| How to ensure that air-travel
is a pleasure |
| Midday is not for flying |
Especially in summer, considerable turbulences
have to be expected around midday, when warm air is rising. As
this does not make flying particularly pleasant we suggest rather
planning flights for early morning or late afternoon.
This should also be kept in mind when booking a connecting flight.
Most intercontinental flights arrive in the morning. Luggage retrieval
and customs sometimes take longer, and by the time you have changed
planes it may already be quite hot. Then you are in for a bumpy
ride – not the best start to your holiday. |
| Board your plane well rested
|
| Fatigue is another reason why it is not wise
to catch a connecting flight immediately after arriving on a long-haul
flight. Few people get a good night's sleep on a plane. Exhaustion
together with air turbulence are a sure recipe for airsickness. |
| Do without alcohol |
| Few charter planes have pressurized cabins. When
the aircraft reaches a certain altitude the effect of alcohol in
the bloodstream can multiply and result in irrational or even aggressive
behaviour. |
| Fly now, drink later |
| Charter planes are rarely equipped with toilet
facilities. Therefore it is advisable to restrict the intake of
liquids before or during the flight. |
| How to avoid airsickness |
| There are several tricks to escape nausea: 1.
don't sit in the back; 2. don't read; 3. don't look at the landscape
below, look towards the horizon; 4. bring a moist cloth to refresh
your face and neck at intervals. If you are prone to airsickness,
effective medication can be taken, which is available in the first-aid
kits of pilots. |
| Cures for small ailments |
| Pilots always have a first-aid kit at hand. It
contains light medicines and bandages to treat small wounds and
ailments like nausea, headaches, sore eyes or earaches. |
| Relief for the ears |
| During the landing approach low pressure can
be created in the auditory canal. It is best prevented by chewing
gum or deliberate yawning. It also helps, to hold your nose closed,
press air from inside into the auditory canal and swallow. If you
know that you really suffer during descent, please inform the pilot.
He will then descend less rapidly to lessen the symptoms. |
| Less luggage for more safety
|
| Smaller aircraft are very sensitive to weight
and balance. The maximum take-off weight, as determined by the manufacturer,
will at all times be adhered to. This will ensure a safe flight
and a large enough margin for the aircraft to be able to glide and
land safely even in a most unlikely emergency. The correct balancing
of weight is also critical. Luggage is therefore stored in several
small compartments. The experienced traveller will pack small, soft
bags instead of large, hard-shell cases. |
| Limits to low-level flying
|
| Limits to low-level flying – The minimum
flying altitude is determined by law. This is particularly important
when flying over national parks, as the animals should not unnecessarily
be disturbed by planes. If you would like to fly lower to take photos
you are welcome to ask the pilot, who will try to comply with your
request, without breaking the boundries of air regulations. |
| Seating for children |
| WIf you travel with children under the age of
five, please advise your charter coordinator accordingly. Special
children's seats guarantee a safe flight for the little ones. It
is important to have the child's correct age so that the aircraft
can be equipped with the appropriate size of seat. |
| The pilot at your service
|
| Don't hesitate to approach your pilot with questions
or if you feel a little anxious about flying. Professional pilots
have lots of experience with passengers' fears and requests and
will be glad to assist. Should you suffer from special medical conditions,
such as a weak heart or low blood pressure, or if you feel panicky
before landing, it is very important to inform the pilot beforehand.
Then he can take action during the flight, and in case of an emergency,
he can take necessary and appropriate steps immediately. |
