On Feb 2, 12:14*am, Jim Logajan wrote:

Pity the FAA doesn't have ATC trainees who aren't pilots have some flight
time in small planes so they can get the pilot's perspective.

I was telling folks in another forum since it's the gubment, it would
take a study to evaluate the safety of GA to permit their employees to
take such an undeavor.

I proposed / challenged other pilots in the other forum to take this
type of initiative on their own and contact their ATC folks and offer
a "free flight" just so they can see what is happening outside their
facility. Experience is priceless and only second to doing Angel
flights in the cool factor scale. simple things such as resetting
transponder, PTT, talking to their co-workers simply priceless with
absolutely no compromise to safety as I felt the videos captured.

Also thought maybe EAA and AOPA could start some type of initiative
"adopt an ATC'r" to expand this opportunity.

Only minor issue I had is the placement of the camera - would have been
nice to see pilot and passengers while they talked and gestured, even if
all I saw was the back of their heads. I don't suppose there was anyplace
farther back in the cockpit to mount it?

I'd have to agree in retrospect, it would have been nice. I have
flexi leg tripods to easily mount them but I felt time was more better
applied to actually flying, preflighting and anything relevant to
flight than setting up cameras. This is where I miss ownership the
most, time was NEVER a factor in my flights. Now with renting, I have
to be considerate to the person following me.

I haven't paid attention to what you were up to with gliders - did you get
your rating and I missed it?

Didn't miss it, weather down this way not condusive of glider flight
at all, haven't flown in about 3 months. So, not picked up the rating
yet, and in fact, just short of soloing when I stopped.