Co-pilot course.... Interesting.

[lostaviator]

http://harvsair.com/courses/co-pilot-course/

[Diadem]

Why couldn't the pilot just teach his/her passenger? If the only purpose for this training is to have the non-pilot capable of landing safely in the unlikely event of pilot incapacitation, then it seems like there wouldn't be all that much to learn, and if the passenger flies with the pilot frequently enough that this is a realistic issue then the pilot should have plenty of opportunities to give the passenger some instruction. When I take up friends and family I always give a bit of hands-on experience and instruction, and if any of them had the nerve to fly with me more than once I could show them how to safely land after a few demonstrations. Other than actually manoeuvring the aircraft, which isn't particularly challenging, all they might need to learn would be making mayday calls and perhaps some info about airspace and talking to ATC if they're flying near control zones; even stall recovery is pretty straight-forward. I don't see how a certified instructor is required, and obviously actual training isn't really necessary for non-pilots to make it back to the ground safely with a bit experience: http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/04/04/eig ... id-flight/ This just sounds like a money-grab to me.

[Colonel Sanders]

I once had a GF who asked me this question - what
would happen to her if I died during the flight?

I replied, Well, did you really want to go on living without me?

[lostaviator]

This just sounds like a money-grab to me.

Bingo

[tired of the ground]

This just sounds like a money-grab to me.

Bingo

I am usually the first person to call shenanigans on a BS money grab. There is actually a need for this type of thing. It's not meant to be for every person who ever will go flying in a 172 as a passenger.

The course is squarely aimed at Wives/Girlfriends of private pilots. I don't mean to be sexist or anything, it's just demographics. It is aimed at two specific groups. The first is the lady who is terrified/nervous about flying but still wants to partake in her husbands/boyfriends hobby. By learning a little bit about the physics and mechanics of flying, accompanied with a little bit of professional flight training, it mitigates the fears and allows them to enjoy (or put up with) flying. The second is the lady who enjoys flying with her licensed husband/boyfriend and wants to learn a little more but not actually get a licence.

In reality they should call it couples therapy or marriage counselling. When was the last time you tried to teach your significant other (male or female) anything. You could be the foremost expert on the subject and have a PHD in adult education; your partner will not take instruction from you as well as a third party because it's you.

[PositiveRate27]

It's not really a money grab in the sense that they aren't forcing passengers to take the course, it's just a fun course they can take that may actually enhance the enjoyment of riding along with their spouse/friends.

You're right, if they are flying enough with their spouse/friends they do have the ability to learn from them, but believe me, good instruction is an undervalued commodity. Take my father for example. He can play the electric guitar and can jam the blues with the best of them, but god help you if he tries to give you a guitar lesson. He can't teach to save his life. Or, how about the married couple who can't even do the dishes without arguing? Maybe the spouse that is riding in the right seat would prefer to learn from someone else? Even better if that someone else is a professional.

In the end, being a former instructor, it's not a service I would be seeking for my pax, but I still don't view it as a terribly objectionable concept... It could even be fun for the right group of people!

[Old Dog Flying]

This type of training helps the Better Half to understand what is going on and in some cases has proven to be useful when the PIC becomes incapacitated. In some of the flying clubs that I managed, this co-pilots course was incentive enough to get the wife/girlfriend to go for the full PPL.

We set the course up as a 12 hour intro to the PPL course using the old recommended PPL lesson plans up to pre-solo

It is certainly not a BS money grab

Barney

[Shiny Side Up]

Why couldn't the pilot just teach his/her passenger?

Says the single man. My wife has asked about doing some learning to fly, and I've told her that I know an excellent instructor for her. She won't listen to me in the rest fo the world, why would that change if we were in an airplane together? this sort of thing can be a boon to anyone who might soon to be suffering from AIDS, at the very least make the better half more understanding of one's flying addiction. Money well spent in lots of cases.

[Old Dog Flying]

A: Aviation
I: Induced
D: Divorce
S: Syndrome

A: Awfully
I: Indignant
D: Dad
S: Syndrome

I used the later on one of my daughters boyfriends along with my Louisville Slugger.

[atpl53]

Why couldn't the pilot just teach his/her passenger?

Says the single man. My wife has asked about doing some learning to fly, and I've told her that I know an excellent instructor for her. She won't listen to me in the rest fo the world, why would that change if we were in an airplane together? this sort of thing can be a boon to anyone who might soon to be suffering from AIDS, at the very least make the better half more understanding of one's flying addiction. Money well spent in lots of cases.

+1

My spouse signed up and took this course. During my VFR days she could read the map, make radio calls, fill in flight logs, and generally grump about how long it was taking and how much it all cost. But, at least she looked out the window.......

