Suggestions for taking 80+ yr old passengars

[flyingvee201]

Hi team,

I'm planning on taking my father 83 yrs old for a flight to get my brother and bring him back to my house for a party for my da.

My father wants to go on this 2 1/2 hr trip one way.  I think he can make it fine...just worried of the altitude.

My dad was in the Korean War and boasts about jumping out of airplanes all the time with a parachute!!  LOL

So,....any gentle suggestions to help my father enjoy the flight there and back. :-)

[tony]

just make sure he's not wearing his parachute when you take him.

[C-GHIJ]

Well, I've never seen you fly, so it's hard to say if he would feel better WITH a parachute.  LOL.  The altitude should not bother him.  If he can climb into the Mooney, I say take him and let him (and you) enjoy the experience.  You won't regret it.  My father never got to see me fly before he passed (he was terrified of airplanes).   Enjoy the flight and the company.

[aviatoreb]

3 minutes ago, tony said:

just make sure he's not wearing his parachute when you take him.

What?!  You want him to try and parachute out without a parachute?

Here's a 90 year old guy going for a parachute - http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2014/jun/13/george-bush-sr-celebrates-90th-with-skydive-video

[bonal]

Should be a rewarding experience for both of you. My mom at 94 other than turbulence I would not be concerned. getting in and out of the plane is a different story I don't know how frail your father is but it might be helpful to have a third person to help with ingress and egress.

[Yetti]

I took my 80 year old Dad in a 172 and now the Mooney.   Knees not so strong or good. So show them where the handles are.   Step on the seat, then the floor.  Sit on the wing outside the door then spin around.  You may have to help move the legs around.   For getting out you may have to give a good butt push to crouch and then butt scooch off the wing.  I put the flaps down.  Then just stand up. 

Your emergency egress is hindered.   I would probably crawl across and then pull out since you would have more leverage.

The 172 was a bit easier.  It was more sit and pull the legs up.

Probably need a cushion to see over the panel.  My dad is 5'9" and would have done better with one.  He got his pilots license in the 60s then gave it up for us kids.   He was having a great time buzzing around.

[takair]

Took an old friend for a ride the other day.  He is 87, Corsair mechanic from '45.  He took me for some of my first airplane rides when I was young.  We had a great time.  The only problem is getting in and out.  I've tried various recommendations with folks.  Sliding in and out on the butt is most practical, but not elegant.  It is especially difficult if the antiskid material is fresh.  There must be an easier way.  I've cut back on Angle Flights for this reason.  It's a tough plane for those not in good shape.  Once in, people are fine.  Too bad the pax seat can't pump up to assist...

[aviatoreb]

About 3 years ago at the village local fair in July, I met a 97 year old WWII vet, a B18 pilot.  He was a farmer his whole life and hadn't flown even once since WWII,  not even commercial.  He was in great shape - well what do you know - of course we went for a ride in my plane.  And he handled the controls just great!  I have a picture to prove it but I won't post it since I am not sure if he would be happy about it.  But it was a wonderful afternoon.

[Shadrach]

We ha several octogenarian pilots at our drome. One of them gave me my last BFR. He lost his medical over an aneurysm but still flys with others weekly. At 85 he is still one of the best "sticks" I know.

Edited December 31, 2015 by Shadrach

[N601RX]

We have two who are in their middle 80's. Both still fly x-country regularly and one still flys IFR regularly. 

[Joe Larussa]

I just turned 50 and I'm in pretty good shape. My wife and I laugh every time we get in and out of the plane and

say we need to get to our Mooney Yoga classes more often!

[M20JFlyer]

I have mentioned this before on MS

WHEN I HAVE AVERAGE AMERICAN 250+Lbs pax's I frequently remove co-pilot seat.

this allows pax to use entire back seat and place a small (yetti ) cooler in place of cp seat

For a compromised pax it allows loading the pax before me..sometimes actually walking into the plane with the feet on floor board where cp seat was ... then SLOWLY depositing A-- end into rear seat

JUST SAYING 

 

[bonal]

I guess it mostly depends on the condition of the individual and their mobility how well they manage getting in and out. Regardless I'm sure it will make for a great time. As for me personally getting in and out I put pax seat full forward pilot seat full back then I step in with both feet on the floor and then left leg in right leg in and sit. Reverse for getting out. For back seater just leave right seat full forward then they step in and sit. 

[Shadrach]

1 hour ago, bonal said:

I guess it mostly depends on the condition of the individual and their mobility how well they manage getting in and out. 

Exactly, and you could say this about almost any age group.

[Shadrach]

10 hours ago, M20JFlyer said:

I have mentioned this before on MS

WHEN I HAVE AVERAGE AMERICAN 250+Lbs pax's I frequently remove co-pilot seat.

this allows pax to use entire back seat and place a small (yetti ) cooler in place of cp seat

For a compromised pax it allows loading the pax before me..sometimes actually walking into the plane with the feet on floor board where cp seat was ... then SLOWLY depositing A-- end into rear seat

JUST SAYING 

Where do you live that you think the average American weighs 250+lbs?  Are you of Samoan-American descent?  As stated earlier, the average weight for an american male is still under 200lbs (though that's not really something to brag about).

[JaredDavis]

My 100 year old pilot father ( < 140lbs) has gone for rides in the M20C several times.  He finds it easier to sit on the front of the wing, facing forward. Then "schooches" on his butt from the wing to the seat. That way he doesn't have to transition from standing on the wing to the seat. He has great arm strength. His balance is only as good as an 85 year olds.<g>

 

[Amelia]

I've taken my 95-year-old mother-in-law for a number of long trips in my M231, even to Puerto Rico last year, She climbs up on the wing with help, and gets in unassisted, with more grace than I can muster. I've had other passengers (often Angel Flight) sometimes old and not very agile, some even kids in wheelchairs, and we've managed, sometimes with some pushing, pulling, and noisy encouragement. I lower the flaps all the way, have them sit on the wing, and skooch hind-part-before toward the front, then follow them up the walkway to help them in, feet first, then slide their bottoms over the door sill onto the seat. (Of course, I step over them while they're still sitting on the wing, first, to get into the driver's seat, and help them from that vantagepoint.) The way out is the reverse, Ease out, bottom first, then feet and legs swing over, then slide down to help on the ground. It helps to have somebody there waiting to lift them off the wing onto their feet.

Do take him, no matter how arduous it might seem. He'll remember that ride for the rest of his life. No exaggeration. I took a friend's very old and semi-crippled dad for his first airplane ride in 50 year. His walker fit nicely in the baggage bin.  He flew in the good ol' days, and so I encouraged him to take the controls. He was thrilled, almost to the point of tears, to see that he "hadn't lost his touch." He was still bragging about that ride the day he died, several years later.

Not to be crude, but consider this:How's his prostate? Will you want to remember to bring a screw-cap bottle along for his comfort? Some guys need frequent relief, especially on longer trips. I've heard you can get those super-absorbent granules to prevent spills, which sounds like a pretty good idea..Speaking of which, my husband skips his morning coffee and his blood-pressure diuretic before we go on a long trip.

As for oxygen, if you have an oxygen bottle and nasal cannula (and alcohol wipe, maybe), it wouldn't hurt to have it along. My old-old Dad had severe enough smoker's emphysema that he really appreciated a snort of Ox, even at 6000 feet, but most people don't need or want it, especially below 8000. There's little harm done, anyway, if they simply doze off. They'll wake up on downwind leg. :D.

Take pictures!!