Not the plane, the airports.

The Washington DC area airports KCGS, KVKX and W32 operate with
additional security requirements as specified under SFAR 94. I was going
through those requirements to understand what I have to do to land at
CGS. I'm not really asking about that, I'll go through that journey and
report back. It looks to be a real pain and seems to be another
manifestation of pointless bureaucracy from the Department of Homemade
Security.

The real point of this post is how silly the additional security
procedures are and how they are left in place to provide the appearance
of additional security without actually delivering on that promise. I
just drove my daughter down to school. She starts college in DC next
week, a sure sign of my aging. Beyond the emotional trauma of that life
milestone, I had to wonder what that flight would be like. So I did my
flight planning only to come across this SFAR 94 restriction. I'd much
rather fly the 320 or so miles than transit the NJ Turnpike ever again.

But this time I had to drive. After going through the area on route 95
just past College Park you really get an appreciation for how pointless
it is to single out light aircraft in these restrictions. Nothing big is
getting in or out of CGS, it is only 2600' of runway. So this SFAR is
really directed at the small, light aircraft flown by the GA community.
As I was driving along on the bottom of the ADIZ I couldn't help to
think how silly it is, as giant semis hauling heaven knows what whizzed
along without restriction hurtling within miles of downtown DC. It is
all so silly.

KC

Tell me about it.

I was based at VKX on 9/11. It took me nearly 5 weeks to get my
plane out of there and then it was with the PG County Mounties nad
very special procedures to let me evacuate.

I waited, applied, was prodded, fingerprinted, waited more, and was
trained to get authorization to get in and out of there.

I've done it once, it isn't worth the pain the the posterior.

Yes, it is completely useless. That was a fine little airport
as were the others. Small, often minority owned business there.
All are either defuct or circling the drain. Millions of dollars
to bail out the airlines in a predicament through their own greed
and stupidity but despite congressional lip service, nothing to
the Prince Georges County, Maryland airports that were destroyed
as a result of a false sense of national security from a toally
non-existant threat.

I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this? I
know there are some changes going into effect that look like they
simplify things for the ADIZ overall, so that looks good, but these 3
airports remain under lock and key.

That story seems horrible Ron. Sorry about that.

KC

Ron Natalie wrote:
> Tell me about it.
>
> I was based at VKX on 9/11. It took me nearly 5 weeks to get my
> plane out of there and then it was with the PG County Mounties nad
> very special procedures to let me evacuate.
>
> I waited, applied, was prodded, fingerprinted, waited more, and was
> trained to get authorization to get in and out of there.
>
> I've done it once, it isn't worth the pain the the posterior.
>
> Yes, it is completely useless. That was a fine little airport
> as were the others. Small, often minority owned business there.
> All are either defuct or circling the drain. Millions of dollars
> to bail out the airlines in a predicament through their own greed
> and stupidity but despite congressional lip service, nothing to
> the Prince Georges County, Maryland airports that were destroyed
> as a result of a false sense of national security from a toally
> non-existant threat.

"Kevin Clarke" > wrote in message

>
> It is all so silly.

Welcome to the world I've lived in since 9/11.

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/blogs/TknoFlyer
http://sage1solutions.com/products
NEW! FlyteBalance v2.0 (W&B); FlyteLog v2.0 (Logbook)
____________________

Kevin Clarke wrote:
> I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
> stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this?

They are. Those people that are affected by it. But they are only a small
number, so even screaming they don't make a lot of noise.

This is how democracy works nowadays: Find something to scare people, then
suggest a solution which only effects few. Bonus points if those affected
are perceived as wealthy in the general public. Whether the solution
actually works or even contributes to solve the problem is not a factor.

It makes you think, if even a honest attempt to install democracy in third
world countries is really such a great idea...

aviation content: I will be travelling through Nevada/Arizona/Utah in
September (by Car/Campervan), and would like to do a sightseeing flight or
two over the spectacular scenery there (as a passenger). I guess there must
be quite a few businesses offering such flights. I know there is a number of
companies offering flights over Grand Canyon. Would anyone recommend a
particular business, that does such flights? Any particular flight? What
should I look for? What should I avoid?

regards,
Friedrich

Kevin Clarke wrote:
> I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
> stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this? I
> know there are some changes going into effect that look like they
> simplify things for the ADIZ overall, so that looks good, but these 3
> airports remain under lock and key.
>
> That story seems horrible Ron. Sorry about that.
>
> KC
>

They DID scream about it. Just that we are a relatively small voice
being drowned out by a big machine. IF they had banned all private cars
and trucks within the footprint of the ADIZ and required use of public
transportation, you'd never have heard the end of it.

