My Modest Proposal to End Global Warming, Revitalize General Aviation, and End Our Dependence on Foreign Oil

On Sun, 21 Oct 2007 19:22:54 -0600, C J Campbell
wrote:

On 2007-10-14 00:39:27 -0600, said:


Of course, those who still live out in the sticks will need some other
way to get around. This will be the rail lines, just like in the old
days, or they will fly, as God intended. New airports will spring up
like flowers after a rain. Flight instructors will be busy. The little
planes will no longer bother anybody because everyone will realize they
are necessary. Aircraft manufacturers will finally have the incentive
to innovate and produce airplanes in reasonable numbers.


If by little planes you mean 4 seaters and such, then I doubt that
they will ever become reliable means of private transport like the
car. Even with an instrument rating it would require a high level of

They could with the work NASA is doing, BUT *affordable* is a horse of
a different color.

skill, confidence and time commitment on part of the pilot to use a
little airplane regularly for commuting. Besides, no matter how many
airports spring up, there still remains the problem of getting from
the airport to the work place and back.

It would be possible even with today's technology to build an airplane
that could be programmed, or automated to fly from point A to B and
far easier than with cars. The resulting aircraft would, or could
require far less skill than required of today's pilots.

The most difficult to implement and expensive parts lie at each end
of the trip as well as with traffic control.

OTOH like anything that says "airplane" on it, I don't see it becoming
economical.
If more and more employers and employees work together to find ways to
work remotely from home, it would reduce automobile usage to an
extent.

The question is how many could routinely do this and to what extent
would it reduce automobile usage? When you get right down to it, only
a small percent of the work force can work from home. Even office and
data management work can not all be done from home. Yes, a lot of
communications can take place via the Internet/electronically, but
there still needs to be a face-to-face interaction between workers as
well as workers and management.

I used to do a bit more than half my work from home. (Sys admin,
Developmental Analyst, and finally project manager) HOWEVER that
didn't result in less driving. I spent less time at the plants and
corporate headquarters, but I still had to be there nearly every day.
I had to be there often enough they owed me over 90 days of vacation
when I retired.


Nevertheless, NASA is committed to developing the advanced technology
to make flying an airplane as easy and safe as driving a car, if not
more so. Modern glass panel avionics are one part of that. The Adam is
based on the ideas developed in this program.

It is going to happen -- if GA manages to survive until then.

I have no doubt they can do it. It could be done with today's
technology, but I have my doubts that it can be made practical and
economical.

Roger (K8RI)