ABC sticks it to GA security...

On 14 Mar 2005 21:51:36 -0800, "cpu" wrote in
.com::

Did you hear what they said?

NBC: 1 Cessna + 200 lb of fertelizer = Oklahoma bombing.

Doesn't that estimate overlook 55 gallon drums of diesel fuel?


ABC: 1 small plane + several lb of C4 = Serious destruction

I would imagine several pounds of C4 or any of several other
explosives could be as easily deployed by many many other means as by
light aircraft. What is the principal difference between those other
means and singling out light aircraft?

Wow, serious stuff....

I can't believe the TSA & FBI originated those numbers.

But it seems using a Honda Civic + the same amount of bomb material
will be much easier than using a GA plane.

It smells like the airlines are behind this absurd GA alleged
insecurity pseudo issue. Perhaps it's time for the media to make a
distinction between heavily fuel laden biz-jets and four-place bug
smashes. Otherwise, the media hype' of this issue smacks of fear
mongering.

Larry Dighera wrote:

What is the principal difference between those other
means and singling out light aircraft?

Public ignorance. They're comfortable with trucks, but the vast majority of
them don't understand aviation. That makes it easy to convince them we're
nothing but spoiled rich brats playing with our expensive toys.

It also makes it easy to convince them that the threat of a small plane
carrying a ferti-diesel-lizer bomb is feasible.

It smells like the airlines are behind this absurd GA alleged
insecurity pseudo issue. Perhaps it's time for the media to make a
distinction between heavily fuel laden biz-jets and four-place bug
smashes.

I don't know whether the airlines are behind this. After all, what would
they have to gain? But it is easy to conjure any number of conspiracies
about who could have something to gain by scaring the public about aviation
security and those small planes, in particular. Bureaucratic
self-preservation is one, for instance.

Otherwise, the media hype' of this issue smacks of fear
mongering.

Of course it is.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
____________________

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 09:53:41 -0500, "John T" wrote in
: :

I don't know whether the airlines are behind this. After all, what would
they have to gain?

Consider the fact that airline passengers must now submit to long
lines for degrading security inspections, wait for protracted periods
to meet airline schedules, and be treated like cattle. Contrast that
with the corporate or charter biz-jet GA experience. I would expect
airlines to fear loosing high paying business class customers to the
more flexible, more comfortable and less invasive GA fleet.

Larry Dighera wrote:

Consider the fact that airline passengers must now submit to long
lines for degrading security inspections, wait for protracted periods
to meet airline schedules, and be treated like cattle. Contrast that
with the corporate or charter biz-jet GA experience. I would expect
airlines to fear loosing high paying business class customers to the
more flexible, more comfortable and less invasive GA fleet.

Plausible, but I think unlikely, theory. I seriously doubt there has been a
very large movement of business travelers to charter/bizjets. Sure, there
are the corporate executives who can occasionally make the justification of
paying the still relatively exorbitant rates for private flights, but
economic pressures still make waiting in the cattle chutes more feasible for
the majority of business travelers.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
____________________

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message news
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 09:53:41 -0500, "John T" wrote in
: :

I don't know whether the airlines are behind this. After all, what would
they have to gain?

Consider the fact that airline passengers must now submit to long
lines for degrading security inspections, wait for protracted periods
to meet airline schedules, and be treated like cattle. Contrast that
with the corporate or charter biz-jet GA experience. I would expect
airlines to fear loosing high paying business class customers to the
more flexible, more comfortable and less invasive GA fleet.

Not so big an issue at SNA last week. I was passing through and noticed an express lane for first class and 'preferred'
travelers that bypassed the long line for us normal folk. I wonder what it takes to be preferred...

"Blueskies" wrote in message
. com...

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 09:53:41 -0500, "John T" wrote in
: :

I don't know whether the airlines are behind this. After all, what would
they have to gain?

Consider the fact that airline passengers must now submit to long
lines for degrading security inspections, wait for protracted periods
to meet airline schedules, and be treated like cattle. Contrast that
with the corporate or charter biz-jet GA experience. I would expect
airlines to fear loosing high paying business class customers to the
more flexible, more comfortable and less invasive GA fleet.

Not so big an issue at SNA last week. I was passing through and noticed an
express lane for first class and 'preferred' travelers that bypassed the
long line for us normal folk. I wonder what it takes to be preferred...


