CBS News Piece

Okay, I just watched the story that seems to have everyone up in arms, and I
have to say, it was as ill-conceived and poorly thought out as many people
feared. A couple of quick points:

I actually found it somewhat humorous when the story mentioned the Florida
kid who stole an airplane and crashed it into a Tampa skyscraper. The intent
may have been to startle us with the destructive potential of GA aircraft,
but the accompanying picture was a hilarious counterpoint--a shot of a
massive skyscraper with just a tiny bit of damage, hardly even noticable
unless you were looking for it. The narrator, of course, missed the irony.

I also didn't feel that the airport manager they interviewed was very
helpful, but let's all keep in mind that he may have been answering
extremely leading questions, and who knows how much of what he said was
edited out.

Finally, the breathless speculation by the former NTSB official as to what
might happen if a small airplane was loaded with explosives was simply
irresponsible and willfully ignorant. He surely knows that September 11th
was the culmination of DECADES of planning and learning by terrorists. They
certainly considered every possibility for carrying out their plans,
carefully studied past terrorist attacks, and looked with extreme care at
which option had the best chance of working. And guess what? They didn't
choose small airplanes.

"Philip Sondericker" wrote in message
...
Okay, I just watched the story that seems to have everyone up in arms, and
I
have to say, it was as ill-conceived and poorly thought out as many people
feared. A couple of quick points:

I actually found it somewhat humorous when the story mentioned the Florida
kid who stole an airplane and crashed it into a Tampa skyscraper. The
intent
may have been to startle us with the destructive potential of GA aircraft,
but the accompanying picture was a hilarious counterpoint--a shot of a
massive skyscraper with just a tiny bit of damage, hardly even noticable
unless you were looking for it. The narrator, of course, missed the irony.

I also didn't feel that the airport manager they interviewed was very
helpful, but let's all keep in mind that he may have been answering
extremely leading questions, and who knows how much of what he said was
edited out.

Finally, the breathless speculation by the former NTSB official as to what
might happen if a small airplane was loaded with explosives was simply
irresponsible and willfully ignorant.

After hearing him talk I understand why he is an EX NTSB official.

Philip Sondericker wrote in message ...
Okay, I just watched the story that seems to have everyone up in arms, and I
have to say, it was as ill-conceived and poorly thought out as many people
feared.

Yes, I'm sure the airport manager was edited.

It's a pity that network news has degenerated into this kind of
quickie crap. 40,000 people killed each year on US highways...
that's not news. The possibility of using a small plane to kill
dozens... that is.

"Ohmigod passengers and baggage aren't screened!" They forget
that small airplanes are like small cars... passengers usually are
your friends. Do car drivers x-ray their relatives' luggage?

Just wait. Next they'll figure out that there are zillions of radio
controlled airplanes (!!) out there in the hands of teenagers, which
could be "packed with explosives". Yep, the RC danger is real,
folks.

Don't forget almanacs!

--
Roger Long

Kevin Darling wrote in message
om...
Philip Sondericker wrote in message
...
Okay, I just watched the story that seems to have everyone up in arms,
and I
have to say, it was as ill-conceived and poorly thought out as many
people
feared.

Yes, I'm sure the airport manager was edited.

It's a pity that network news has degenerated into this kind of
quickie crap. 40,000 people killed each year on US highways...
that's not news. The possibility of using a small plane to kill
dozens... that is.

"Ohmigod passengers and baggage aren't screened!" They forget
that small airplanes are like small cars... passengers usually are
your friends. Do car drivers x-ray their relatives' luggage?

Just wait. Next they'll figure out that there are zillions of radio
controlled airplanes (!!) out there in the hands of teenagers, which
could be "packed with explosives". Yep, the RC danger is real,
folks.

"Kevin Darling" wrote in message
om...
Philip Sondericker wrote in message
...
Okay, I just watched the story that seems to have everyone up in arms,
and I
have to say, it was as ill-conceived and poorly thought out as many
people
feared.

