GSmith

I do tandems out of a narrow body 182. We hook up facing the rear of the plain, and exit that way too. Recently when we do two tandems in the plane, several of the other TIs have taken to hooking up the lowers on the ground when they are next to the pilot (they are the front pair). It's a lot easier than after the door is closed and we are in flight. My concern is that if we were to have a takeoff emergency, it would be a lot harder for them to get out of the plane with their student leashed to their waist. And since they are between me and the door.... When I've commented on it I was told they'd simply use that big old hook knife to cut the straps. I've never been in a plane crash, but I'm betting that knife is going to be harder to find than we think. And unhooking the straps we have such a hard time attaching isn't going to be a piece of cake either. Am I just being paranoid?

Has anyone ever had a problem with a student's sweatshirt hood inflating in your face? I try to talk them out of wearing it, then tuck them under the harness or jumpsuit.

I do a very general workout three days a week, but have added a few specifically for doing tandems. General Workout - I do three laps of the weight machine, 10 reps at each exercise. I've been doing it off and on for about 12 years now, and I really do feel better when I'm "on". Tandem Specifics: 1) I do a lot of pulldowns. Three different kinds. One was modified to look and feel more like flaring. I got tired of the big guys "helping" me flare, and do all the landings myself now. 2) I do a pull that simulates tightening the laterals - I stand with my back to a pulley about elbow high, and pull outward. Again, I feel better doing it myself than having the student help. 3) I sit in front of the same pulley I do upright rows and curls with. With my legs straight out in front of me, I hook the bar over my toes, with my heels against a board (as a stop). Pull your toes toward your knees. That helps when you have students stand on your feet while you adjust the harness after opening. When I started working out, I spent some time with a fitness coach to learn how to work the equipment, and get a balanced workout. I'd recommend that to anyone starting out. That would also be a good opportunity to tell them what hurts after a weekend of tandems, or what you'd like to be able to do better. Most can help you develop a workout to target those areas. I use an amount of weight that is challenging but not painful. When it starts to get easy, I do a few more reps for a couple sessions, then increase the weight, and be prepared to back down on the number of reps per lap.