Microsoft word - preflight preparation for passengers

Pre-Flight Preparation
To ensure that you have the most enjoyable and productive flight possible, here are some suggestions and tips to know before your flight. 1. If you are the planner for this flight, know your waypoints. Since pilots are often not from the
immediate area, they are not expected to be familiar with the region, especially with smaller landmarks. Every flight should be preceded by a discussion with the pilot regarding the waypoints. You can also bring a handheld GPS with the waypoints pre-programmed. The pilots will be focused on flying and safety. Be prepared to determine the areas you want to look at from above. 2. Plan out your photography needs. Aerial photography can be very different than on the ground.
Only a few of our volunteer pilots have camera windows. Be aware that there could be scratches, fog, or reflections when taking shots through a window. The atmosphere can also be hazy so a polarizing filter may help. Interested in Geotagging your photos? Read our geotagging document for helpful instructions. This can be a great way to establish locations for official actions or for cataloging. 3. Be prepared for your flight to be postponed or cancelled due to weather. Safety is the primary
concern for our pilots and SouthWings. Pilots will monitor the weather and make the final call. 4. Dress in layers. Sometimes the temperature can change from the ground to when you are in the air.
5. Use the restroom before each flight. There are no restroom facilities in any of our volunteer pilots’
aircraft. Also, some of the smaller airports (although very few), might not have restroom facilities available or might be closed depending on the hours of your flight (if very early in the morning). 6. Avoid consuming a large meal prior to flight. People may be more prone to air sickness if they have
eaten a heavy, spicy, or fat-laden meal. We suggest eating something light, like crackers or a piece of fruit. If your flight experience might take more than a couple of hours, bring a snack and water. 7. If you are prone to motion sickness:
 Let your pilot know before the flight.  You can take anti-nausea medication such as Dramamine or Bonine before take-off, sometimes at least 30 minutes prior to flight. Check with your health care provider regarding age limits, dosage, frequency of administration, and side effects.  Use can also try non-medication methods such as Sea Bands’ Acupressure bands.  Another suggestion that works for some people is taking ginger tablets or eating ginger candy.  Have the airplane vents turned towards you for better air circulation.  Try to not think about being sick. As easy as this might sounds, sometimes this mind over matter  Look onto the horizon, not at points nearby or directly below.  If you are taking photos or shooting video, take breaks from looking through the viewfinder. 8. Be prepared to feel a few bumps. In a small aircraft, you tend to feel turbulence more than on a large
commercial plane. Do not be concerned if this occurs, this is completely normal. 9. Have fun! We hope that you have an enjoyable flight with one of our experienced, dedicated volunteer
pilots. After each flight, we will have a passenger form for you to complete. We hope to inspire each passenger to further raise awareness about protecting our vital ecosystems and to enjoy one of the many great ways general aviation can be beneficial to our communities.

Source: http://www.southwings.org/southwings_live/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Preflight-Preparation-for-Passengers.pdf