By Clark Morawetz, EAA Canadian Council, Captain Porter Airlines
During the first week of the year, I had the opportunity to attend the annual Cirrus CX conference in Orlando. This conference is an invite-only, four-day event for staff and contractors to get the latest news from the industry and from the manufacturer. One of the highlights of the week for me, and the purpose of this article, was a seminar put on by COPA (in this case the Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association) titled “Building a Partner in Command Course.”
The seminar discussed the importance of a pilot’s partner having a vague idea of how the airplane they are flying in works and how to effectively communicate that there is an emergency on their aircraft should the need arise. The presentation concluded with a real life ATC recording and re-creation of an emergency where the pilot becomes hypoxic (due to a kinked oxygen line) and his wife knew enough to call ATC, declare a “MAYDAY,” and ask for help to descend the aircraft to an altitude where her husband could regain the capacity to divert and land the aircraft. To make matters more interesting, this flight occurred over the Sierra Nevada mountains in the southwestern U.S.! It was a job well done and demonstrated the value of some “partner in command” training.
So, what does this training look like?
Unlike other training that you may receive from a flight instructor, there is no official guide or requirements for a partner in command course. It’s up to you, your partner, and your instructor to decide.
Some things to consider:
- How complex is your aircraft? Are you flying in a J-3 Cub or a TBM?
- What features does your aircraft have that would be important for your passengers to know about? Autopilot, CAPs, radio(s), ELT, etc.
- Most people know about “MAYDAY,” but would they know how to use a push-to-talk button and what they would need to say to get the help they need? Do they know the registration of the aircraft and how to say it phonetically?
I would start by making sure your partner can use the radio and give them a template of what to say in an emergency. Ex. “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY C-GABC declaring an emergency due to pilot incapacitation. Seeking assistance.” Even if you are not on a frequency with a controller when the event occurs, odds are someone will be listening who can help guide a layperson to a place where they can make a survivable landing.
Next, depending on the comfort level of your partner and your aircraft, have them practice flying the airplane (from their normal seat) with a qualified instructor. Basic turns, straight and level, and descents would be a great start. If they want to learn the mechanics of approach and landing, even better! Ultimately, there’s not an expectation of perfection, but the goal is to help them understand what is happening around them while you fly.
If you can get them to accomplish this much, that will make your flying that much safer, make it a more enjoyable experience for them, and, who knows, they might catch the flying bug, too! The only downside is that when it’s all said and done, you might have to compete with your partner for whose turn it is to fly the airplane.