Unexpected Nosedive

Today I learned the importance of the checklist. More specifically, I learned how important it is to respect the items on the checklist and if one is a little iffy, make a point of ensuring it's absolutely okay before taking to the sky.

Let me back track a little. My son, who is two, recently decided he will no longer go to daycare. he screams and cries and pitches a fit when I try to drop him off, so that the lady that runs the daycare cannot handle him. So, I thought to myself, fine. I guess I have a new flying buddy since he was left in daycare specifically so I could do what was necessary to complete my commercial licence. Today was his trial flight.

I need to build time and cross country flights, but wasn't about to take off without knowing exactly how my little terror would behave, so I figured I'd keep the flight local for the first time. Then, if he behaved and allowed me to fly without too many interruptions, I'd try him for something a little longer. And it seemed like it might work. He ran around the hangar and played while I got everything ready, and he sat patiently while I fueled up, something I really didn't think he'd do, but seeing how the weather wasn't the best, I wasn't about to go up without any extra in case I needed to wait or divert to a different airport. So, all in all, on the ground, I was rather impressed. I guess a toddler waiting to fly is like an angel waiting for its wings, you just don't know if they're from heaven or hell until they take to the sky.

So, now we get to the checklist. I had him strapped in a car seat (5-point harness to keep him as immobilized as possible) and he sat anxiously waiting to fly. Even with the Fargo being as small as it is, I could still use my flaps and when I tested my controls, they seemed good enough. Yes, his little boots could reach the controls and when I tried to do a full deflection, I did have to move his legs. But it seemed like it'd be fine. He asked if he could drive, and I said no, and he seemed rather contented with my answer. Looking back now, I have a new personal rule. If in any way any part of the controls are within reach, either by hands or feet, of any person under the age of 5, the flight is over right then and there.

So, as I had not yet made this my personal mantra, we took off. Things were fine. For about a minute. And then, he started fiddling with his headset. Taking it off. Then wanting it back on. Then throwing it on the floor and then yelling at me to get it back. But not to wear it, only to play with it. In nice calm skies, I could probably have handled it a little better, but the air was choppy and turbulent and I didn't want to take my hands off the controls. So I tried to ignore him; a very hard feat since he couldn't hear me without his headset so continued to grab my arm and yank so I would listen to him.

Finally, we seemed to find some kind of rhythm. I managed to find an altitude that was the least turbulent and my son seemed to be falling asleep. I took the opportunity to look around and enjoy the new fall colors, the leaves were changing colors and the crops were lined up in perfect swaths. It was turning out to be a beautiful flight. Until suddenly, my stomach turned on itself and we were diving. In a moment we would be part of the farmer's harvest and I didn't know why I couldn't get out of the dive. Then I looked at my son. His eyes were big with excitement and both his feet were firmly planted on the controls, his legs stretched out as far as they could go. He was using every ounce of strength he had to push. He said something to me, but as I was wearing a headset and he was not, I don't know what it was. Something like, I flying, but I won't know for sure.

I swatted his feets down and yelled, No, and then pulled back on the controls, further intensifying the sinking feeling in my stomach with the change in attitude. Ugh. At least my son also felt it and didn't particularly like the sensation, judging from the look on his face. Not to mention he was rather upset that his mother curtailed his chance at flying when he was obviously quite proud of himself.

We went in after that. He was angry with me. I was worried he was going deaf from not wearing his headset. Nonetheless, my yelling at him didn't stop him from attempting to push open the window nor from pulling on his door handle (good thing the Fargo has a lock on the passenger side, since it doesn't on the driver's and it would have fallen open for sure) or throwing his headset at me.

To make a long story short, if there is any part of the checklist that is iffy, such as, your overactive two-year-old son can prevent full deflection of the controls, take that seriously. Since I've gotten my licence, most flights have been a learning experience for me, and I definitely learned my lesson on this one. Now, to find another daycare...