Oh groan. An idiot with an airplane..

AVweb's account of this incident is funny: people shouting "To the basement!
To the basement!" F-15 fighters being launched. Officers shouting to women
to take off their shoes so they can run faster. People screaming "One minute
to impact!"

All of this for an airplane with a transponder problem -- never mind that
ATC knew all along who it was and the plane never lost radio contact. Gives
you something to think about the next time these chickens start referring to
terrorists as 'cowards.'

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...
AVweb's account of this incident is funny: people shouting "To the
basement!
To the basement!" F-15 fighters being launched. Officers shouting to women
to take off their shoes so they can run faster. People screaming "One
minute
to impact!"

All of this for an airplane with a transponder problem -- never mind that
ATC knew all along who it was and the plane never lost radio contact.
Gives
you something to think about the next time these chickens start referring
to
terrorists as 'cowards.'

In fact, if I was the DNC, I would showing video of this over and over, with
commentary like "If this is how they react to the governor of Kentucky, how
much good will they be when al-Qaeda attacks?" and generally calling into
question the manhood of the Republican party. It could mean the end of the
GOP as we know it.

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...
AVweb's account of this incident is funny: people shouting "To the
basement!
To the basement!" F-15 fighters being launched. Officers shouting to women
to take off their shoes so they can run faster. People screaming "One
minute
to impact!"

All of this for an airplane with a transponder problem -- never mind that
ATC knew all along who it was and the plane never lost radio contact.
Gives
you something to think about the next time these chickens start referring
to
terrorists as 'cowards.'

????

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
...

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...
AVweb's account of this incident is funny: people shouting "To the
basement!
To the basement!" F-15 fighters being launched. Officers shouting to
women
to take off their shoes so they can run faster. People screaming "One
minute
to impact!"

All of this for an airplane with a transponder problem -- never mind
that
ATC knew all along who it was and the plane never lost radio contact.
Gives
you something to think about the next time these chickens start
referring
to
terrorists as 'cowards.'

????

Well, OK, to be fair -- this panic was probably started by one guy, an FAA
controller, who used very poor judgment and blew the whistle, calling the
security folks and announcing that an airplane was within the airspace, with
"one minute to impact." After that, everything that happened was just on
automatic.

"C J Campbell" wrote in message
...

????

Well, OK, to be fair -- this panic was probably started by one guy, an FAA
controller, who used very poor judgment and blew the whistle, calling the
security folks and announcing that an airplane was within the airspace,
with
"one minute to impact." After that, everything that happened was just on
automatic.


Oddly enough, much of the stock market crash in October, 1987 was for the
same reason (a slight adjustment that kicked a lot of automatic systems to
issue _sell_ orders).

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 19:42:37 -0700, "C J Campbell"
wrote:



Well, OK, to be fair -- this panic was probably started by one guy, an FAA
controller, who used very poor judgment and blew the whistle, calling the
security folks and announcing that an airplane was within the airspace, with
"one minute to impact." After that, everything that happened was just on
automatic.


I don't know I'd assign "purely bad judgement" to a controller in a
situation we know very little about. I'd tend to think that he has a
protocol to follow and did so regardless of his personal opinions.
Saying this same individual started the "one minute to impact" frenzey
is a little rediculous, believing it is utterly absurd.

I'd like to hear the facts on this one. I'm hoping somehow it ends up
helping GA. Since a government official now is the culprit maybe some
momentum can be had to loosen up a bit. (I know I'm dreaming, but
stranger things have happened.)

z

"zatatime" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 19:42:37 -0700, "C J Campbell"
wrote:



Well, OK, to be fair -- this panic was probably started by one guy, an
FAA
controller, who used very poor judgment and blew the whistle, calling the
security folks and announcing that an airplane was within the airspace,
with
"one minute to impact." After that, everything that happened was just on
automatic.


I don't know I'd assign "purely bad judgement" to a controller in a
situation we know very little about. I'd tend to think that he has a
protocol to follow and did so regardless of his personal opinions.
Saying this same individual started the "one minute to impact" frenzey
is a little rediculous, believing it is utterly absurd.

