Posted on 07/24/2003 4:53:02 PM PDT by FairOpinion
The pipeline patrol is a common operation around PHL due to all of the energy production in and around Philly. The pilots flying these routes generally remain outside or below the Class B airspace, operating quite low to inspect mostly natural gas lines.
Yes, there was a 30 mile TFR in effect for Bush's visit today but unless you have the up to date NOTAMS, you would not know. Trust me, this was just an uninformed pilot who damn near got his butt shot out of the sky because he happened to be doing his patrol when the president was returning to the airport for departure.
A controller in the Tower observed the VFR target, alerted security personnel, at which time a police helicopter got on the Cessna's rear. Subsequently the pilot called PHL Tower to find out why he was being chased and got the shock of his life. He'll have stories to tell for quite awhile.
I did my initial training very near an MOA in New Mexico. Not only did I learn first-hand about density altitude, I also learned that F-15 pilots have a wicked sense of humor.
"Look for traffic" from the IP didn't mean look for the random overloaded Cherokee 180 wobbling off the end of over a mile of runway. It also meant look for a speck on the horizon that doesn't move, but may get larger.
/john
Never mind that there's no way to inspect thousands of miles of pipeline from the ground, or that the pampered suburbanites, their trees and shrubs, and their McMansions and Porsches might well go up in a big smoky fireball without regular inspections . . .
I think this was a pretty freak event ... this pilot may have also been known to the parties involved (the local FAA control towers) SO there wasn't a terrible lot of concern BUT enough to follow through and force him down. There is also the aspect of RADAR coverage in that area - HE MAY have been assigned a transponder code, was known, but NOT monitoring a radio on the tower's frequency and then proceeded to stray into the temporarily restricted airspace ...
All you people who envision barrels of Anthrax being released from a small aircraft DON'T have any idea of the preocedures that would be necessary to complete the process from start to finish from a) 'brewing' that much Anthrax succesfully without accidently killing off a neighborhood (THEREBY alerting authorities) through to b) successful loading and distribution of said Anthrax aerially.
9/11 worked largely because everybody at the time a) didn't know what to look for in the way of suspects b) were severly hampered by 'PC' conventions. Witness the number of disparate, spread-out clues the FBI had in variuous field personnel hands ...
Today, much more in the way of the public's eyes area at work noting suspicious activity AS ARE businesses that sell all manner of chemicals and equipment that have possible destructive uses.
Don't make the same mistake that ALL conspiracy theorists make - assuming that actions take place in a vacuum w/o records, w/o eyeballs or w/o human ears picking up some clue as to an illicit intent on behalf of a terrorist *or* his purchase/acquistion of material needed for the crime.
My heroes!
Easy... just borrow some more money and give them more subsidies. 500 billion, 600 billion... is anyone counting the deficit anymore?
The Pennsylvania crashed plane was headed for the White House most likely.
Aircraft is a quick and cost efficient method of terrorist's hitting prime targets.
We had that nutcase Islamic kid successfully hitting a buiding in Tampa right near an AFB but with not enough fuel load or explosives.
We had two jerks from Florida buzzing a New Jersey beach at low level.
We have had several small aircraft willfully and knowingly invade WH airspace in DC.
Now we have this small private plane, flying without a flight plan and under radar encroaching on the President's security perimeter.
It easily could have been a terrorist with an explosive payload that would have taken him out.
I doubt that the Secret Service has Stingers with them.
A small private aircraft at that close proximity could also have carried several air to ground missiles.
Who would take effectively taken Bush's place and have our nation and security not weakened and threatened?
Ignorance of the law or of the circumstances is no excuse.
When it comes to the life of some gas pipe inspector or the President of the United States in time of war, there is no argument.
Inspector is toast. Period.
If aircraft do not file flight plans, have transponders, and/or maintain radio contact things are completely uncontrollable and things must and will change.
It is all well and good for all to wail about loss of freedoms and decry restrictions on small private aircraft, but that is self-serving hogwash.
None complaining have a solution to this problem or could replace our President.
Evidently the seriousness of this has not trickled down to the small private aircraft owners and pilots.
In these cases, it is clear; you are expendable if you willfully or unknowingly intrude upon critical national security.
it is all very nice to flit about the skies freely without any rules or consequences.
But the rules changed on 911.
You cannot be a "special class" of citizen.
You are in the unrestricted wondering aircraft classification of the crop duster, the jerk kid in Tampa.
You are a flying missle.
If you do not guide yourself someone else will.
Or they will shoot you down.
You do not have the juice or the argument to stop it.
Case closed.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.