(Different song today........when the paycheck goes in the bank )

[flyingmaverick]

For a moment I thought it was something to do with right seat in an airliner , god , please put a warning in heading ,

[trey kule]

Edited due to my cynical nature, and low brow attempt at humour.

[costermonger]

I'm clearly nowhere near cynical enough for this business because I see something that used to be commonplace back when flying clubs were actual clubs, and these things were entirely targeted at wives and girlfriends of existing customers. Maybe you get one of them interested enough to continue their training, maybe they're just happier to go along on flights and you get a small increase in the rental hours from their partner. People *do* still fly for fun sometimes, and they often like to take their family..

However, this isn't explicitly required by the CARs, and the flight school isn't offering it for free, so that's enough to raise the 'money grab' flag around here. I should've expected that.

I'll also join the ranks of married people who got a good laugh out of the 'why not just teach them yourself' remark.

[Taco Joe]

These courses are helpful for the guys and gals operating survey equipment in the back of the plane. We always tried to get our operators up front as much as possible to learn how to handle the plane in case anything happened. But if it's a new operator and you have a busy season/new pilot, you don't always have time to do in-house 'crash course' training.

[Expat]

Why couldn't the pilot just teach his/her passenger?

Says the single man. My wife has asked about doing some learning to fly, and I've told her that I know an excellent instructor for her. She won't listen to me in the rest fo the world, why would that change if we were in an airplane together? this sort of thing can be a boon to anyone who might soon to be suffering from AIDS, at the very least make the better half more understanding of one's flying addiction. Money well spent in lots of cases.

...and may be more willing to help you push the 172 out of the snow bank on a nice morning...

[burninggoats]

Money Grab? C'mon! Some people are so angry at flight schools that everything they do is a "money grab". There IS a demand for this, and if it's a money grab then so is offering Flight training at all. I hate to break it to y'all, and I especially hate to be channeling my inner Kevin O'Leary, but people open flight schools to make MONEY.

As a flight instructor I had a fair number of people approach me, asking for flight training for their wife, husband, girlfriend, brother, parents, you name it. They didn't want licenses, but they wanted a few lessons from someone other than their pilot husband/wife/son/whatever for their own peace of mind, or to see what it's all about, or anything. It's a great Idea as many people have already pointed out.

[Flybabe]

Quite honestly, going for an intro flight in order to get some "copilot training" was what led me to this mess I'm in NOW!

LOL

I think it's a good thing from some that might not WANT to learn from the left seater (for many reasons).

[DanWEC]

Money Grab? C'mon! Some people are so angry at flight schools that everything they do is a "money grab". There IS a demand for this, and if it's a money grab then so is offering Flight training at all. I hate to break it to y'all, and I especially hate to be channeling my inner Kevin O'Leary, but people open flight schools to make MONEY.

As a flight instructor I had a fair number of people approach me, asking for flight training for their wife, husband, girlfriend, brother, parents, you name it. They didn't want licenses, but they wanted a few lessons from someone other than their pilot husband/wife/son/whatever for their own peace of mind, or to see what it's all about, or anything. It's a great Idea as many people have already pointed out.

I agree, how is it a money grab? By that logic so is throwing thick cut bacon and smoked applewood cheddar on your burger. They are offering a service and it's up to anyone who wants to to take it. (Though those among us who have thick cut bacon and smoked applewood cheddar cheesburgers know, it's a choice about as much as a heroin addict has a choice. You can't fight it.)

I for one think it's a great idea for anyone so inclined. Sadly, many the smaller FTU's that offer better quality training don't make much cash, or are a non-profit club, and any way to supplement their primary revenue stream by offering additional services that nobody is twisting your arm to take is a smart move.

And by the way, I never, ever joke about burgers.

...Anyone have one I could score?
Just one? To hold me over till tomorrow?

[Colonel Sanders]

For burgers in Ottawa, I would go with Five Guys -
there is one in Barrenhaven, and another in Stittsville.

Also there is "The Works" in Kanata. Very good burgers!

[PositiveRate27]

For burgers in Ottawa, I would go with Five Guys -
there is one in Barrenhaven, and another in Stittsville.

Also there is "The Works" in Kanata. Very good burgers!

Oh my Dayum

[costermonger]

Ottawa has a Five Guys!?

[Colonel Sanders]

http://fiveguys.ca/en/locations/store-l ... ce.aspx#ON

At least 3 in Ottawa that I know of. Heck, Kingston has 2. I
think Toronto must have 10 or 15 now.

[costermonger]

I assumed the one in Toronto was the first one in Ontario.. As people around here tend to do, I suppose.

My wife has friends in Ottawa that she visits pretty regularly. The Works used to factor fairly heavily into my decision to tag along or not. Now they're all over the place.

[Colonel Sanders]

Tried Smashburger yet?

[costermonger]

Nope, but their website made me regret googling them before lunch.