View Single Post
  #8  
Old March 7th 08, 12:16 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Orval Fairbairn[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 530
Default Experimentals down in Fla

In article
,
stol wrote:

On Mar 6, 9:05*pm, Orval Fairbairn
wrote:
In article
,





*stol wrote:
On Mar 6, 12:15*pm, Orval Fairbairn
wrote:
In article ,
*Matt Whiting wrote:


Orval Fairbairn wrote:
In article ,
*Matt Whiting wrote:


Orval Fairbairn wrote:


He explained that there is no such thing as an ³uncontrolled
airport,²
that there are towered and untowered airports, but both have some
type
of control. He also explaind that a tower would not have
prevented the
accident.
It sounds like an impressive briefing, but I am curious as to what
"control" is available at non-towererd airports?


Matt


FARs, pilot responsibility, Good Operating practices, Mk I
eyeballs,
CTAF.


I take it that you do not fly?


I don't fly as much as I would like, but I've had my license since
1978.
* *I'll grant you a few of the FARs could be considered "control",
but
not in the sense that most use the word. *Direction of turns, ROW,
etc.,
constitute a very, very weak form of control, but with nobody there
to
monitor it really is voluntary. *I don't consider the other items you
mention to be forms of control at all.


Matt


Why do you think that we need that much "control" in the first place?


Know the difference between pilots and Air Traffic Controllers?


1. If a pilot screws up, the pilot can die.


2. If an Air Traffic Controller screws up, a pilot can die.


We don't NEED a tower at most GA airports -- most of those are there
for
training purposes for controllers. In fact, a "controller" "controls"
nothing -- (s)he is, in reality, a coordinator.


If the Swiss pilot of the Velocity had made an overhead approach *
instead of straight-in, he would have been behind my flight and I might
have been sitting at the end of that airport when he dropped in.


--
Remove _'s *from email address to talk to me.- Hide quoted text -


- Show quoted text -


Orval Fairbairn wrote:


Only partially correct. The Velocity initially called in that he was
landing on 33 but changed to 15 when all other traffic reported that
they were using 15. The wind was calm. He made a straight-in behind RV
Flight and caused Red Flight (SX-300s) to alter their pattern. Keith
was
lead in Red Flight and saw it all.


Ok Now I am confused again, :)...


The velocity departed from Sebastian Fla, which is south of the field
where the crash happened. He would have been making a straight in on
33. If he did change his plan and land on 15 he would have had to
enter a left or right downwind. turn base and then final... Is it
because your squadran of Rv's might have got him a little rattled?
Did your group make a low pass before they landed? I am guessing they
probably do every time they come down for pancakes. I am not trying to
start a fuss but it does seem strange you did make the point to say
his straight in caused Keith and Red Flight to alter their pattern. It
sounds on face value like this was your sandbox and the Velocity was
an intruder... Jus curious ya know..


"Our sandbox?" No, but we do frequent their pancake breakfast with 20-30
airplanes, which does strain parking. We do not treat others as
"intruders." We also try to give others room in the pattern, so I really
do not know about the "rattle factor." According to other reports, the
Velocity pilot was a Swiss national, living near Sebastian and was
supposedly an experienced pilot.

The Velocity initially called in from the south, wanting to make a
straight-in for 33; however, everybody else was using 15, so he was so
informed. The RVs did overfly, some with smoke. I am not sure whether or
not they made more than one pass per flight. They broke left from the
overhead to downwind and landed.

The Velocity apparently circled wide and entered a straight-in for 15.
He did NOT enter a standard downwind pattern, otherwise the flights
would have adjusted their break to accommodate him. That is what Keith
did when he followed the Velocity.

I do not know why the Velocity pilot added full power once he left the
runway. Had he not done so, he might have ended up with a bent bird, but
that is about all, as the grass and rough terrain would have stopped him
pretty quickly. According to Keith, he was kicking up a lot of grass and
debris after he left the runway. It is even possible that his prop
impacted the ground and started to come apart.

--
Remove _'s *from email address to talk to me.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


Thanks for the explanation Orval. Since the Velocity is alot faster
then your RV's it is understandable he made a wider then normal
pattern, That would help with the flow of the pattern for sure. I
still don't fully understand your comments on him doing a "straight
in". It is not like he was on a 20 mile final,, or was he? As for
your " WE also try to give others room in the pattern" comes across
as,( we were here first so eat **** attitude). Most other pilots at
uncontrolled fields do what they can to give others room in the
pattern. I could be wrong here although the FAA will probably read
this as part of the investigation and they might draw a different
conclusion.

Just my opinion ya know.

Tailwinds,
Ben


Well, Ben it seems here that YOU are the one with an attitude. Is it
toward formation flight, RVs or what? BTW -- I do not fly an RV, but the
"Velocity is NOT a lot faster than the RVs.

All I know about his straight-in is that he reported "straight in."

If I have an attitude here it is toward those insisting on flying
straight-in approaches -- especially when the traffic is heavy.

A formation doing the overhead break to downwind has an excellent view
of traffic and can adjust entry with precision.

--
Remove _'s from email address to talk to me.