Outrage at article content - a slam on GA and experimentals

[robriggen]

If you take 2 minutes to read this article, I think you will be outraged, too.

http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula...nclick_check=1

Author's e-mail address:

natural_born_writer@yahoo.com

If you're like me you don't appreciate this author (Bil Paul) questioning the safety of experimental aircraft or offering up suggestions on increasing regulations about weather operations or worrying about airports that are too close to housing and shopping developments.

Take a sec and let this author know your thoughts. Stand up for what we stand for.

Thanks!

Rob Riggen

[Sam Buchanan]

That article is so poorly written it doesn't deserve a response.

[Flyfalcons]

It's like he was writing about four different subjects in one short opinion piece. Outrage? No - crashing a plane into a residential neighborhood is going to raise questions, and we get the joy of dealing with that.

[John Clark]

Rather than expressing "outrage" at one reporter, the effective response is to get the people that understand the news business involved. This sort of press comes with the territory and needs to be dealt with carefully. The AOPA has the people and expertise to help us get our side heard.

http://www.aopa.org/info/comres4u.html

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/article...222austin.html

John Clark ATP, CFI
FAA FAAST Team Member
EAA Flight Advisor
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

[RV8R999]

Agree the article was not very well written but the questions raised were the questions any of us (or me) would raise when we learn of such mishaps. What is wrong with asking questions? Questions never hurt anyone, but not asking them has and does. I'm more outraged when stupid pilots do stupid things (not saying these guys were stupid as I don't know a thing about these accidents).

I do think the question should be reversed with respect to proximity of residential and airport locations as most airports were probably around first. A more appropriate question might be, "Shouldn't residential areas be restricted to some minimum distance from airports..blah, blah, blah?"

Take a scan through youtube RV first flight videos . You'll be amazed at the number of folks taking off for the first time in their newly constructed airplane and joining up in close formation or doing aileron rolls for their family watching below.... my opinion only, but those stunts are far more outrageous than this authors article and do far more to damage to our credibility than the points he's made.

Personally I think it is very myopic to believe any criticism of GA is all bad. We are really not much different as a group than any other. We have a lot of great people, some really good people and some down right idiots (I like to put myself somewhere in the good category). I see something really dumb, I mean blatantly dumb, just about every time I go to the airport. Like the guy across from my hangar who spent the whole afternoon working on his ultralight with a case of bud (most of which was consumed) and then took her around for a quick test flight!!! He also owned a 210 and a Mooney. Had a long chat with him when he landed. If he had crashed into a house would an article questioning alcohol use and flying be appropriate or would that be outrageous and an affront to the rest of us?

my .02

[rvmills]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

That article is so poorly written it doesn't deserve a response.

Originally Posted by Flyfalcons

It's like he was writing about four different subjects in one short opinion piece. Outrage? No - crashing a plane into a residential neighborhood is going to raise questions, and we get the joy of dealing with that.

Originally Posted by John Clark

Rather than expressing "outrage" at one reporter, the effective response is to get the people that understand the news business involved. This sort of press comes with the territory and needs to be dealt with carefully. The AOPA has the people and expertise to help us get our side heard.

Pretty much concur with all of you...poorly written, tries to tie in several disparate topics (including Amelia Arehart's dissapearance) to support what sounds like his personal agenda of closing general aviation airports in his readership area (not a new topic there either...I learned how to fly at Palo Alto and taught both there and at Reid-Hillview...I'm surprised he doesn't mention the time the airplane landed on the mall roof there 30 years ago).

I think John hits it though...as outraged as we may be about editorial buffoonary, getting the pros in our industry to defend our segment of aviation will play much better than individual shots fired that could be seen as defensive. All that said though, its still good to bring it to our attention so we can support the cause. Thanks for the post and the heads-up!

Edit: Ken, just saw your post too, and that's a good point, and kinda plays along with my "don't sound defensive" thought. IMHO, John's concept applies there as well...the pros can help show the truth of the matter, and help protect against knee-jerk reactions. But you're on the mark too...we all need to be able to stand behind how we operate. Just painful to see things so poorly written!

Best,
Bob

[wil]

This poorly written and researched article hit a sore spot with me.

I learned to fly at Reid-Hillview Airport and based my airplane at all three airports mentioned in the article, Palo Alto, Reid-Hillview and Pine Mountain Lake.

I asked my wife to read the article and asked her if I was justified at being upset. She agreed with me. After I composed my response to the author, I asked my wife to read it and asked her if I should keep my mouth shut or send it. She proof read my response (my writing and spelling suck) and she said send it.

I basicaly told the author to do better research, don't jump to conclusions and check his facts. Some facts were just plain wrong and others highly innacurate. I did suggest he run for political office where truth and accuracy are secondary considerations in speeches or print.

[RV7Ron]

Actually that one wasnt all that bad, I've read much worse from reporters who seemed to know far less about GA and are much more one sided. This author actually seemed to have a little bit of aviation knowledge, and spoke of pilots 'love' of flight and the fact that we arent all elite, rich celebrities and businessmen (I hate that one! I am far from rich!!) so at least he tried to present both sides.

Anytime there is a crash like this, these articles pop up, always will. We just have to keep trying to educate the non-pilots out there. I go out of my way to take as many non-pilots as I can for rides...we all should do this so someday when it comes time for them to vote on whether an airport should be closed, they will remember.

[Lux Wrangler]

Agree the article was not very well written but the questions raised were the questions any of us (or me) would raise when we learn of such mishaps. What is wrong with asking questions? Questions never hurt anyone, but not asking them has and does.

- RV8R999

What is wrong with asking questions? Do you think the writer is truly interested in being open minded? , or does the writer have an agenda? Is it possible to make an argument by asking a series of questions? What would Socrates say? Can there be a method to asking a series of questions to make a point? Is that just another way of making an argument? Is it more innocent or acceptable to ask questions? instead of stating your point?

[Geico266]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

That article is so poorly written it doesn't deserve a response.

It was well written, concise, and accurate.

I'm talking about your post, not the article.