Stolen Jet found in Georgia

"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.

What does one have to do with the other?????

If skiers start racing across my property and waking me up and making a
racket and breaking all kinds of laws, I will harass them. When I was an
ski instructor in my 20s and when people skied recklessly, we had the
power to clip their tickets. Usually, you would put a red stripe on the
ticket first, as a warning. Then if the transgressor did it again, it got
clipped and he/she could head to the bar where they belong. Many skiers
routinely admonish others who break the rules (although it is usually the
boarders who do stupid stuff). I wish more pilots and airport sponsors
would police their own, since the FAA really doesn't give a damn about
noise abatement, busting the 1000 ft minimum, etc.

If I decide to pursue my PPL in another year or so, I will obey the FARs
and noise abatement procedures. I would not join AOPA under any
circumstances of course. ;-)

Are u gonna pursue your pilot license, or are you gonna drop out like
Skylune did?

Skylune wrote:
If skiers start racing across my property

that's where you are obviously confused: I don't
know about skiiers, but I can assure you that
no airplane has *ever* flown through your property,
and never will, because the airspace above your property
is not yours in the first place; you should have
asked before buying anything...

--Sylvain

See, now that's the utter denial that really ****es me off.

Planes bust the 1000 ft minimum all the time near my NH house, which is 5
miles from the airport. Where I'm moving from, very close to Republic
airport on LI, no noise issue whatsoever (thats where I trained for a
time). It shows that the airport sponsor is primarily responsible for
community relations.

Pending court cases (and settled ones as well) will determine the extent
of community control. You like the FAA asleep at the switch attitude when
it benefits you (i.e. the FARs, no teeth in noise abatement), and hate them
when they want to impose user fees, or get pushed into endorsing the ADIZ.