C-FAH Q
Well Known Member
First off, please pardon my rant. Secondly, please spread the word of this email to anyone you know who will be travelling to Oshkosh, it may save someone's life.
Last year, while returning home from Oshkosh on Tuesday morning I encountered some eye opening events. I was talking with Chicago centre as soon as I was able to reach them, not being cleared in to class "b" I stayed with the same controller for quite a while. During the lakeshore portion of the flight, I encountered approximately 30 aircraft going the opposite direction, and one going the same direction. Of these 30 aircraft, I was the only one talking with Chicago! Not only that, most did not have a transponder, or had one turned on. Now, I realize it's not mandatory to talk with them, nor is it mandatory for others to have transponders below the class "b", but in safety's sake! come on folks.
One of the encounters, the controller pointed out was a strange return he was getting and thought it might be birds but was showing to fast to be. I finally got sight of the return he was getting.....three RV's( a ten and two 4's)in a veryyyyy loose formation with a altitude difference of approx 300'. I mentioned this to the controller to which he verbally was shaking his head. I asked again to be cleared to the class "b", which was returned with a " sorry, wish I could do that" reply.
The one airplane I seen going the same direction was a 172 which I came across later at Valpariso. He said he had just came down the lake shore and never seen a thing. I politely asked if he had a radio and transponder to which his reply was" yea, but I ain't turning them on in that area". I mention there was about 30 airplanes that went past, over and under him in that lake stretch and he was gob stopped. I also said, If he had been talking, and had his transponder on, we would all be given the opportunity to make it all the way home. He agreed,thanked me and we went on our way.
So, sorry for the rant. But please, at very least, turn on your transponder for safety's sake.
Pass it on, we don't need to take each other out of the skies.
Rant complete.
Last year, while returning home from Oshkosh on Tuesday morning I encountered some eye opening events. I was talking with Chicago centre as soon as I was able to reach them, not being cleared in to class "b" I stayed with the same controller for quite a while. During the lakeshore portion of the flight, I encountered approximately 30 aircraft going the opposite direction, and one going the same direction. Of these 30 aircraft, I was the only one talking with Chicago! Not only that, most did not have a transponder, or had one turned on. Now, I realize it's not mandatory to talk with them, nor is it mandatory for others to have transponders below the class "b", but in safety's sake! come on folks.
One of the encounters, the controller pointed out was a strange return he was getting and thought it might be birds but was showing to fast to be. I finally got sight of the return he was getting.....three RV's( a ten and two 4's)in a veryyyyy loose formation with a altitude difference of approx 300'. I mentioned this to the controller to which he verbally was shaking his head. I asked again to be cleared to the class "b", which was returned with a " sorry, wish I could do that" reply.
The one airplane I seen going the same direction was a 172 which I came across later at Valpariso. He said he had just came down the lake shore and never seen a thing. I politely asked if he had a radio and transponder to which his reply was" yea, but I ain't turning them on in that area". I mention there was about 30 airplanes that went past, over and under him in that lake stretch and he was gob stopped. I also said, If he had been talking, and had his transponder on, we would all be given the opportunity to make it all the way home. He agreed,thanked me and we went on our way.
So, sorry for the rant. But please, at very least, turn on your transponder for safety's sake.
Pass it on, we don't need to take each other out of the skies.
Rant complete.