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Companion Programs

 

The PMOPA Convention welcomes registered companions to attend and participate in the Convention education sessions, meal functions, exhibitor interactions, and social activities. In addition, PMOPA is pleased to offer these programs designed specifically for registered companions.

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Companion Classroom Training Seminars Local Tours & Attractions

 

Training Seminars

Presented by Caitlin McCarthy

We are thrilled to welcome back Caitlin McCarthy who will serve as the instructor for two training programs designed especially for PMOPA non-pilot companions. A Certified Flight Instructor, Caitlin enjoys sharing her passion for aviation and travel with new and seasoned aviators. She aims to make flying accessible to people of all backgrounds with her clear, entertaining style of communication and genuine enthusiasm for the subject.

Caitlin will be teaching two sessions, one introductory (on Friday) and one advanced (on Saturday):

Friday, October 9

8:15am-11:15am

Introductory Companion Training - Part I

Colorado Hall

Presenter: Caitlin McCarthy, Sun Valley Aviators

This newly developed Introductory Companion Training course is for anyone who flies frequently as a passenger in a Piper M-Class aircraft. We will discuss what you, as a passenger, can do to increase the comfort and safety of every flight. From pre-flight planning to loading the aircraft to assisting the pilot in an emergency, your participation can make a positive impact. You will develop a list of helpful questions to ask your pilot before your next flight. Finally, you will learn a procedure that can be used to safely land the airplane in the event of a worst-case scenario: an incapacitated pilot.

Morning Break: 9:45am-10:30am

The course will continue after the morning break with Part II.

 

Saturday, October 10

 

9:15am-10:45am

Advanced Companion Training

Colorado Hall

Presenter: Caitlin McCarthy

This advanced course builds on the previous day with a discussion of how non-pilots can use intuition, situational awareness and technology (including avionics) to create a safer flight environment. We will discuss risk assessment, using a checklist to troubleshoot problems in-flight, and open the room for a group discussion of "dos" and "don'ts" in general aviation flying.

  

Enjoying Some Local Sights

An additional fee covers the costs of these optional companion activities.

Saturday, October 10

11:00am-4:00pm

Companion Activity: Cog Railway to Pike's Peak

A boxed lunch, cog railway fare and round trip shuttle included in the $150 per person registration fee.

PLEASE NOTE: The temperatures at the top of Pike's Peak typically will be cold - below freezing. Please plan accordingly and wear a warm coat, gloves and a scarf. 

Shuttle Pick Up: Colorado Hall
Shuttle Return: Broadmoor Main Building
 

Cog Train

Cog TrainCompanion Activity
Begin in Manitou Springs

The Cog Railway Depot sits in the foothills, a historic building buzzing with anticipation. Wander the gift shop while you wait—shelves stacked with Colorado-made goods, Cog memorabilia that’ll look good on your shelf back home, trail mix for the journey, ice cream to enjoy before you board.
Then the train pulls in. The cog engages with a mechanical click that promises adventure.

Nine Miles of Constant Wonder
Settle into your seat as the train leans into the mountain. The rhythmic clack of the cog becomes your soundtrack. Outside the panoramic windows, Englemann Canyon reveals itself—rock walls rising on either side, the forest thick and untouched.

As you climb through Pike National Forest, your guide fills the air with stories. Tales of miners and explorers. The geology that shaped these peaks. The wildlife that thrives at impossible altitudes. Listen or don’t—the views demand attention either way.

This route takes you where most visitors never go, through terrain reserved for backcountry hikers who know what they’re doing. Rock formations twist into improbable shapes. Alpine wildflowers cling to slopes. Bighorn sheep watch the train pass with mild interest, too accustomed to the sight to be impressed.

The train crosses multiple life zones—each with its own character, its own ecosystem. Ponderosa pines give way to bristlecone. Then trees disappear entirely, replaced by tundra and sky. Your camera works overtime. Every curve reveals something new.

Forty Minutes at 14,115 Feet
The train crests the summit, and you step into the thin air—forty minutes to explore. Make them count.

On clear days, five states spread before you: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Kansas. The Summit Visitor Center offers multiple vantage points, each with interpretive displays that explain what you’re seeing. But honestly, the view speaks for itself.

Walk the accessible paths. Feel the wind cut across the barren summit. Look down at the world you just left behind—it seems impossibly far below now.