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From: mpucket@jacobs.cs.orst.edu (Margaret Puckette)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: Flying with Kids
Keywords: Ayo-pwane! cross-country, toys, potty
Message-ID: <20304@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU>
Date: Sat, 15 Sep 90 09:07:46 PDT
Sender: usenet@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU
Reply-To: mpucket@jacobs.cs.orst.edu (Margaret Puckette)
Organization: Oregon State University - CS - Corvallis Oregon
Lines: 70
Followup-To:mpucket@nyssa.cs.orst.edu


Kids as passengers, especially on long cross-country flights, pose special
problems.  There's the ubiquitous need for a bathroom long before ETA, the
noise and close confinement, boredom, impatience, and a low tolerance for
turbulence...and these are exacerbated when flying in a small aircraft!
>From the discussions on this newsgroup, it seems few fly often with
non-flyers, much less with children, but hey...KIDS CAN *HAPPEN* TO YOU!!
Wouldn't you want them love flying?  Wouldn't you want them *not* to be 
problematic in a flight?

                   ***  "Wook, wook!  Uh Ayo-pwane!  ***

I've flown with kids aged 6 weeks to adult :-), and logged at least a 100 hours 
of cross-country with my two girls, aged 7 and 9, much of this solo.  I stopped
taking them for granted one day when Portland Tower gave me some agitated
instructions: "39G-cleared-for-28-right-make-short-approach-keep-speed-up-on-
final-turnoff-first-taxiway-no-delay-traffic-is-L1011-on-3-mile-final!!!".
That moment, a Kid Crisis erupted in the back; from the cacophony, they were
obviously dismembering each other.  That day, just pulling across the hold
line and hearing the L1011 roar pass behind me, I resolved to find a way to
make flying work for all of us.  

                      ***   "Are we THERE yet?"  ***

Except for infants, children need something to do and someplace to go.  Bring
their books or toys, and have something waiting for them on arrival, either
a bribe, er, treat or some fun place to visit (mine prefer anyplace with a
pool or horses).  They often need a cushion to sit higher and see out, or even 
sunglasses!  One thing that worked great for me was giving each of my kids 
"instrument" time; a daughter would sit on the right and take the controls 
and fly the plane.  Never mind getting her to look outside, she wanted to
watch the panel and play the video game...and it was humbling to note how
well she'd do, too.  

                      ***   "I need to go NOW!"  ***

I discovered that a 3 hour leg is maximum bladder range.  I hedge my bets by
giving kids salty things to snack on and Gatorade (R) to drink.  Then there's
the Little John (or with "Jill" attachment):  Hey, have kids practice this 
before the flight!  We've worked out a neat, simple method for girls which
I can relate to anyone interested through email (to reduce net.clutter.potty).
For trips, give each kid a towel; they make excellent blankets/pillows and
can be used for any mopping up.

        ***  "Piper 39G, turn right heading MOMMY! and proceed 
	     to SHE'S HITTING ME! descend and maintain I AM NOT! 
	     contact Tower on YOU ARE TOO!"  ***

I don't recommend giving children voice activated microphones :-).  The
hardware store variety ear protectors work best (not the EAR (R) foam
pellets, their ear canals are too small).  After I installed earphones in
these for my kids, they could hear me but not the reverse, though I did
plug a hand-held mike into their jacks in the back so they could tell me
something *important*...or at least *nice*.  And about those ears, try to
avoid rapid climbs and descents; remember, the airlines use the pressure
change equivalent of 200 fpm, and even this bothers children.

                     ***  Wow, Mommy, that was great!  ***

About that slam dunk approach in Portland with the fighting kids in the
back:  I now have my children JUDGE my landings, and they must be quiet to
allow me to try and make a good one.  This has worked extremely well, and
they are tough jurors...if they hear a tire touch, even a squeak, it's not
a perfect 10.   The approach and landing phase is now wonderfully calm, and
I've done some darn good 10's too :-).  Kids love to judge their elders!


****************************************************************************
Margaret "Murphy is a kid" Puckette               Note new address:
AOPA Archer N1939G                                mpucket@nyssa.cs.orst.edu