Posted on 11/04/2004 4:19:20 PM PST by Archangelsk
The Fox affiliate in the Orlando area is going to do a hatchet job on general aviation airfields tonight. Their breathless, stupid lead in (done appropriately by the typical bubble-headed blonde) goes something like this: "They provide easy access for the rich and their airplanes but are Florida's small airfields attracting terrorists to launch small airplanes against commercial airlines!!!!"
Calling Phil Boyer.
You're probably right (in what she's pushing) but there isn't a bureacracy big enough to run the ENTIRE aviation industry in this country. Oh wait...maybe the Dems could create one and tax us to run it.
This new theory the media has recently come up with, of terrorists flying small planes into airliners is ridiculous. Collisions like this happen accidentally extremely infrequently, and when it does it's because of a fluke of nature.
It would be vitually impossible to deliberately fly a 90mph small plane into a 550mph airliner. They dont fly at the same altitudes. A small plane cannot match an airliner in climb speed, so it would be difficult to do at takeoff, while planes are still under tower control.
It's all another media scare story to propel ratings.
I admit to not knowing who are Diamond, Cirrus and Lancair.
Never mind....I see that Phil Boyer is not in FL...but national. phil.boyer@aopa.org
3200 ft, about to become 4500.
They fixed the bump and the new ramp is being scraped flat now.
Brand new Hangers, FBO building, it will be a real show place.
There is a fire tower at the NE side of the Airport offset to right of center line, all traffic flys the pattern on the west side of the airport, so you don't fly over the retirement community to the east of the North South Runway.
I still get the craving to fly on occasion; just too expensive a hobby for me these days. When I learned in the mid-80s, I rented a 172 wet for $45/hour. What does a nice 172 go for now?
MM
You are absolutely correct.
There are forces in Watsonville, CA trying to shut down the airport here. I have heard the airport in Auburn CA is under similar attack.
Shutting general aviation airports is an anti-freedom action.
A Cessna 172 80s model M will rent for $70 to 75 per hour wet at Orlando Country Airport.
Wow. Last time I checked here, and it's been several years, they wanted $90-$100.
MM
I've contacted AOPA; gotta take this (and any other similar GA 'terrorist' story) seriously. Remember that Daley destroyed Miegs Field with this same line of crap!!
I'd like to join the Aviation Ping List, please.
Thanks.
...you can try, www.eaa.org.
Every aircraft owner I've ever know has a six-figure income but lives in abject poverty. A shopaholic mistress would be more affordable.
Having a low six-figure income and a airplane that is not business deductible is like having 2 children in college. The financial drain is similar to a perpetual ebb tide.
Not to mention that not every pilot is an aircraft owner. I miss the "six-figure income" by a factor of 2 but still rent every chance I get. And I got my certificate when I was a college student and sunk every penny of my summer job income into it.
Imagine what gun rights would be in this nation if it cost $5000 to be allowed to fire a gun without an instructor standing over your shoulder and the NRA had 1/100th its actual membership. That's how fragile the freedom of aviation is in this country, and the MSM and liberal politicians would be hard-pressed to find an easier target than general aviation for their anti-freedom agenda. Sigh.
Um...I fly in the new ones ;-)
I am attuned to the necessity of America becoming more vigilant in every area of our lives to prevent another attack on our citizens.Having said that, I strongly object to some of the federal government's knee-jerk restrictions on private flying.
There has never been a terroist attack on our Country using a light aircraft. There has been such an attack using large airliners.
So why does the FAA ban light aircraft - but not airliners - from flying over our nation's capitol, baseball games, political rallies, and even Disneyland.
The answer is twofold.
There is a philosophy of hatred loose in America as we see displayed ad nauseum during the TV coverage of this election. For some strange reason, private pilots are lumped into the "rich playboy" category, when in fact, most of us are poor and give up many other things to pay for our "habit".
The second reason is that private pilots are a small minority and have no polical pull in Washington. We are an easy target whenever the government wants to show they are "doing something".
Americans have a right to travel via whatever means we choose. We have a right to do anything we want as long as we don't violate the rights of others.
And of course, we all know why clinton started the prohibition on banner tow planes within 30 miles of his royal a$$.
Yeah, I'd fly the new ones too. Sounds way nice.
MM
Product liability claims cost Piper millions.
I rent 2003 Cessna C172R models, full IFR, Garmin 430 GPS for $92 per hour.
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