"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:rwz9e.4513$c24.1150@attbi_s72...
This is totally and categorically false. Outside of Alaska, private
airplanes are not "necessary" for transportation in America at all.

Inside Alaska, private airplanes are not "necessary". However, they are
highly useful, and the same benefits they provide in Alaska, they provide
elsewhere. For example, here in the Pacific Northwest, I can either spend a
couple of hours sitting in line for a ferry, and spend another couple of
hours riding that ferry, or I can hop in my airplane and make the trip in
under an hour. That's to get somewhere that is reasonably well developed.
For folks who live in remote areas (here in the West, there are plenty of
remote areas left), airplanes often make the difference between spending a
day getting somewhere, and an hour or two.

If private airplanes are "necessary" in Alaska, then they are "necessary"
within the contiguous 48. If they aren't "necessary" here, then you are
using a definition of "necessary" that precludes private airplanes being
"necessary" in Alaska.

Either way, your statement is "totally and categorically false".

Which is sad, I might add. It would help grow GA if it were otherwise,
but too many people look at piloting as "too hard" (for a zillion reasons)
to achieve.

What does "too hard" have to do with "necessary"? Bush flying is pretty
damn hard, and it's "too hard" for most who call themselves pilots. But in
many cases it's necessary, and is done.

All these facts combined reduce private airplanes to "expensive toys"
in Europe, and they are viewed accordingly

Same here in America, but to a far lesser degree. Most people here think
of owning an airplane as being far more extravagant than boat ownership
(for example), even though the majority of ocean (or even Great Lake)
going craft cost far more than the average used entry level airplane.

Most boats in the US never see salt water, or even something like any of the
Great Lakes. Your comparison is silly. I don't know a single person who
would think of owning an airplane as more extravagant than owning a yacht
suitable for *oceanic* travel (which is a lot different from boat ownership
in general).

On the other hand, boat ownership in general can be achieved with far fewer
resources, with respect to time, money, and personal challenge, than can
airplane ownership in general. In that respect, yes...most people here
think of owning an airplane as more extravagant, and IT IS.

We here in the US do so many ridiculous things, that cost us so much in
terms of economy, it's absurd for any of us to make an unfounded claim that
the French are a) taxing aviation into extinction, and b) that it's somehow
a "dunderheaded" thing to do.

If you're willing to admit to your own "dunderheadedness" with respect to
all the economically harmful policies our government imposes, then perhaps
your insult to the French isn't offensive. But somehow, I don't think
you're prepared to do that.

Pete