A friend just got his pilot's license and, since tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day, we're going to fly down to CMI and get dinner. He said I could be on the radio; I figure that a week of flying camp as a kid and my constant listening to Channel 9 on United have got to be useful for something.

Well, unless he's flying a plane that requires >1 crewmember and you are appropriately licensed, you'll be a passenger not a co-pilot. Also I'd consider very carefully before flying with someone who just got their license. Checkout this book if you want the real story:-
http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Zone-H.../dp/007136269X

Also please don't use the radio unless you really know how to communicate and respond to the real world of flying. Ch9 is not preparation.

It's great that you are interested in flying, it is a great passion, but as the saying goes "Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect"

Wow, are you trying to keep me from going? I appreciate the attempt to provide a little fear and panic, but I'm going flying tomorrow.

And of course I'll be a passenger. Way to harsh the buzz.

Being a passenger trumps being a copilot, don't have that pesky '8 hours from bottle to throttle' rule.

Also if you want to have a bit of fun, accidentally key the mike and ask your friend "What's that mountain goat doing way up here in the clouds?"

Happy flight!

If I see mountain goats in cloud banks in central Illinois, something will be horribly wrong.

Exciting.. whether you're 5 or 50.. it'll be exciting to get into driver's seat area and see what's going on.

btw.. the view through the side of the airplane is getting boring.. wish the flights had an option where you can pop up cockpit view on arrival.. that would be worth the price of admission.

Just being realistic, new pilots have the confidence without the skill or critical decision making. I was a low time pilot once, so I can speak from some experience. Most mistakes are little things that don't have a direct bearing on the successful outcome of the flight, but others were more serious, like the time I landed without checking that the passenger had their feet off the footrests (AKA rudder pedals & toebrakes). I saw the fence on the side of the runway coming at me as the plane started to slew off the runway. Or the time I got to about 500ft in the pattern and realized I hadn't checked the oil level, or the time I experienced my first carb ice, or the time I didn't ask ATC to repeat that intersection spelling which was the IAF for the instrument approach and spent 5 minutes trying to find it in the GPS database....

Enjoy your flight, stay safe....


- Tim

Lol. I agree. Way to put everyone on a downer. Have fun up there.

Try not to crash your car on the way to the airport, also please be careful in the morning, do you know how many people burn their homes down just by making toast. And sleep well tonight- try not to go into cardiac arrest. I just dont think OP has given any thought to just what happens out there.

Now, with 2000+ hours of flying time in military acft...I can look back at when I got my private pilot license and shudder at my lack of knowledge. Good luck!

I wouldn't worry too much about flying with someone who has just qualified as (a) their skills will still be fresh and (b) they will, hopefully, be conscious of the fact that they are newly qualified, and will be extra careful. New private pilots are probably safer than those who have flown for many years but fly infrequently. (And I am talking as someone who falls into the latter category)

As for operating the radio - I don't know what rules are like in the USA, but here in the UK you need a licence for that.

Enjoy your flight!

Sounds like a lot of fun! I'm a little skeptical about the operating the radio bit- listening to Channel 9 and using the radio in a general aviation environment are two different things. But just riding along is a cool experience. I got to go up with a friend once and it was very memorable for me.

Many flight schools offer an introductory flight option where you get in a plane with a flight instructor and fly the plane. I've also done this. I got to sit in the left seat and do things like taxi, turns and even pull back the yoke to take off (the instructor had their hands on their controls at all times). It gave me a new appreciation for the complexity of flight and has given me the desire to get my pilot's license.

Unfortunately, the cost of learning how to fly has kept me from following through with it. I'm saving up for it, but it will be a while before I can pursue it.

It's worth mentioning that most of the reason I said I'd go is that this particular friend is one of the more methodical and meticulous people I know. He has said several times that if he's at all uncomfortable with the weather or anything else, we won't go.

But...it's a beeeeeyutiful morning (though a bit chilly) so things look good!

On another note...I'm now afraid to make toast.

Have to completely agree with Aviatrix... I'll fly hot & heavy for a bit then not fly for a year or so and the skills do get a tad rusty, but never unsafe.

Taking passengers when I was newly licensed was fun and a whole lot safer than having your flight instructor tell you to "go solo in the practice area and get in a lot of stalls."

In the U.S. you don't require any qualifications to operate the radio, obviously whatever is transmitted is the ultimate responsibility of the pilot in command. Have fun -- I'm sure your friend tell you what to say & will only let you talk to ATC during non-critical phases of the flight. If you screw up it's not a big deal, (s)he will just key down and revise the reply..."Chicago center, this is Cessna 12 alpha...correction it looked more like a yak than a mountain goat."

Just a couple of thoughts about passenger etiquette...1) timfountain makes a good point about keeping your feet off the pedals especially during take off & landing which happens frequently. 2) Ask about stowing stuff if you're in the front seat - I had a friend who hung his camera on the mixture control in mid-flight asked him to remove it. I didn't realize he just put it on the floor but luckily saw it before landing...would not have been happy if it had rolled under one of the aforementioned pedals. 3) If you get even slightly uncomfortable with motion sickness or need to use the bathroom let your friend know immediately. Much easier to be proactive than reactive. 4) While enroute if you see any other aircraft please point it out to your friend even if it is way above/below/going the other direction/etc. The extra set of eyes is always appreciated.

What restaurant in Chambanavoy could possibly be worth flying to? Cafe Luna? Timpone's?

Ok... GA flying is not _that_ dangerous. Statistically... it's about 7 times more dangerous than driving. This is roughly the same risk as riding a motorcycle.

Now go enjoy it!

Welcome to the $100 hamburger.

Note: I've been told the danger is 80-200 hours, and then again after they get 1,000+ hours, but YMMV... (new pilots being "very" cautious).