History of the BFR?

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of hours
in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an enema.

To take that into account would fail to take into account those who fly incorrectly every day, for which a BFR offers an opportunity to show the pilot their error before it becomes even more ingrained.

Jose
--
for Email, make the obvious change in the address

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:tC_fd.19613$R05.19233@attbi_s53...
So, checkriding once every two years wasn't a big concern. Except,
again, that it was a needless expense for those who flew a lot. In fact,
our nickname for "BFR" was "Big F**king Ripoff."

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of hours
in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an enema.

She needs one that bad?

I don't like to take them, but I figure they can't hurt. Even pilots
who fly a lot can sometimes pick up bad habits that a BFR might catch.
We who read these groups are constantly being reminded of things to
watch out for, but there are thousands out there who have little
contact with other pilots, instructors, or information of any kind
between their BFR's. It would be difficult to quantify how "isolated"
a pilot is.
--
Gene Seibel
Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

"Don Tuite" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 04:26:47 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

GI Bill?

Probably not, but that was the best thing ever to happen to general
aviation.
snip
Don

No lie. The GI bill was the ONLY reason the 200HP versions of the Cessna
Cardinal RG, Piper Arrow, and Beech Sierra were ever built. To satisfy the
training requirements of the GI bill.

Thousands were sold on that basis, mostly to unsuspecting leaseback owners.

However, very few of the GI bill students ever became professional pilots.
Most got their ratings and already had a "good" job. Look at the poor
suckers who went into the airlines for a "career." Have you EVER seen a
happy airline pilot?

Karl

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:tC_fd.19613$R05.19233@attbi_s53...

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of
hours in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an
enema.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


That is EXACTLY the attitude that points out your need for a BFR, at
MINIMUM. I recall so many dead pilots that remind me of you.
You just don't like spending the money.

Karl

"kage" wrote

However, very few of the GI bill students ever became professional
pilots. Most got their ratings and already had a "good" job. Look at
the poor suckers who went into the airlines for a "career." Have you
EVER seen a happy airline pilot?

YES!!! I was a VERY happy airline pilot at Pan American Airways.
Why would I not have been? A salary better than most of my college
classmates, worked only 12 days/month to earn it, travel free all
over the world and in the better days, a bunch of lovely young ladies
to party with. As a lifestyle, it sure beat anything that my neighbors
were doing.

Bob Moore
ATP B-707 B-727
PanAm (retired)

"Jay Honeck" wrote
Oh well. I, too, know pilots who hop in their plane every sixth month, and
fly off to Timbuktu without a second thought. It's good to have CFIs
keeping a closer eye on those folks, I guess...

But are the CFI's actually keeping an eye on them?

The truth is, there are a lot of people out there who couldn't pass a
private checkride but are flying anyway. That's really pretty scary.
The private PTS is a VERY minimum standard. It's kept minimal so it
doesn't take forever before a pilot can be cut loose - to reduce costs
and frustration. We know a newly minted pilots is somewhat dangerous,
but it's assumed that he will keep developing his skills as he flies
and become safer.

In reality this rarely happens. In my experience, most pilots
backslide because they simply don't fly enough. There is simply no
way you're going to progress on 26 hours a year, and that's all the
average private airplane flies. The average private pilot flies less.

If the BFR really did what it's supposed to - grounded those pilots
who can no longer meet minimum standards until they COULD meet minimum
standards - I suspect there would be a massive reduction in accidents
per hour flown. However, it would also ground most private pilots,
and GA as an industry just can't afford that.

Michael

YES!!! I was a VERY happy airline pilot at Pan American Airways.
Why would I not have been? A salary better than most of my college
classmates, worked only 12 days/month to earn it, travel free all
over the world and in the better days, a bunch of lovely young ladies
to party with. As a lifestyle, it sure beat anything that my neighbors
were doing.

With a description like that, is it any wonder that those jobs -- and Pan Am
itself -- are only a distant memory?

I know you are aware that you were incredibly lucky to fly in the times you
did, because nowadays -- in an era where everyone can (and must be able to)
afford to fly commercially -- that job description would never happen.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

You looked a bit constipated in the AOPA picture.

Did you see the angle my legs were at? That wasn't a smile -- it was a
grimace!

Mike Fizer had me squat down a bit, so that I wouldn't tower over Mary too
much. After about 20 minutes, my legs were cramping up pretty good...

Meanwhile, Mary was relaxing in that big leather arm chair, wondering what I
was moaning and groaning about...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

That is EXACTLY the attitude that points out your need for a BFR, at
MINIMUM. I recall so many dead pilots that remind me of you.
You just don't like spending the money.

Actually, I ALWAYS have a great time on my BFRs, enjoy them thoroughly, and
always learn a thing or three while I'm at it. You have obviously taken my
quote out of context.

Shoot, I'm always looking for new ways to stretch my skills, and -- although
I don't like spending money -- I don't see BFRs as anything but good.

Which is different than acknowledging the fact that they are "unnecessary"
for people like Mary and me who fly twice a week, into all sorts of
airspace.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

There is simply no
way you're going to progress on 26 hours a year, and that's all the
average private airplane flies. The average private pilot flies less.

Wow -- where did you get that statistic?

That is shockingly low.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"