Stolen Jet found in Georgia

Well, first, thank god no one was hurt or killed (apparently). Second,
this is an excellent data point for the ADIZ controversy and for the GA
airport security debate. Outstanding actually!

I will be interested to see how Phil Boyer spins this latest incident to
"prove" how effective security is at GA airports, and to show that the
ADIZ is unnecessary. After all, how much damage could a stolen GA Jet do??
A truck, or even a Hyundai is more dangerous, right? Good thing he filed
the request (on the Docket Management System) for public hearings on making
the ADIZ permanent. Be careful what you wish for Phil!!!

Now, lets watch as the politicos (mainly the odious duo of
Schumer/Hillary) chime in. The media is all over it already, so the pols
are sure to follow!

Then the editorials will follow.

And I guess Big Phil will have to get yet another new bumper sticker to
replace the "I fly a C-150, ....fear me!" one. The repurcussions of the
stolen jet (a jet!!!!) are vast, and very exciting for anti-GA activists
such as myself.

Hey, I wonder if the AOPA advertising budget will have to go up when the
new propoganda ad appears in USA Today and other publications.

Boy, this is gonna be really fun.

Although, Phil may point out that the ADIZ s/b only applicable to high
performance prop planes or jets, to protect the recreational pilots (the
prime initiative of the AOPA).

This could cause a split between the AOPA and the organization that
represents business pilots (akin to what happened about 10-12 years ago in
that user fee debate).

Will be very interesting to watch.

Ugh. I cringed when I read about this, not just because I couldn't
believe anyone would be stupid enough to try something like that, but I
knew the knee-jerk anti-GA types (Skylune) would jump all over this...
and I was right.

I read on AvFlash the crew left the plane unlocked on the ramp (major
violation of ramp security and common sense) which was tempting enough
to lure some dumbass kid into an even dumber stunt. Unbelievable. A 22
year old kid that probably wanted to fly for a living now with a
useless type rating and a felony charge w/five misdemeanor counts to
boot. The pax apparently didn't know the plane was stolen. (haven't
figured that part out yet)

"but I
knew the knee-jerk anti-GA types (Skylune) would jump all over this...
and I was right."

Knee-jerk? I've been at this quite some time. "Anti-GA" is really just
short-hand. I just think there should be much stricter regulation of GA,
real enforcement of the FARs, that the FAA is hopelessly conflicted in its
roles, that obtaining a PPL is much too easy (having had some limited
experience here myself, and flying with my GPS challenged buddy), and that
the subsidies s/b curtailed.

I would not propose tearing the yoke out of any qualified pilot's hands,
anymore than I would want someone to tell me I had to hand in my Mossberg
(to go back to the gun ownership vs. right to fly analogy).

Just watch, my predictions will materialize:
1. Press reaction (justified- I mean a stolen jet is certainly
newsworthy)
2. Political opportunism: Here's Chuck and Hillary!
3. Editorializing.

Its as predicatable as the tides. What I'm waiting is to see how the AOPA
reacts, and how this most recent incident factors into the the ADIZ and GA
airport security debate.

Here's the reaction from one of my favorite political commentators:

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/003699.htm

In article
outaviation.com,
says...


Here's the reaction from one of my favorite political commentators:

http://michellemalkin.com/archives/003699.htm


Your favorite?
I find her avaition and general awareness discomfiting. . .

One need not be an aviation expert to comment on a stolen jet in the
context of airport security. Listen, in my field of expertise, the press
gets the details wrong all the time. You cannot expect the press to be as
expert in GA as a PPL.

obtaining a PPL is much too easy

Really? I'm a CFI and I can tell ya these aren't just given away

FAA is hopelessly conflicted in its roles

No argument there, it's a disgustingly inefficient bureacreacy

and flying with my GPS challenged buddy

One pilot's inability to to learn new equipment doesn't condemn the
whole flying population. That's a poor argument

how this most recent incident factors into the the ADIZ and GA airport security debate

It's strictly an airport security issue. The crew goofed by leaving the
acft unlocked on the ramp. It has nothing to do with any ADIZ as no
ADIZ was violated. Even the TSA is saying that.

Agreed, that they don't just "give these things away." But wouldn't you
agree, that once you get your ticket, it is very possible to not stay
current or proficient if you don't practice regularly? Would you agree
that there are some pilots out there who got their PPL long ago, and now
fly so infrequently as to be a danger to themselves, their passengers, or
those below?

Personally, I think a VFR ticket only s/b eliminated. All pilots should
have to be able to fly IFR. That would eliminate hundreds of mishaps per
year. Nothings perfect of course, but these learn to fly in a month
schools are insane, IMHO.

BTW, the reason I stopped training after about 15 hours was not that I
couldn't ultimately get the ticket. I realized that it would take
constant dedication, and lots of time, to stay safe as a PPL. Too many
other pulls on my time, and too many other interests. So I pulled the
plug. I still think it was the right thing to do.

Ironically, now that I am about to semi-retire, I may actually pick it up
again. But I would certainly want to buy a fairly new plane. And I would
expect to pay my user fees for the "right" to fly.

Ironically, now that I am about to semi-retire, I may actually pick it up
again. But I would certainly want to buy a fairly new plane.

Then you could patrol the skiing NG's and scold all the would be skiers
that only go skiing once or twice a year ;-)

Particularly the larger built ones, or the older ones who's eye sight
might be failing!

Hours of new fun, for when your a pilot and the weather is stopping you
flying.