Who Wouldn't You Fly With?

"Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net wrote in message
...
buttman wrote:
On Jul 11, 7:11 am, Andrew Gideon wrote:

The final straw was being a
minute or two from entering a pattern on a 45 to downwind having just
observed someone take off that had indicated he'd be staying in the
pattern. I suggested to my friend that we turn a bit so we'd fall in
behind that plane. My friend demurred, claiming that the [class D]
tower would prevent any collision.

Isn't that what they're there for? I'm based out of a Class D field,
and if I were in that situation (2 minutes on the 45 with a plane on
the upwind, which I've been in more than a dozen times) I sure
wouldn't take it upon me to sequence myself. At the very least, I'd
ask the controller if he wants me in front, or behind the traffic.
Most likely, the controller would make the upwind guy extend his
upwind, then have him follow me.

And what happens if the controllers attention is aimed somewhere else for
a moment or he just plan screws up? It is the pilots responsibility to
see and avoid traffic. I'd do exactly what Andrew suggested.
Ditto! "...claiming that the [class D] tower would prevent any collision.",
is right up there with "Famous last Words".

On Jul 10, 8:28 pm, "Kyle Boatright" wrote:
After one spooky experience several years ago, I am very discriminating
about who I'll fly with.

First, I have to know a pilot well enough to form an opinion about his/her
abilities as a pilot and about the owner's mechanical aptitude and
ability/will to properly maintain the aircraft.

Second, I won't fly with someone if I have a prejudice against the aircraft
they fly. Homebuilt helicopters come to mind.

Third, regardless of the other two checks and balances, the airplane must
appear to be in good condition and have enough recent usage to give some
indication that it is safe for flight.

If I'm not sure about any of the issues, I'll either try to "qualify"
someone or politely decline the offer of a ride. For instance, if someone I
know offers a ride in his beautiful new Stearman restoration, my question
will be... "So how many hours does it have since the ground up restoration?"
Under 25 hours and I'll politely take a rain check.

If John Travolta pulls up in his 707 and asks me to sit right seat. Thanks,
but no. I'd love to go, but don't know enough about him or his airplane to
be comfortable.

What are your criteria and what, if any, flights have you bypassed?

KB

With the criteria you listed, you would never get on a commercial
flight. g

buttman writes:

Isn't that what they're there for?

Why is it called VFR, again?

In a previous article, "Gig 601XL Builder" wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net said:
Isn't that what they're there for? I'm based out of a Class D field,
and if I were in that situation (2 minutes on the 45 with a plane on
the upwind, which I've been in more than a dozen times) I sure
wouldn't take it upon me to sequence myself. At the very least, I'd
ask the controller if he wants me in front, or behind the traffic.
Most likely, the controller would make the upwind guy extend his
upwind, then have him follow me.

And what happens if the controllers attention is aimed somewhere else for a
moment or he just plan screws up? It is the pilots responsibility to see
and avoid traffic. I'd do exactly what Andrew suggested.

Class D controllers are not responsible for in-air separation, they're
responsible for runway separation. If you expect them to sort it out for
you, you're basically taunting Darwin.


--
Paul Tomblin http://blog.xcski.com/
In 1665 Isaac Newton became discouraged when he fell up a flight of
stairs.

Paul Tomblin wrote:
In a previous article, "Gig 601XL Builder"
wrDOTgiaconaATsuddenlink.net said:
Isn't that what they're there for? I'm based out of a Class D field,
and if I were in that situation (2 minutes on the 45 with a plane on
the upwind, which I've been in more than a dozen times) I sure
wouldn't take it upon me to sequence myself. At the very least, I'd
ask the controller if he wants me in front, or behind the traffic.
Most likely, the controller would make the upwind guy extend his
upwind, then have him follow me.

And what happens if the controllers attention is aimed somewhere
else for a moment or he just plan screws up? It is the pilots
responsibility to see and avoid traffic. I'd do exactly what Andrew
suggested.

Class D controllers are not responsible for in-air separation, they're
responsible for runway separation. If you expect them to sort it out
for you, you're basically taunting Darwin.

Watch your trimming Paul. I wrote the second paragraph not the first.

"EridanMan" wrote in message
oups.com...
I had an experience earlier this year right after passing my checkride
that gave me pause...

[snip]
After we shut-down, he asked me if I was taking Instrument Students...
When I told him my ppl was only a few weeks old, he seemed
astounded... "You so confident, I feel safe with you".

Never... Again...

Those little nagging voices are there to keep us pilots alive... I
should learn to listen to them more

I shudder to think about how many "pilots" operate at his level of ability
on a regular basis. I recall another guy (also of Asian persuasion but
that's not a knock on Asian pilots) who could barely understand english that
created havoc in the local [Class D] airport's pattern. There were at least
eight planes in the pattern with a few opting to leave instead of dealing
with the danger this guy created by literally not knowing which way was
North.

Marco

Mxmanic

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:29:07 -0500, Gig 601XL Builder wrote:

It is the pilots responsibility to
see and avoid traffic.

Which is why, I admit selfishly, I'll pull behind rather than before. If
I'm behind, I can see the other plane. If I'm before the other plane,
there's this level of trust involved.

Of course, the pilot of the other plane has his own perspective:

After you.
No, after you.
No, please, after you.
...

Laugh

To Buttman: Asking isn't a bad idea (except see my selfish perspective
above). But relying upon class D to provide airborne separation is twice
wrong (regulatory and keep-own-butt-safe-atory).

- Andrew

"Jim Stewart" wrote in message
.. .
Mxmanic

I'd fly with him. I just wouldn't land with him g

On Jul 11, 1:40 pm, Jim Stewart wrote:
Mxmanic

Nothing to fear there.

Austin