On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 21:00:18 -0400, vincent p. norris wrote:

I wasn't objecting to obtaining weather maps, etc., via the internet.
was objecting to depending on a computer to plan the route and do the
navigating for you.

Just because you use software does not mean you let it plan your routes
for you. I use mine and select my route, picking my stops based on fuel
prices that would take me forever if I called each airport up and asked
them what they charge.

But that's entirely irrelevant to the topic of this thread. You' keep
changing the subject.

Guilty as charged, but I changed it based on responses from others.

No, it was painless long before software, or even personal computers,
came into existence.

OK, it's painless, but it takes longer. Unlike you I don't enjoy spending
half a day planning a 1,000 nm cross country. I want to get it planned as
fast as I can so I can do other things. With software I can plan my route
based on the same thing I'd do with paper charts. I select my route based
on obstructions/terrain, stops for fuel/facilities/food, and scenic things
to look at. Just because I use a computer to do it does not remove me
from the planning stages. I still do exactly the same thing except it's
in front of me at once, not spread across a room.

You mentioned not calling each FSS for a brief, how in the world do you
avoid TFR's then? If you call only your local FSS they will not tell you
of a TFR that's out of their region. They won't tell you of notams
outside their region. How can you avoid oncoming weather if you don't
call other FSS's? What your local FSS gives you is not the complete
picture, and yes I know it changes and will be different by the time you
get there, but it's handy to know if things are getting better or worse
before you go.

I suppose you fly a Cub and that's why you don't call, it makes sense,
you'll take too long to get there and any brief you got before would be
useless anyhow, but some of us fly faster planes and in a couple hours can
travel across states and so a call to another FSS is required if you want
to be aware of all pertinent information regarding your route of flight.
Don't forget, if you don't get a briefing you're violating FAR's.

§91.103 Preflight action.

Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar
with all available information concerning that flight. This information
must include --

You can read the rest, but the catchall phrase is all information
concerning that flight. So, how can you not violate a FAR by refusing to
call other FSS's for additional information that your local FSS can't
supply? If you were to fly to New York, how would you avoid the
Presidential TFR's if you won't call a different FSS? I've tried to get
that information from my local FSS and they don't give it out and tell me
to call the other FSS. My airport is shortening it's runway, if you don't
call our FSS and get that info you could violate a FAR because runway
length is a mandatory item. So, if your FSS won't give it to you, and you
won't call mine, how can you make the flight legally?

This is how I got off topic, my software does all that for me, that's why
it's useful. Then when I check with the FSS I already know what I should
be told and can quiz them. I can't quiz the computer so that's another
reason I call.

As I said before, pilots should take advantage of any technology they can
have access to so that they avoid trouble. Those who can and refuse I
don't understand. I have friends who wouldn't know a computer if it bit
them in the ass, and they also fly a plane with no radio and won't call
FSS either. I don't believe that's being responsible, and I believe it's
a violation of the FAR's to boot.

Yes, all this can be done the old way, I think it's painful to call many
FSS's and get many briefings, and spend hours pouring over a chart and
calling each airport near my intended fuel stops to check for fuel
pricing. I'd rather be flying and by using software I can get the big
picture quickly. My apprehension about long cross countries will never go
away because I know pilots who've blundered into TFR's that their local
FSS didn't advise them of, and things change with TFR's. I don't
understand how you can be so calm about flying a big cross country based
on what can happen if you don't call the local FSS to that area for TFR's
and such. Flying it is easy, but the risk of a TFR violation is greatly
increased by not doing a very complete briefing, one that would take you
hours upon hours if you do it the old way.

In case you haven't noticed, I resent how our airspace is managed now, I
like the way I used to fly. There is such freedom in just going to the
airport and hopping in the plane and droning along. It's more stressful
now that we have all these silly TFR's and rules of loitering. How am I
supposed to know where a stadium is that's 500 miles away? How can I
avoid what I don't know to avoid? Sure, I can fly higher than 3K, but
suppose I see something I want to look at, how do I know if I can?

Software helps me find those damn things faster than I could using any
other means. That my friend is why I believe it's irresponsible to not
use every tool at your disposal. It's much too easy to become familiar
with your route now a days to not do so, and I don't want to be the guy
who violates a TFR that gets GA grounded forever. With the govt. in
charge now I wouldn't put it past them to ground GA if too many
presidential TFR's get busted.