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Few years ago I fired up, and taxied a bit...blowing dust over a professional plane washer and his now not-clean aircraft.
I had seen him, the consequences of my actions didn't connect. He was nice, but called me out on it. I saw my error and apologized, and years later still am more careful. I remain thankful he called me out. I'm a bit of a better pilot and person for it. The trick is to do what needs to be said without being angry or emotionally judgmental. Not easy to do. |
This nice forum lets us prepare for even this kind of action
Unprepared for this kind of situation I took the more reactive response and I have never forgotten that my stupidity was far greater than the power pivoting pilot that prop wash blasted my plane and passengers. The risk in triggering a reaction that can be life altering is great. I've never forgotten the event and Mexican police coming out across the ramp as I powered up and departed for the US. Never act like a schoolboy in such situations think ahead and just come to VansAirforce and relate the experience and how maturely you handled it.
Bob Axsom |
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I was lucky enough to get checked out in a T-34B with barely 100 hours of PIC time. My club had a civilianized Navy Mentor that they were really looking for people to fly so that it would pay its way (this was 25 years ago). Being young and dumb, I did a snappy turn on parking at the pump at a small airfield one day. Unfortunately, there was a beaver with its cowl off nearby, and my prop wash came close to blowing some of the cowling across the ramp. It didn't actually do any damage. But, the guy with his head buried behing that big round motor came unglued and berated me unmercifully. There was no apologizing. He would not let me speak. He just kept yelling at me until I finally just gave up and walked away. I was so bothered by it, I went back to the club and talked with one of the CFIs about it at length. I learned something that day. It wasn't an easy lesson. |
Don't hit!
Nowadays, with everyone having a camera and a lawyer in his/her back pocket, it just doesn't pay to hit anyone. Best to pre plan what you might do in circumstances like that one - and the result of being arrested. Doesn't matter why or who threw the first punch, the officer is may arrest both of you. Not worth it. Gotta agree with Paul though that an attempt at educating the errant pilot might be beneficial.
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Optn 1: Drop him off in town, finish your lunch early, let his tyres down on your return, fly home.
Option 2: During the drive in, raise the possibility of propwash-induced damage. Bodgy up a story if you must..."I did that high-power 180* once, and bent the cowl of a Bonanza that was being pre-flighted behind me that I didnt see - now, I shut down and tow it that final 50'..." I've done some very stupid things before - not all intentionally - and have been greatful for those who have called me on it. Usually it's been polite, and I've learnt from it. If that doesn't work, see Option 1. |
While it's true that "I don't want to be sued" or "I don't want to be shot" are valid reasons to be civil with people and not blow things completely out of proportion, I very much prefer "because I don't want to be a jerk" or even "because I want to set a good example". Either way works, but one way encourages me to be nice to people from whom I have nothing to fear.
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Thread theft
This post is very timely. I was with a group of Rvers this weekend. After our flight we were allowed to park our planes in one of the hangars for the night. In the morning, our planes had been pulled out to allow access to a Cirrus. Now the chocked Cirrus was blocking access to the taxiway. The owner appeared in fifteen minutes, got on his cell phone and started chewing on the line guy for not having his airplane fueled and starts the ritual of adding two quarts of oil, cleaning the windscrean, loading his luggage and texting. In the meantime, we are cleaning and leaning on leading edges waiting on this guy (who could have pulled his plane forward if he were a little observant). After refueling, he starts his walk around and gets on the cell phone this time to call his passenger. Finally one of us asks him if he could pull forward so we could get out. ?Well, I guess I can if you are in a hurry.? So, I?m already irritated. We get our planes up on the ramp and while refueling, we discover one of our ailerons damaged probably when the planes were moved. The line guy never said a word but when approached, ?I don?t think so, but, it might have happened.? I was livid ? and it wasn?t my plane. The FBO owner is a very good friend and the airplane owner is just way too nice of a guy who will probable settle for less than parts. Me? I would have sent a bill for the aileron parts, a bill for the painting, and the national debt for labor. But, that?s me and explains why I don?t play golf and am irritating to be around.
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Calm is good...
Calm is good, Karma takes care of just about anything. The only time you are allowed force is if you or your life, limb or property is in significant danger. I worked for a long time at a major flight training company and the Center Manager said something very wise---- paraphrasing... Feel free to write a letter and say what you need to say, just wait 24 hours and think about it again before you send it. Ed is a smart man and his advice has come in handy many times.
Best, Brian |
I'd yank a very nasty knot in his tie down ropes, if you're leaving first...
Seriously, I'd go with Brian's calm, wait, think, and karma. Usually never fails. But you need to understand something basic about human pilots. There are three basic types. First, the fairly smart one who occasionally fouls up. Second, the new one who doesn't know better and might benefit from pointing out the stupidity move. Third, and who makes up a substantial number of GA pilots, is the arrogant a** who is smarter, more wealthy, and generally believes his life is more important. You'll never change this one without committing a capital crime. Refer to calm and karma above. |
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