"Why was a plane able to fly over New York?"

"Roger (K8RI)" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:53:19 +0200, Thomas Borchert
wrote:

Mxsmanic,

For most people, airplane + New York = terrorists.


And prohibiting flying over NY would stop terrorists exactly how? I can
just see it: Mohammad Atta calling Osama: "Hey boss, we have to call
the thing off, they've prohibited flying over NY!"

One network and I don't remember which, did quote the AOPA's statement
about a small car being capable of carrying much more of any weapon
(biological, explosive, or what ever) than a small plane.

ABC...and they blew it

http://formerspook.blogspot.com/2006...ve-winner.html

We Have a Winner
Yesterday, I speculated about how long it would take the MSM to print or
broadcast a story about the potential terrorist threat from general aviation
aircraft--despite ample data suggesting that light aircraft pose little
danger as terrorist weapons.

Sure enough, ABC's Lisa Stark was one of the first out of the box. On
Wednesday's edition of "ABC World News," she filed the obligatory report on
the threat posed by terrorists stealing light aircraft and using them as
weapons. Not surprisingly, the "threat" was grossly exaggerated, and she
even managed to quote an AOPA spokesman out of context, to boot.
Interestingly, I can't find her story on the ABC News website, so perhaps
members of the AOPA complained, or her bosses didn't think much of her
report.
---------------------------------------

Just to add to the fun, the New York Daily News (which used to be a
decent paper) has as its headline -- in big bold letters: "IT FELT LIKE
SEPT. 11TH." Please! I was in the Trade Center, lost many friends, and
was right across the street when the first tower started to collapse.
If I do go around crying "SEPTEMBER 11" every time something goes
wrong, I don't think these uptown wussies should, either.

AJ

On 12 Oct 2006 21:14:15 -0700, "AJ" wrote:

Just to add to the fun, the New York Daily News (which used to be a
decent paper) has as its headline -- in big bold letters: "IT FELT LIKE
SEPT. 11TH." Please! I was in the Trade Center, lost many friends, and
was right across the street when the first tower started to collapse.
If I do go around crying "SEPTEMBER 11" every time something goes
wrong, I don't think these uptown wussies should, either.

A new phrase to replace the old standard, "It was like a war zone!"

RK Henry

"RK Henry" wrote in message
...
On 12 Oct 2006 21:14:15 -0700, "AJ" wrote:

Just to add to the fun, the New York Daily News (which used to be a
decent paper) has as its headline -- in big bold letters: "IT FELT LIKE
SEPT. 11TH." Please! I was in the Trade Center, lost many friends, and
was right across the street when the first tower started to collapse.
If I do go around crying "SEPTEMBER 11" every time something goes
wrong, I don't think these uptown wussies should, either.

A new phrase to replace the old standard, "It was like a war zone!"

It was sheer pandilerium!!

"Why was a plane able to fly over New York?"

The question is not ridiculous.
Many cities in the world do not allow GA flight anywhere near, and many do
not allow commercial overflight either (usually for noise abatement
considerations). To allow it, one would have to submit that the risk to
benefit ratio is favorable.

Admittedly, the risk is not great - even trivial compared with the risk of
other activities related to individual freedoms (like driving cars and
trucks, which claim victims daily in NYC). This is the first GA crash into
a NYC skyscraper I'm aware of (correct me if I'm mistaken) and only the
second accidental crash of any plane into a NYC skyscraper. So, what's the
benefit? For airliners it's pretty obvious, with LaGuardia where it is, and
for GA - er, um.....

Don't get me wrong, I believe the freedom of an individual to experience
flight over New York is an important benefit, and I certainly hope the
corridors remain open, but seen from a political point of view... Imagine
the fallout if a second accident of this type were to occur within the next
year or so. Unlikely, perhaps, but certainly not impossible. That;s the
risk that someone like Bloomberg faces today, should he come forth and
defend the existance of VFR privileges.

Americans believe strongly in personal freedoms - many places in the world
(like almost all of Europe) do not even wait for one such incident to
banish small planes from their cities' skies. Individual freedoms are
simply not held in high enough esteem to make the combined risk and
nuisance factor worth it, even if both are small. The persistance of VFR
privileges over NYC (and I believe it will persist) will be a strong
affirmation of the American belief in individual freedoms.

"Live free or die" - isn't it, Skylune?

GF

"Greg Farris" wrote

This is the first GA crash into
a NYC skyscraper I'm aware of (correct me if I'm mistaken) and only the
second accidental crash of any plane into a NYC skyscraper.

How about the crash of a B-25 into the Empire State building, in the 40's?
--
Jim in NC

"Morgans" wrote in message
...

"Greg Farris" wrote
This is the first GA crash into a NYC skyscraper I'm aware of (correct me
if I'm mistaken) and only the second accidental crash of any plane into a
NYC skyscraper.

How about the crash of a B-25 into the Empire State building, in the 40's?


That would be the first accidental crash of any plane into a NYC skyscraper.
The B-25 was a military aircraft, not GA.

Morgans wrote:

How about the crash of a B-25 into the Empire State building, in the 40's?
--


Well yes, that would be the first one I was referring to. This is the
only other one I know of.
But I may be wrong.

Greg

Recently, Morgans posted:

"Greg Farris" wrote

This is the first GA crash into
a NYC skyscraper I'm aware of (correct me if I'm mistaken) and only
the second accidental crash of any plane into a NYC skyscraper.

How about the crash of a B-25 into the Empire State building, in the
40's?

I thought that *was* the second one Greg referred to. Is there a 3rd?

Neil

Morgans wrote:

This is the first GA crash into
a NYC skyscraper I'm aware of (correct me if I'm mistaken) and only the
second accidental crash of any plane into a NYC skyscraper.

How about the crash of a B-25 into the Empire State building, in the 40's?

I'm fairly certain a B-25 isn't a GA craft.

RFM
http://www.cyclelicio.us/