And that would have only been a few million directly affected, but Im
sure the whole country would have been up in arms over it..literally.

Dave

On Aug 19, 10:32 pm, "Friedrich Ostertag"
> wrote:
> Kevin Clarke wrote:
> > I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
> > stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this?
>
> They are. Those people that are affected by it. But they are only a small
> number, so even screaming they don't make a lot of noise.
>
> This is how democracy works nowadays: Find something to scare people, then
> suggest a solution which only effects few. Bonus points if those affected
> are perceived as wealthy in the general public. Whether the solution
> actually works or even contributes to solve the problem is not a factor.
>
> It makes you think, if even a honest attempt to install democracy in third
> world countries is really such a great idea...
>
> aviation content: I will be travelling through Nevada/Arizona/Utah in
> September (by Car/Campervan), and would like to do a sightseeing flight or
> two over the spectacular scenery there (as a passenger). I guess there must
> be quite a few businesses offering such flights. I know there is a number of
> companies offering flights over Grand Canyon. Would anyone recommend a
> particular business, that does such flights? Any particular flight? What
> should I look for? What should I avoid?
>
> regards,
> Friedrich

If you are going to be in either Sedona, AZ or anywhere near Las
Vegas, NV you can book scenic flights to the GC from either town.

Sedona gets an extra vote simply because the scenery around it is
worth seeing from the air as well.

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55296514
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301883
http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301237

Three views of Sedona from the air...

Hope you enjoy your visit!

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ
www.pbase.com/flyingphotog

Kevin Clarke wrote:
> I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
> stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this? I
> know there are some changes going into effect that look like they
> simplify things for the ADIZ overall, so that looks good, but these 3
> airports remain under lock and key.
>
NOTHING IS BEING SIMPLFIED IN THE ADIZ.

It is actually getting more complex. The only thing that
has changed is that they (thankfully) decreased the overall
size.

Ron Natalie wrote:
> Kevin Clarke wrote:
>> I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
>> stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this? I
>> know there are some changes going into effect that look like they
>> simplify things for the ADIZ overall, so that looks good, but these 3
>> airports remain under lock and key.
>>
> NOTHING IS BEING SIMPLFIED IN THE ADIZ.
>
> It is actually getting more complex. The only thing that
> has changed is that they (thankfully) decreased the overall
> size.
ok, fair enough. The operations procedures are the same so in that sense
it is not being simplified. I chose my words carelessly.

KC

Kevin Clarke wrote:
> Ron Natalie wrote
>> Kevin Clarke wrote:
>>> I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
>>> stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this? I
>>> know there are some changes going into effect that look like they
>>> simplify things for the ADIZ overall, so that looks good, but these 3
>>> airports remain under lock and key.
>>>
>> NOTHING IS BEING SIMPLFIED IN THE ADIZ.
>>
>> It is actually getting more complex. The only thing that
>> has changed is that they (thankfully) decreased the overall
>> size.
> ok, fair enough. The operations procedures are the same so in that sense
> it is not being simplified. I chose my words carelessly.
>
They are NOT the same. An additional zone of confusion with a speed
limit was added. Not that the speed is going to bother many of the
small fry (nor the IFR's) but it is causing a lot of confusion already
from people who don't realize what it is exactly.

Kevin Clarke wrote:
> Not the plane, the airports.
>
> The Washington DC area airports KCGS, KVKX and W32 operate with
> additional security requirements as specified under SFAR 94. I was going
> through those requirements to understand what I have to do to land at
> CGS. I'm not really asking about that, I'll go through that journey and
> report back. It looks to be a real pain and seems to be another
> manifestation of pointless bureaucracy from the Department of Homemade
> Security.
>
> The real point of this post is how silly the additional security
> procedures are and how they are left in place to provide the appearance
> of additional security without actually delivering on that promise. I
> just drove my daughter down to school. She starts college in DC next
> week, a sure sign of my aging. Beyond the emotional trauma of that life
> milestone, I had to wonder what that flight would be like. So I did my
> flight planning only to come across this SFAR 94 restriction. I'd much
> rather fly the 320 or so miles than transit the NJ Turnpike ever again.
>
> But this time I had to drive. After going through the area on route 95
> just past College Park you really get an appreciation for how pointless
> it is to single out light aircraft in these restrictions. Nothing big is
> getting in or out of CGS, it is only 2600' of runway. So this SFAR is
> really directed at the small, light aircraft flown by the GA community.
> As I was driving along on the bottom of the ADIZ I couldn't help to
> think how silly it is, as giant semis hauling heaven knows what whizzed
> along without restriction hurtling within miles of downtown DC. It is
> all so silly.
>
> KC
The hoops you have to jump thru to get "vetted" for CGS and the others
are stupid, but not impossible. I did it in a day, first going to IAD
for a "records check" by the FSDO, then to DCA for fingerprinting, then
to CGS to view a ridiculous video that teaches nothing. Any way a week
later I got my PIN number and can go anytime now, although I haven't yet.

