Do we, as a group, just suck?

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 05:06:31 GMT, "Hilton"
wrote in . net::

I can understand pilots clipping the edge of a 'hot' area, or flying through
an area that just became 'hot', and things like that. But buzzing the Santa
Cruz beach (the wheel reportedly nearly hit a young boy), having to evacuted
the DC buildings several times, flying near Pad 39B on launch day... I just
don't get it.

It's an error to equate those two incidents. Buzzing is a prohibited
activity willfully and intentionally committed by the irresponsible
among our ranks. Airmen who commit such wanton acts should be
permanently bared from obtaining an airmans certificate.

The evacuations of bureaucrats and politicians is an unreasonable
response to a nonexistent threat foisted on them by incompetent
security bureaucrats who should be made to bear the consequences of
their inept policies; airmen are the victims of these uselessly
oppressive policies, not the perpetrators.

[...]

It just frustrates me that most of us try hard to do the right thing (e.g.
noise abatement), then others make the news.


If the profit motive underling yellow journalism* were somehow
removed, it would be reasonable to expect balanced news coverage. But
in a capitalistic society money wins over idealism.


* http://www.humboldt.edu/~jcb10/yellow.html

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 12:03:10 +0200, Thomas Borchert
wrote in
::

Larry,

If truth and rational thought no longer mean anything in this world,
what does that say about our sanity?


Hey, when did they last? During the inquisition? Hardly.


Now you're confusing metaphysics and rational thought; the two are
mutually exclusive.

thread creep alert

But I would agree with you that rationalism and scepticism seem to be
on the retreat.

I was beginning to think, that my cynicism was just a sign of my newly
acquired senior citizen status. Thanks for the reality check.

Sometimes, when looking at courts wanting to post the
ten commandments in their buildings or states demanding teaching
evolution as a possibility only along with "creationism", it sure seems
as if Enlightenment never happened.

Enlightenment is not a natural human state. It is only achieved as a
result of acquiring sufficient knowledge and understanding. If the
institutions providing those requites fail at their task, we revert to
being governed by superstition and ignorance. Presently, it seems the
pendulum is swinging toward devolution.

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 08:45:58 -0700, "John Larson" None ... wrote in
::

The problem essentially is that we have this crazy
sense of fair play the won't allow us to protect our consummate rights by
employing racial profiling (it works) and when appropriate, nuking those
countries that won't play nice.

If you really think that North Korea and the Arab states wouldn't use
nuclear weapons on us, if give the chance, you live in a fantasy land.

So by your reasoning, our noble nation should abandon its ideals and
permit evil to corrupt its course?

Granite wrote:

For those
that 'get it', its up to you to help and mentor the weaker GA pilots, to set
the right example.

The "weaker GA pilots" . . . those would be the ones holding the
"Darwin Was Right" flags?

John Larson wrote:

The problem lies in the fact that what we do is a privilege

so is driving a car by the way (though few people realize that)

--Sylvain

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 19:21:30 -0700, Sylvain wrote in
::

and the journalists (hey, here is an idea, trying to convert
more journalists to flying, a bit like the Young Eagles program :-)

Now that isn't a bad idea, but it'll have to be done by airmen who
have been briefed on how to provide journalists with an experience
that demonstrates the competence and professionalism of private flight
without giving them ammunition for their next anti-GA story.



The AOPA has created a program, and I can't for the life of me remember the
name of it, that assignes a pilot at airports to be a proponant for GA at
that airport.

The same sort of program for the media would be great. Reporters are lazy
they go to the first person that will make a decent sound bite. If the AOPA
recruited and trained a number of people to be that person in each city and
then regularly notify the press that this source was out there they would
use it.

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 14:46:08 -0500, "Gig 601XL Builder"
wr.giacona@coxDOTnet wrote in OxRFe.323$_t.220@okepread01::


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 19:21:30 -0700, Sylvain wrote in
::

and the journalists (hey, here is an idea, trying to convert
more journalists to flying, a bit like the Young Eagles program :-)

Now that isn't a bad idea, but it'll have to be done by airmen who
have been briefed on how to provide journalists with an experience
that demonstrates the competence and professionalism of private flight
without giving them ammunition for their next anti-GA story.


The AOPA has created a program, and I can't for the life of me remember the
name of it, that assignes a pilot at airports to be a proponant for GA at
that airport.

Airport Watch? I believe Mr. Hoenek (who participates in the
discussions in this newsgroup) is one such AOPA sanctioned person.

The same sort of program for the media would be great. Reporters are lazy
they go to the first person that will make a decent sound bite. If the AOPA
recruited and trained a number of people to be that person in each city and
then regularly notify the press that this source was out there they would
use it.


That seems to be a terrific suggestion for enlightening the press. I
think you're right about journalists using what they know to be
available. I just don't know how all of them might be notified;
perhaps there is a national roster of members available. The other
issue is the costs involved in preparing the Airport Watch people, and
the expense of creating and mailing the program announcement letters
to the journalists, not to mention the costs involved in actually
conducting the flights.

Perhaps it would be easy for Mr. Hoenek to inquire of the AOPA as to
the feasibility of such a program.

What do you think would be the most advantageous point of view for
such a program to present to the journalists? Would it emphasize the
rigors of training and airman certification, the utility of aerial
operations in circumventing ever increasing ground commuter
congestion, the role of the close knit community of pilots in
providing airport security surveillance, ...?

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

What do you think would be the most advantageous point of view for
such a program to present to the journalists? Would it emphasize the
rigors of training and airman certification, the utility of aerial
operations in circumventing ever increasing ground commuter
congestion, the role of the close knit community of pilots in
providing airport security surveillance, ...?



Each of those could be covered. The best way to get a story out of the TV
news media is do ALL the work for them. Pre package the story and send it to
them. The large markets won't air them but the small markets gobble them up.
Just leave a couple of spots for the local talent to insert some local
flavor. Actually this would be a perfect time to introduce the local media
to the local "AOPA Media Watch" member.

The Media Watch member should also introduce himself to the local press on a
regular basis. Keep in mind turn over is rather high in local media
especially the smaller markets. His most important job though would be to
contact them when ever something bad happens locally or when something
REALLY bad happens nationally.

As far as cost AOPA already has some very good PR people on staff. And the
way things are going this type of activity that is exactly what I pay my
dues for.

Thomas Borchert wrote:
JohnH,

The whole country seems to be slipping back into the dark ages; it really is
bewildering. I would have thought most of the barbaric mindset had died off
by now.


Well, the decline of the Roman empire comes to mind. And the next superpower is
already on the horizon: China.

I wouldn't underestimate China, but I wouldn't overestimate it, either.
I'd put the odds at 1-3 that they undergo a (more or less) violent
revolution of some kind in the next 25 years. It all depends on whether
the Party and the Army can figure out a peaceful way to transition
towards a more liberal form of government. So far they've done quite
well, but the easy part is behind them. The rural backwaters where a
majority of the population still lives are desperately poor and largely
corrupt. The people there hear about the wealth in Shanghai, Beijing,
and Guangzhou and figure they're getting screwed. This is not a stable
equilibrium.

Off-Topically,
-cwk.

Gig 601XL Builder wrote:


As far as cost AOPA already has some very good PR people on staff. And the
way things are going this type of activity that is exactly what I pay my
dues for.


doing PR is indeed a full time and high skill job; what I had in
mind was more of an informal grass-root thing, sort of, adopt
your local journalist, take him/her for a ride/free lesson,
keep in touch, etc.

--Sylvain