UPDATE: Aircraft hit building at 71st and York Ave on East Side of Manhattan

Rush Limbaugh Show ^ | 10/11/06 | Rush Limbaugh

[Yossarian]

Rush reports that a Cessna has been reported as crashing into (at least one) apartment complex in NYC Mannhattan's upper east side - on East 71st Street.

[CarryaBigStick]

I invite you to browse the docs on this link, and then tell me you don't think there aren't enough FAR's for everyone's lifetime.

FAA.gov - Federall Aviation Regulations

Accidents happen. I'll bet a lot more people died in car accidents New York in the last month than they did in airplane accidents. Spare us all the kneejerk reactions, the politicians in Washington, D.C. already have the market cornered on that and can't stand the competition. :)

[Arkinsaw]

It's more holy than your personal right to fly over it for entertainment purposes.

[narby]

We're engaged in a different type of war. Different rules.

Absolutely. Which is why we've chosen to restrict as few rights as possible. Rights such as me flying my airplane. We're going to have to live with this "long war", for a long time, so no reason to go overboard damaging the economy by destroying General Aviation merely because some people don't know the difference between a 4 seat airplane and a Boeing 767.

[Pukin Dog]

I fly out of Montgomery Field in San Diego.

Just a couple weeks ago, I watched as three GAs in a row hopped in their aircraft without so much as a walkaround.

I mentioned it at the FBO, but nothing was probably done.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Hmmm. Why do they jump to write things like this? For goodness sake, they act like a tabloid. And now this:
"Because of recent vandalism or other disruption, editing of this article by anonymous or newly registered users is currently disabled. Such users may discuss changes, request unprotection, or create an account."

[CarryaBigStick]

Frankly, I know one or two retired military/commercial pilots who are scarier than hell in a GA airplane, it's not a domain exclusively reserved for low time private pilots.

I lost a very good friend who was a retired military pilot and a commercial pilot to an accident in a sailplane, and he was darn good at it and well respected among his peers...it happens.

[durasell]

Nobody is plunging willy or nilly into restricting rights. What we are doing now is figuring out the best possible way to protect ourselves. This is a new kind of war that requires new kinds of defenses.

We're Americans -- almost by definition we make mistakes, then figure things out. Our ability to say, "Let's try this" and then "Ooops, well that didn't work" is how we've always operated. This process is one of our greatest weaknesses and greatest strength.

[Arkinsaw]

so no reason to go overboard damaging the economy by destroying General Aviation

Restricting airspace over critical targets to necessary flights is not going to destroy general aviation or send the economy crashing to the ground. Your arguments are very emotional, but not so logical.

[narby]

You know I flew right seat before leaving Delta?

Cool. I'm jealous.

Curious on what you would change?

Long story. Probably not the exact equipment but instead the airspace rules. The FAA has talked of some of this, but there is a huge resistance to it.

Got to run. Later.

[LeGrande]

You either keep the planes far enough away...

So you want to ban GA, because that is what it would take to keep you completely safe from GA planes. I am currently building a plane that is capable of 300 knts, so how big would your restricted area have to be to keep me from crashing into your house?

So do you support banning personal vehicles, because terrorists have killed tons more people with them than they have with GA airplanes?

[Eastbound]

You're welcome! FRegards!

[RS]

"Violate the airspace around the Statue of Liberty...get shredded."

More foolish bravado --

"The Federal Aviation Administration reported about 3,400 violations of restricted airspace from September 12, 2001, to December 31, 2004, most of which were committed by general aviation pilots. "

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=1383

That's over 3,400 Americans that would have been "shredded" by friendly fire, protecting us from nothing.

[Arkinsaw]

So you want to ban GA, because that is what it would take to keep you completely safe from GA planes. I am currently building a plane that is capable of 300 knts, so how big would your restricted area have to be to keep me from crashing into your house?

I am not worried about you crashing into my house. I am worried about Abdullah and some friends crashing small aircraft into the Statue of Liberty, Reunion Tower, Sears Tower, and Gateway Arch all on the same day.

If you will note, I stated that there were two ways...1) make a wide enough restriction, or 2) shred any aircraft that enters the restricted area (Phalanx). I stated that I was in favor of option number two.

[DejaJude]

I'm kinda troubled about the ID of the pilot and/or passenger because of a passport found. Had he recently left the country? Was he planning to? From the reports, he was planning to fly to California. You don't need a passport for that. Does one carry a passport when not leaving the US? Was there no driver's license, pilot's license or any other form of ID found? If so, why not? Why was a passport the only form of ID? I'm quite willing to accept the tin foil hat if someone can explain this to me.

[Pukin Dog]

It happens often, especially among those of us used to flying things that go where you point them without complaining.

It will always be true that safety and fun dont really mix. But only when you have 30K ft to play with can you relax with time to fix what you broke. There is an overconfidence factor that can kill you when you fly closer to the ground.

[Pukin Dog]

I carry my passport all the time, though I rarely leave the country anymore. Its just better ID, especially when banking. Also, being NY, he may not have had a drivers license at all. Who needs to drive in Manhattan?

[Arkinsaw]

"The Federal Aviation Administration reported about 3,400 violations of restricted airspace from September 12, 2001, to December 31, 2004, most of which were committed by general aviation pilots. "

Thats 3,400 pilots who all should have their licenses yanked if they cannot keep out of restricted airspace. I suspect that the presence of air defenses would pucker them up enough to check their navigation a little closer.

I find it amusing that you bring up a statistic about general aviation pilots being lax to defend general aviation from restrictions. Ok, whatever.

The attitude that we can't shoot down people who go into restricted airspace is political correctness. Its the sort of handwringing that could have gotten the Capitol dome smashed in on 911 if some Americans had not taken matters into their own hands. I have no faith that anyone would have actually ordered a shootdown even after the other events of the morning.

Frankly, if anybody strays toward the White House or Washington Monument I am ALL in favor of putting a missile into them. Failing to do so, and wringing our hands, is likely to cost us a national treasure at some point. The rules of engagement should be clear.

[nevergore]

Agreed...never argued that point...I can't imagine a CFI signing off on a student on solo to transverse or fly in class B....
Lidel was a full private pilot....

[conservative in nyc]

Plus, if he was going home to the West Coast, he'd want to bring his passport with him. Leaving it in New York wouldn't make a heck of a lot of sense if you know you're going to be out of town for the winter.

[RS]

"The rules of engagement should be clear."

Strange statement --- you are contemplating rules of engagement for Americans against Americans.


I suppose an instant death penalty would also keep people from bringing nail clippers on commercial flights, but we are just too "PC" to allow it.