Another midair in the pattern

On 1/16/2011 4:57 AM, Scott wrote:
On 1-16-2011 04:13, Eric Greenwell wrote:
ssed?

For crying out loud, we aren't even required to have transponders, so a
rant about the mean old government seems unkind.

But after mandating radios and a few planes still come together, then
transponders will be mandatory. Mark my words. Then when they STILL come
together, VFR will go away and all flights will be IFR with ATC telling
you to go "that way" when you know that thermal is "this way". The
government will not stop until they control every aspect of your life,
especially if you let them. No, it's not conspiracy theory. Just look at
how much flying has changed since 9-11. TFR? Hardly ever had any of them
before 9-11. Now, a simple NFL football game causes one.

Radios have been available and in use in GA for, like, 70 years;
transponders have been available and in use in GA for about 40 years.
And yet, we glider folk still aren't mandated to use either, so the idea
that any minute now, the government will suddenly decide to "control
every aspect of your life" seems, well, overheated. It would be easier
for me to make the argument the FAA is negligent, rather than overreaching.

That's why I'm not excited about claims we have to stop this
encroachment NOW before it's TOO LATE! But, I am somewhat interested in
discussions about the value of radios and how much we should encourage
their use. At $200, cost really isn't an issue for anyone that can
afford to fly in the first place.

I say "somewhat" interested, because where I fly in various parts of
North America, everyone is already using a radio, most also have a crew
radio (more of them have crew radios than crew, these days), and many
have a spare in addition.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)