Flight Training - July 2024 - 10

PILOTAGE BY IAN J. TWOMBLY
Flight schools are an obvious
Will someone be
IAN J. TWOMBLY's friend?
ian.twombly@aopa.org
FLYING FRIENDS
The world is suffering from a loneliness epidemic. Surveys and
studies repeatedly show that roughly half of adults, and an even
higher proportion of young people, feel either somewhat or very
alone. The irony is that we've never been more connected.
Humans are social creatures. One could even say we're herd or pack animals.
When we live without regular, meaningful social interactions, our health and
happiness suffer. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory paper saying
that loneliness increases the risk of premature death by 26 percent, about the same
as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Rather than helping to make us feel more connected,
technology focused on increasing social connections tends to do the opposite.
Most of us experienced first-hand some form of loneliness during the pandemic
lockdowns. Even those who lived with a family weren't immune. Loneliness isn't the
same thing as being alone. People who are surrounded by others can experience it, and
some people who don't spend a lot of time interacting with others find they are content.
Aviation can help. As a form of transportation, it literally brings us together, but
more important, people involved in activities with similar interests tend to make
closer friends and live longer. The famous Harvard happiness study of more than
700 people over 85 years found that the biggest contributor to happiness isn't money,
success, or health, it's positive relationships with others. Robert Waldinger, the
current director of the study, and Marc Shulz, the associate director, describe seven
attributes that make for positive relationships, and flying friends tick four of them.
Things such as learning and growth, identity affirmation and shared experience, help,
and fun and relaxation are naturally built into our flying connections.
There's just one problem: Once you earn a certificate, flying can become a solitary
activity. Your friends and family may initially go for rides, but especially if you rent,
close connections around the airport can be incredibly difficult to make. Despite our
shared love of flying, it makes sense. Airplanes are usually stored in closed hangars;
the airport may not have an active FBO to pop in to; and the various businesses on the
airport aren't a great option for socializing anyway.
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FLIGHT TRAINING JULY 2024
exception, except that it's sort of like high
school: Once you graduate, you tend not
to go back. And instructors and staff are so
busy, even if you do come in to rent or visit,
it feels rude to stop them for a chat.
As a somewhat recent transplant, I've
become acutely aware of all this recently.
My break into the local airport came out
of a chance meeting at the grocery store,
where I did something I never do, and
talked to a stranger (danger!). Andrew was
wearing a Super Cub shirt, and I had just
begun Cub shopping. I complimented him
on his great taste in shirts, and we started
chatting. He introduced me to the owner
of a local flight school, where I met other,
welcoming pilots. And while I value each
of these connections, it still feels odd as
an adult to basically ask someone out on a
date and say, " Let's hang out. " Thankfully,
that's been made easier by buying an
airplane. Now I can say, " Let's go flying. "
But we're still missing something
crucial at airports: a dedicated and formal
social scene. My new community is near
the water, and there is a yacht club that
appears to be a sort of country club scene,
and a sailing association, which has a
clubhouse and offers free lessons and
happy hours at the club bar.
This is a great model for airports.
Take a dedicated space, maybe an unused
meeting room at the FBO, or a hangar,
and turn it into the clubhouse a few times
a month. Post some flyers, bring your
family, grab some beers and a grill, plan
some fly-outs, schedule watch parties,
and generally just spend time with other
people who love airplanes.
Yes, I know there are ways to get
involved at the airport, such as EAA
chapters or Civil Air Patrol, but these tend
to be hyper-focused groups that exist for a
mission first and camaraderie second. I'm
suggesting we flip that model and create
social clubs that exist for the purpose of
bringing pilots together.
I'm surprised this hasn't already
happened at every small airport in the
country, as it has at many of Europe's
small GA airports. But the idea is starting
to take a foothold among flying clubs,
some of which are offering social-only
memberships as a way to build community
without the additional cost of flying.
Being part of aviation, you're already
part of a community in the macro sense.
Now let's make it real. FT
Flight Training - July 2024

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