("Jay Beckman" wrote)
> Sedona gets an extra vote simply because the scenery around it is worth
> seeing from the air as well.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55296514
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301883
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301237
>
> Three views of Sedona from the air...


http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55302088
Blue dots?

I like this one:

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/71684986
"Taking Off From Sedona"


Paul-Mont

On Aug 20, 10:20 am, "Montblack" <Y4_NOT!...
> wrote:
> ("Jay Beckman" wrote)
>
> > Sedona gets an extra vote simply because the scenery around it is worth
> > seeing from the air as well.
>
> >http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55296514
> >http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301883
> >http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301237
>
> > Three views of Sedona from the air...
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55302088
> Blue dots?
>
> I like this one:
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/71684986
> "Taking Off From Sedona"
>
> Paul-Mont

I think the dots are simply meant as painted "grass"...designates the
corners of the ramp area.

They have similar (but much larger) areas between taxiways at Sky
Harbor in Phoenix. Much cheaper than trying to grow the real thing
out here in the desert.

Jay B

On Aug 19, 6:05 pm, Kevin Clarke > wrote:
> Not the plane, the airports.
>
> The Washington DC area airports KCGS, KVKX and W32 operate with
> additional security requirements as specified under SFAR 94. I was going
> through those requirements to understand what I have to do to land at
> CGS. I'm not really asking about that, I'll go through that journey and
> report back. It looks to be a real pain and seems to be another
> manifestation of pointless bureaucracy from the Department of Homemade
> Security.
>
> The real point of this post is how silly the additional security
> procedures are and how they are left in place to provide the appearance
> of additional security without actually delivering on that promise. I
> just drove my daughter down to school. She starts college in DC next
> week, a sure sign of my aging. Beyond the emotional trauma of that life
> milestone, I had to wonder what that flight would be like. So I did my
> flight planning only to come across this SFAR 94 restriction. I'd much
> rather fly the 320 or so miles than transit the NJ Turnpike ever again.
>
> But this time I had to drive. After going through the area on route 95
> just past College Park you really get an appreciation for how pointless
> it is to single out light aircraft in these restrictions. Nothing big is
> getting in or out of CGS, it is only 2600' of runway. So this SFAR is
> really directed at the small, light aircraft flown by the GA community.
> As I was driving along on the bottom of the ADIZ I couldn't help to
> think how silly it is, as giant semis hauling heaven knows what whizzed
> along without restriction hurtling within miles of downtown DC. It is
> all so silly.
>
> KC

Boy I sure am glad I live out west instead of in Vichy America (DC
area)...

Dean

Friedrich Ostertag wrote:
> Kevin Clarke wrote:
>
>>I was not a pilot on 9/11/01 so I wasn't in the community when this
>>stupidity went into effect. Why aren't people screaming about this?
..
>
> aviation content: I will be travelling through Nevada/Arizona/Utah in
> September (by Car/Campervan), and would like to do a sightseeing flight or
> two over the spectacular scenery there (as a passenger). I guess there must
> be quite a few businesses offering such flights. I know there is a number of
> companies offering flights over Grand Canyon. Would anyone recommend a
> particular business, that does such flights? Any particular flight? What
> should I look for? What should I avoid?
>
> regards,
> Friedrich
>
>
I did this a number of years ago. They all looked about the same to me.
When I bought my ride I mentioned I was a pilot and would like the
right seat if W&B allowed. I was given the right seat and it was great.
The pilot was the only other person on the flight who spoke english so
there wasn't much chit-chat (at least not any I could understand).

Margy

Jay Beckman wrote:
> If you are going to be in either Sedona, AZ or anywhere near Las
> Vegas, NV you can book scenic flights to the GC from either town.
>
> Sedona gets an extra vote simply because the scenery around it is
> worth seeing from the air as well.
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55296514
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301883
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/image/55301237
>
> Three views of Sedona from the air...

> Hope you enjoy your visit!

awesome pictures! Probably our trip won't take us as fas south as sedona,
but I will keep it in mind. I intend to spend some time around Escalante and
Capitol Reef NP and also Canyonlands NP.

thanks,
Friedrich