Couples who share flying experiences face special challenges in learning to work and communicate as a team. This is especially true of IFR flight into weather conditions. Several reports from ASRS files describe the various things that can go wrong ? and right, too ? when a flying duo is “in the clouds.”
Gee Whiz
While cruising on altitude and navigation autopilot at 9000 feet IFR in mostly IMC conditions, I had to leave my seat for physiological relief. The passenger in the co-pilot seat, my wife, has accompanied me on approximately 100 hours of cross-country flight in various single- and multi-engine aircraft. I asked her if she would answer the radio if Center called with a frequency change. She said no, since she is nervous about making radio calls. I informed Center that I would need to be off frequency for two minutes and I?d report back on. That was approved.
While I was in the back of the airplane…Center called to see if I was back on frequency yet. [My wife] thought she would answer the radio call and tell them I wasn?t back yet. She reached across and pushed what she thought was the push-to-talk switch on my yoke. She had actually pushed the autopilot disconnect switch on my yoke. At that time a passenger in the back of the airplane asked my wife a question. My wife turned around and spoke with the other passenger for a moment. When my wife turned forward she saw that the aircraft was in a descending turn. I was on my way back up to the cockpit when she pulled back on the yoke and leveled the wings. I was forced to the floor when her pullback resulted in approximately two G?s. In a couple of seconds she eased the back pressure and I was able to return to the cockpit and correct the altitude and heading deviations.
A pre-flight briefing for the spouse on how to use a handheld microphone might have prevented inadvertent activation of aircraft controls and this excess ?G? situation. Training in wing-leveling techniques, on the other hand, is best left to the watchful eye of a certified instructor.
The Thrill is Gone, Baby
A pilot on her first IFR flight after passing the instrument check believed she had planned for every contingency. When it became necessary to divert to an alternate airport after reaching cruising altitude, she and her pilot spouse in the right seat handled the diversion well…except for one small detail.
It was my first IFR flight, since receiving my instrument rating. Conditions at departure and arrival airports were VMC (current and forecasted), but I was determined to file IFR to gain experience… Upon reaching enroute altitude, I tuned in the ATIS for the destination. I was shocked to hear “300 feet overcast, 1 mile in fog.” My personal minimums were written down in advance and an attempt of this low IMC was out of the question ? particularly since a missed approach would require holding over the ocean in a single-engine aircraft.
My spouse suggested that we try our alternate. ATIS there reported 800 feet broken and 2 miles. I asked my spouse to get out the alternate approach plates. Spouse is a private pilot…and instrument student, and in flight [was] asking a lot of questions. [It was the] spouse?s first time in IMC. I informed ATC that I wanted to go to the alternate, which was immediately granted… Approach gave us vectors for the VOR approach…[and] instructed me to maintain 2500 feet until established, cleared for the approach, report FAF inbound.
The clouds started at 2,000 feet MSL. I intercepted the approach course and started the descent. We entered the clouds and held the MDA (640 feet). We reported the FAF. I worried as time passed that we would not see the airport… Nav indication ?To? and GPS indicated airport still ahead. We broke out of the…clouds to find 800 foot broken [conditions] around the airport. Saw the airport and landed safely. Spouse was thrilled and really impressed. I, too, was elated.
It wasn?t until hours later, as we continued our trip in a rental car and reviewed the flight, that I realized I had descended to MDA before the FAF… This occurrence was caused by inexperience, but I could have (and will in the future) do better cockpit coordination, review all possible plates for myself beforehand, and walk my spouse through my plans on the ground, to avoid (minimize) questions at critical times.
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Checklist for Flying Companions
(Wisdom from ASRS Reporters)
For Left Seat Occupants
Conduct pre-flight briefings for right seat non-pilot companions that identify do not touch controls and devices, as well as the proper use of handheld mikes and other emergency communication devices.
Conduct verbal “walk-throughs” of important flight details on the ground ? not during critical maneuvers such as missed approaches.
For Right Seat Occupants
Be an attentive and supportive partner in cockpit management, not a source of distraction, criticism, or confusion for the flying pilot.
If acting as Pilot in Command, mentally perform the flying tasks and checklists as if flying from the left seat.