I'd like to hear the facts on this one. I'm hoping somehow it ends up
helping GA. Since a government official now is the culprit maybe some
momentum can be had to loosen up a bit. (I know I'm dreaming, but
stranger things have happened.)


It would have helped GA more if the two F-15s that were dispatched to
intercept the plane had shot Governor Fletcher down. It is horrible to say
it, but it is true. The resulting political fallout might have finally
prompted some people to re-evaluate these security procedures. From what I
have read about Governor Fletcher, he appears to be a fine Governor.
Luckily, he was unhurt, no thanks to the panicky state of affairs that
pervades Homeland Security these days.

The Governor's office has issued a press release commenting on the incident:

KSP Pilots Followed Directives from Air Traffic Controllers

Press Release Date: June 09, 2004
Contact: Doug Hogan
Jeannie Lausche
Jason Keller
502-564-2611


Update from the Office of the Governor

Frankfort, KY: A Kentucky State Police plane carrying Governor Ernie
Fletcher to Washington, D.C. experienced equipment problems causing it to
encounter restricted airspace late this afternoon. Tonight, Kentucky State
Police say the plane's pilots followed all directives and arrival procedures
directed to them by FAA air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport.

Fortunately, the plane landed safely at Reagan National Airport. The source
of the problem was the transponder which malfunctioned after take-off from
Northern Kentucky International Airport. The equipment failure meant the
plane could not be identified or tracked.

Chief of Staff Daniel Groves said "we are certainly thankful that Governor
Fletcher and the crew landed safely in Washington," Groves continued "the
pilots were in constant communication with air traffic control and the plane
was cleared to land. It is uncertain where the miscommunication occurred
that led to this unfortunate incident; however, it appears the pilots
properly communicated with all of the appropriate agencies and individuals
that protocol in such circumstances require."

Those on board the 1972 Beechcraft King Air 200 included the Governor, two
pilots and a Kentucky State Police Trooper assigned to security.

From Aero-News email newsletter this morning:

Now, Please... Don't Shoot Down The Governor
FAA: Plane Was On Course

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher's staff says his aircraft was
on course and in touch with controllers when it apparently prompted
the evacuation of the US Capitol and Supreme Court Wednesday. It
looks for all the world like someone at the FAA didn't communicate
the governor's clearance to security officials.

"You have one minute to impact."

That was the warning blared on loudspeakers at the heart of US
government Wednesday as officials quickly evacuated both lawmakers
and those who'd gathered to pay their respects to former President
Ronald Reagan.

The momentarily unidentified aircraft turned out to be a 32-year
old King Air 200 (file photo of type, below) carrying Kentucky
Governor Ernie Fletcher and his party to the Reagan National
Airport so they could attend Wednesday's services for President
Reagan, who died Saturday at the age of 93.

Daniel Groves, Fletcher's chief of staff, told reporters after
the incident that the Kentucky State Police aircraft's transponder
stopped working shortly after take-off from Greater
Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Groves and
Fletcher's communications director, Doug Hogan, said even though
the flight crew stayed in touch with controllers -- even though it
had permission to penetrate the Washington (DC) ADIZ -- they didn't
pass the word along.

"It would appear the air traffic controllers did not notify any
of the other agencies about the situation," Hogan said.

Two F-15 fighters scrambled to meet the governor's airplane.
Fletcher said he didn't know anything about the situation until
well after he landed.

"He did not sense any danger or any concern because they were in
full control of the airplane," Groves said.

The Capitol reopened about 90-minutes before the motorcade
carrying President Reagan's body arrived for the beginning of his
state funeral.
FMI: www.faa.gov

For the WHOLE story, go to
http://www.aero-news.net/news/commbu...8-d1d945e48429

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! www.vivabush.org

"Cecil Chapman" wrote in message
. com...
Argh! I was in my service van when I heard a special news announcement.
Here comes the 'chicken little' stories from the press :-(

Yeah...it's all the media's fault that ATC and "an idiot" flew an airplane
into restricted airspace.

-c

"Marco Leon" mleon(at)optonline.net wrote in message
...
According to some news reports, it was carrying an official attending the
funeral services. The gov't may play down the incident but of course that
won't stop the media...

The government--the one who evacuated everything--may "play it down" but the
media will be at fault for reporting it, huh?

-c