Usually it's for Silver, Gold or Platinum-level frequent flyers...or those
with a seat in first class.

I fly commercially 45+ weekends a year and would never survive it if their
weren't "preferred" lines at the ticket counter and at security.

Someday I hope to fly myself to some of the events I work but for now, I'm
stuck with going commercial.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

Ah comeone.... You should be able to fit the Phoenix event in there... Heck
even Fontana or Vegas is within reach. :-)


Someday I hope to fly myself to some of the events I work but for now,
I'm stuck with going commercial.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

--
Mike Flyin'8
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
http://flying.4alexanders.com

wrote in message
...
Ah comeone.... You should be able to fit the Phoenix event in there...
Heck
even Fontana or Vegas is within reach. :-)


Someday I hope to fly myself to some of the events I work but for now,
I'm stuck with going commercial.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

--
Mike Flyin'8
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Mike,

I'm fairly confident that I could get from Phoenix to Ontario, North Las
Vegas, or even just over to Goodyear, AZ for the Phoenix race.

Some salient points (bearing in mind I'm a low-time VFR pilot...)

1) The event I work are not dependant upon me as a participant. They're
going to happen whether I get there or not. This is a point about which I
sometimes even have to get "fussy" with the airlines. If I don't get there,
I don't work...if I don't work, I don't get paid. It isn't as simple as
rescheduling a sales call or moving to a teleconference instead of meeting
face to face with a client.

2) I can't see an FBO renting me a plane knowing I will put 5 or 6 hours on
the Hobbs meter, but it could be away for 96 hours or more. (And what
happens if Sunday's race gets rained out and they are going to run on
Monday?) "Hello, Joe's Flight School? Uh, yeah, I won't be coming back to
Phoenix until Monday evening...maybe Tuesday morning...sorry."

Which brings up another issue. After working 45+ hours in three days (we're
practically guarenteed a 14-16 hour day on Sunday), I'm NOT going to climb
into an airplane and try to get home in the dark. That's just not going to
happen.

3) I get very little time off each week. The possibility of getting
weathered in or having to divert for any length of time would just destroy
my schedule.

Once upon a time, the TV networks bought us nice, fat, full-fare, Y-class
tickets that came with lots of flexibility. You could combine them, use
only the front or back half or even pocket them and take the bus instead (if
you were a masochist...) but now the airfares we get are dirt-cheap,
non-refundable, front-loaded tickets so you can't even keep your reservation
for the return trip if you don't fly the front half. So that rules out even
being able to fly OUT with an instructor but take a commercial flight home.

4) While I usually am a "Travel Only" on Thursdays, the races in Fontana,
Vegas, Sonoma and Texas allow me to make a few extra bucks as a
"Travel/Work." This requires that I be on the ground by 9am so that I can
grab a rental car and head to the track instead of just going to the hotel.
Barring all the other reasons above, I don't think a C172SP will get me to
SFO or DFW by 9am from Phoenix.

So, as much as I'd like to fly myself, it isn't practical...yet. ;O)

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

"Jay Beckman" wrote in message news:QdKZd.5356$uk7.3719@fed1read01...
"Blueskies" wrote in message
. com...

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message news
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 09:53:41 -0500, "John T" wrote in
: :

I don't know whether the airlines are behind this. After all, what would
they have to gain?

Consider the fact that airline passengers must now submit to long
lines for degrading security inspections, wait for protracted periods
to meet airline schedules, and be treated like cattle. Contrast that
with the corporate or charter biz-jet GA experience. I would expect
airlines to fear loosing high paying business class customers to the
more flexible, more comfortable and less invasive GA fleet.

Not so big an issue at SNA last week. I was passing through and noticed an express lane for first class and
'preferred' travelers that bypassed the long line for us normal folk. I wonder what it takes to be preferred...


Usually it's for Silver, Gold or Platinum-level frequent flyers...or those with a seat in first class.

I fly commercially 45+ weekends a year and would never survive it if their weren't "preferred" lines at the ticket
counter and at security.

Someday I hope to fly myself to some of the events I work but for now, I'm stuck with going commercial.

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ

I can understand the special treatment in front of the airline counter, but the TSA running the passenger screening is a
government agency.

Blueskies wrote:

I can understand the special treatment in front of the airline counter, but the TSA running the passenger screening is a
government agency.

.... and the government is anxious to please the airlines.