride — a shared experiencefor kids and adults — making it evenMORE memorable.Though the FAA doesn’t require it,check insurance liability coverage ondonated aircraft.Consider carefully which pilots youwant flying, and which you do not.‘Nuff said.Appoint a specific person orcommittee to evaluate weatherconditions and to make the call whetheryou will conduct the rides or not. Makethe call as soon as you can. Err on theside of safety and convenience. Anaccident, or having people get ill on abad day, can wipe out goodwill.Do I really have to remind you tohave a supply of sick-sacks in eachaircraft?Have a designated and visible placefor people to buy tickets. The personselling tickets can put groups togetherin specific aircraft — telling a fourpersongroup that they should waituntil a six-place aircraft comes back sothey can all go together, for example, orsuggesting that a disabled person utilizea specific aircraft for ease of loading, orsuggesting that three burly Minnesotafarmers might not want to go togetherin a Piper Warrior.If you have some unique aircraft(seaplanes, gliders, helicopter, antiques),you may or may not want to put a“premium price” on those aircraft.We’ve even done air rides in a King Air!Always invite riders to bring theircamera. In today’s “social media”age, those pictures will be widelydistributed, adding to the impact ofthe ride. For those still using film,try “partnering” with a local photoprocessor to offer a discount.Make provisions for thehandicapped; many people find iteasier to get into a high-wing airplane,for example. Cherokee 6s, with theirbig cargo doors, are also easy for thehandicapped to board the back seats.Your thoughtfulness will be appreciated.Make sure it is a fun experience! Dowhatever you can to make it a carnivalatmosphere — food, trinkets — we’veeven had a “carnival barker” dressedup in a striped coat, skimmer hat, andcane extolling the virtues of “taking tothe air” just like the barnstormers, andwonder of wonders, it works!Be sure to have airplane loaders andunloaders assisting…helping people inand out, pointing out where passengersmay or may not step, helping with seatbelts, and most important, clearing thearea around the aircraft of spectators.You’ll have a lot of excited but unawarepeople around the airplanes, many ofthem children, who are hard for pilotsto see.Hold a pilot and handlers briefing.Make sure your pilots do a preflightbriefing, and that pilots always comeacross as safe, deliberate, and smooth.Explain to all involved the altitudes,routes, speeds (try to have all at thesame speed, as this is not a race), timeenroute, radio calls, passing procedures(try not to have to do this), pattern entry,taxi procedures, and loading/unloadingprocedures for each possible runway.Usually, 12 minutes aloft and 3 minutestaxi time is enough for most riders. Planyour route to go along the peripheryof your community so that riders canidentify local landmarks. The steadyparade of planes will also remind peoplethat there is something going on at theairport, adding to your passenger count.There you have it…a fun way foryou to garner community supportfor your airport, a way to improvethe image of general aviation in yourcommunity, a way to “partner” withdeserving charities or communityevents, a way to help promote flighttraining, and a way to involve currentpilots — and all at very little cost.The FAA has backed off on anoverzealous policy (who says thatgovernment can’t be changed?). Let’s usethis restored freedom to maximumadvantage. Start planning air ridesNOW!In the next issue of Midwest FlyerMagazine, I will tackle the subject of“charter flights,” and what revisions ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations areneeded to restore this once effective airtransportation service.EDITOR’S NOTE: Jim Hanson is thelong-time fixed base operator at AlbertLea, Minnesota. He has been in aviationlong enough that he remembers whenairplane rides were “a penny a pound.”Jim has shared suggestions on howto improve student starts and to retaincurrent pilots. If you would like tobend his ear, contact him at his airportoffice at 507-373-0608, or via email atjimhanson@deskmedia.com qOCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE 57