TSA Damages Airliners! Another reason to Fly GA!

August 24, 2008

Here’s another reason to skip the airlines and fly General Aviation.  The next airliner you get on could be damaged and made unairworthy by none other than TSA!  I’ve previously written about the top 10 reasons to skip the airlines and fly yourself on general aviation.  But this new reason may save your life!

Yes, that’s right, TSA is now damaging airliners!  This week, an ignorant TSA inspector damaged and made unairworthy 9 airliners at Chicago O’Hare airport.  Nine aircraft damaged (fortunately this damage was discovered by observant pilots) and over 40 flights delayed while the damaged equipment was replaced.  Why was this done?  To see whether someone could get into the airplanes.  Not by steps and doors…but “spiderman” style. A TSA inspector used aircraft equipment as…monkey bars!…in an attempt to climb into the aircraft.  Keep in mind that TSA did not report the damage they caused, so what might have happened if they damaged equipment that was not discovered before the flight………?

tsa.jpg     =       

But of course, TSA was apologetic about this incredibly stupid act, disciplined the inspector, and said this would never happen again…..right?   WRONG!  Instead, they are defending the inspector, blaming the airline for lack of security (because by damaging the planes, they could get access to 7 aircraft).  Worse, although they have supposedly provided some additional training to its inspectors, TSA continues to encourage its inspectors to look for and exploit such “vulnerabilities”.  

So while you worry about the terrorist threat against air carrier travel…you now need to add the ignorant, self-righteous, virtually unregulated staff of the TSA.  Do you know who’s been climbing on and digging through the sensitive equipment on your airliner? 

Fly your own airplane and avoid this madness!  Cheers!

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Posted by brianflys

Skip Airlines — Fly General Aviation! Top 10 Reasons

June 21, 2008

Have to fly the airlines to get to your work destination?  Or perhaps to a vacation spot?  Well, prepare yourself for a system that has steadily become one of the worst experiences imaginable. 

But there is an option. General Aviation. Smaller planes that you can fly yourself or hire as a charter.  This isn’t just for the corporate elite or the rich and famous.  Ironically, the changes in the airline industry are making General Aviation more and more an attractive option.

“GA Serving America” describes some advantages of using GA aircraft compared to the airlines.  With the changes in the economy and the airline system, we can update this.  Here are my top 10 reasons for skipping the airlines and flying by general aviation.

10.  You are responsible for your flight (or work with a motivated charter crew). You have control over the flight, even if just working with a polite, responsive charter crew. No pilots cancelling flights because they are “too upset to fly”. No surly airline flight and cabin crew. You have to feel for them, though. They are suffering through reduced salaries and benefits, loss of job security, and overloaded flights full of delayed, abused, and frustrated passengers. 

9.  Best seats on the plane.  Usually every seat is a window seat and as the pilot, you have the very best seat on the house, with a grand view of the entire flight.  Fly a charter and you not be subjected to a middle seat.  As part of the growing ala-carte (lack of) service program, airlines are going to charge you a premium for aisle and window seats; up to $15 (so far…) over your base ticket price! And cell phones on flights may be in the future if the airlines can find a way to charge to use them!  Avoid this nonsense by flying yourself.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Posted by brianflys

Hog Wild For Flying…Red Bull Air Races vs NASCAR

April 16, 2008

How do we grow General Aviation, making more people “Hog Wild for Flying“?  A local billboard advertisement got me thinking about how we promote Flying versus other activities. 

Here’s a perfect opportunity to share the excitement of General Aviation.  But will that happen?

Red Bull Air Race World Series

The Red Bull Air Race World Series is coming back to San Diego in May.  Last year the air races attracted about 50,000 people in San Diego.  Likely more will come this year.  Lots of media covering the event.  Lots of attractive young people promoting the title sponsor beverage.

Red Bull Air Races

So where will General Aviation be at this event?  Of course these are GA aerobatic planes, but I mean our kind of GA.  Plane manufacturers, equipment and suppliers, FBOs, Schools, Clubs, Organizations.  Are any of you planning to be there…to get exposure to 50,000+ people who want to see fast planes?  I don’t recall seeing any GA presence at the air races in 2007. 

Nor is there a GA promotion presence at the MCAS Miramar Air Show every October, where the 3-day attendance is on the order of half a million people. Ok, maybe one local flying club C-172 on static display, with a couple of sunburned volunteers braving the roasting windswept distant transient ramp. But no real effort to promote GA.

Now, contrast this with NASCAR. 

 NASCAR

Say what you will about the “good ol’ boy” atmosphere of the participants, fans, and most everything else about NASCAR.  They DO bring in the people, media and the automotive industry.  Plus a whole lot of other industries that love the exposure, starting with the colorful logos plastered all over the cars and drivers.

Every major vehicle manufacturer is there. Every major supplier.  Racing schools. Most anything that has wheels finds a way to get there.  Oh yeah, how about home improvement, candy, and cereal to name a few other prominent products.  And this excitement breeds excitement by the fans.  They love their cars, drivers, and all the logo apparel and paraphenalia that goes with the NASCAR culture.  It’s a COMMUNITY, carefully nurtured to the benefit of the sponsors as well as the fans.  And the media and entertainment industry eat this up, with all kinds of shows built around racing.  All this excitement brings many new fans and sponsors every year.  It’s not perfect and there are other issues that limit NASCAR’s growth, but there is a core strength in the COMMUNITY. 

There are lessons to be learned here, GA.  It’s all about the excitement of a vibrant community.  Rewarding for the participants, and enticing for newcomers. 

What should our community look like?

More to come…

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Posted by brianflys

Hog-Wild for Flying!…Let’s Show It!

April 13, 2008

Ok, enough about motorcycles.  I’ve talked about what we can learn from that community and some interesting safety comparisons.  But this blog is about flying!

Time to apply the lessons.  And I need your help for this!

We’ve all seen the doom and gloom articles.  Will the cost of flying and the shrinking pilot population result on the end of General Aviation as we know it?  Will we be priced, aged, and legislated out of existance?

I say NO!  We will not go quietly!  In fact, It’s Time to Grow!

 

Ok, so how do we grow?

Two separate but related strategies:

1.  Create a real, vibrant, active, exciting Flying Community.  Build on the good work of the EAA, the 99s, and local flying clubs.  But take it to the next level.  Think “COMMUNITY” not just “organization”.  The internal glue that binds us and the identity that we show the world.  And use the media (like FlightTime Radio, for example) to grow awareness and excitement about GA flying and our Community.

2.  Entice and introduce potential owners/pilots to flying.  Think EAA “Young Eagles” program, but focused on adults.  Introduce them to our Community!  Cast a wide net, with activities and incentives to plant their butts in that right seat for the first time. You know, flying really sells itself!  It includes resources like ”Be A Pilot“, but it’s much more than that.  Then, build on the AOPA “Project Pilot” program to mentor these new recruits.

What ideas do you have to build and grow our GA Community?  Please share and I’ll include them in future posts.  What works (and doesn’t work?) for you?  What is YOUR favorite part of flying? 

Next up:  Building a Real Flying Community.

After that:  Let’s Get Growing!

Prior Posts in the series:

Hog Wild for Flying…Now We’re Talking!  (FlightTime Radio)

Hog Wild for Flying…Comparing Safety (GA Flying versus Motorcycles)

Hog Wild for Flying…Part 2  (what is it about the Harley image…)

Hog Wild for Flying…Part 1  (What aren’t more people excited about Flying?)

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