On Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:49:40 -0500, Bob Noel
wrote:

In article ,
Big John wrote:

I hope Kerry, or anyone else, doesn't think the pilot needed their
blessing to exercise his authority as PIC.


************************************************** *****

I guess you haven't had any experience hauling Congressmen around in
Military aurcraft? Especially out in the boon docks?

True. When first reading about this event, I couldn't help thinking
about the Ron Brown "accident". Fortunately, the pilot didn't repeat
that mistake.


************************************************** *

Bob

Agree. We have been losing about one bird a year in Afghanistan due
to Wx.

Mickey Leland

Congressman Leland was on a boon doggle in Africa and was scheduled to
fly on a local aircraft to a isolated refuge camp in Ethiopia during a
period of marginal Wx.

The pilot was a local and pointed out that the flight should not be
attempted. An initial report of accident by a local reporter stated
that Leland put pressure on Pilot to attempt flight against the pilots
better judgement. Of course Wx was worse than forecast and bird flew
into a cloud with a rock inside and crashed and Leland and all 15
aboard died.

I submitted a FOI to get that bit of data on pressure and only thing
that was released was the Embassy report of accident and death of
Leland and statement that accident investigation would be run by
Ethiopia not USA so congressional pressure has been hidden again in
this case. With what we give Ethiopia no way would they besmirch
Leland.


I have also heard from congressman "we vote you (Air Force) millions
of dollars for your operations and equipment and you can't fly if
there is a cloud in the sky".

Also complaints if there was not booze and gourmet food aboard. No box
lunches for them.


Big John