Yes, I'm sure the airport manager was edited.

It's a pity that network news has degenerated into this kind of
quickie crap. 40,000 people killed each year on US highways...
that's not news. The possibility of using a small plane to kill
dozens... that is.

"Ohmigod passengers and baggage aren't screened!" They forget
that small airplanes are like small cars... passengers usually are
your friends. Do car drivers x-ray their relatives' luggage?

Just wait. Next they'll figure out that there are zillions of radio
controlled airplanes (!!) out there in the hands of teenagers, which
could be "packed with explosives". Yep, the RC danger is real,
folks.

Actually RC planes have been grounded at certain places and times due to
terrorist fears. I am sure Osama got a heck of a good laugh over that one.

When I get into my airplane, I always screen myself by asking the two
important questions - Has your luggage been in your possession at all
times? Has anyone given you anything or asked you to carry on or check
any items for them? Then on random days I take my shoes off.
--
Gene Seibel
Hangar 131 - http://pad39a.com/gene/plane.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.






(Kevin Darling) wrote in message . com...
Philip Sondericker wrote in message ...
Okay, I just watched the story that seems to have everyone up in arms, and I
have to say, it was as ill-conceived and poorly thought out as many people
feared.

Yes, I'm sure the airport manager was edited.

It's a pity that network news has degenerated into this kind of
quickie crap. 40,000 people killed each year on US highways...
that's not news. The possibility of using a small plane to kill
dozens... that is.

"Ohmigod passengers and baggage aren't screened!" They forget
that small airplanes are like small cars... passengers usually are
your friends. Do car drivers x-ray their relatives' luggage?

Just wait. Next they'll figure out that there are zillions of radio
controlled airplanes (!!) out there in the hands of teenagers, which
could be "packed with explosives". Yep, the RC danger is real,
folks.

Gene Seibel ) wrote:

When I get into my airplane, I always screen myself by asking the two
important questions - Has your luggage been in your possession at all
times? Has anyone given you anything or asked you to carry on or check
any items for them? Then on random days I take my shoes off.

LOL! What about occasionally performing a random orifice inspection?


--
Peter












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When I get into my airplane, I always screen myself by asking the two
important questions - Has your luggage been in your possession at all
times? Has anyone given you anything or asked you to carry on or check
any items for them? Then on random days I take my shoes off.
--
Gene Seibel

This is great! My father in law is very anxious to go flying with me as
soon as I get the PPL (shortly is the plan :-) ). We often have
discussions in the areas of politics - I am a libertarian sort of guy,
and he thinks the government can do no wrong. When I do the pax briefing
about safety & emergency procedures i am going to ask him to remove his
shoes - it's a new regulation! I'm laughing already.

Kevin Darling wrote:

Just wait. Next they'll figure out that there are zillions of radio
controlled airplanes (!!) out there in the hands of teenagers, which
could be "packed with explosives". Yep, the RC danger is real,
folks.

They already eliminated amateur rocketry.

George Patterson
Great discoveries are not announced with "Eureka!". What's usually said is
"Hummmmm... That's interesting...."

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...


Kevin Darling wrote:

Just wait. Next they'll figure out that there are zillions of radio
controlled airplanes (!!) out there in the hands of teenagers, which
could be "packed with explosives". Yep, the RC danger is real,
folks.

They already eliminated amateur rocketry.

My rocketing buddy says:

Nope, not at all! The reality is that Rocketry would be an incredibly
expensive, inaccurate and clumsy way of doing anything terrorist like.
Anyway, "model" rockets have no new restrictions. Shipping and storing
propellant that weights more than 62.5 grams has some additional
bureaucratic restrictions but (as my pictures on my office prove) is still
very, very common and able to be done.

The "incredibly expensive, inaccurate and clumsy" part should sound
familiar.

Or did you means amateur rocketry of the Saturn V class?

-- David Brooks