Can't Wait to see the Back Lash from this

[shep]

I'm afraid we will all pay for the consequences of this
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/us/19crash.html?hp

[MikeB]

Already there's some noise being made about "private planes and pilots" . Also, the fact that he didn't file a flight plan as if that would make a difference. I read the manifesto on the supercub site. Sounds like a very disturbed individual. Especially since he set fire to his own house with his wife and daughter inside.

Mike

[Paul Agaliotis]

I expect some kind of "knee-jerk" reaction to this. It might be good time to tell your elected officials what you think.
Paul

[15A]

What did they do about the Oklahoma bombing? The guy rented a box truck from a truck rental. He packed a bigger bang for the buck. I don't see high security at the truck rentals, and especially a security badge with my name and picture on it just to go rent one...
But regardless, today's event didn't do GA any good.

[jc pacquin]

Yes indeed! MANY "Analyists" will appear on T.V. to let us know their many views on this. Very somber in tone, they will explain that its ok to text doing 80 miles an hour with oncoming traffic 12 inches away, or maybe even type a letter at this speed! But... fly a light plane over a city is just crazy! I'm sure an illegal can rent a u haul and go anywhere! JC

[joea]

There was just an interview of "Scary Mary" Schiavo on Fox News. As is her usual mode she was in "doom and gloom" and how terrible this could be for anyone in its path. I emailed the program bringing up many of the same issues that are mentioned above.

Anyone can rent a small truck and do far more damage, but a plane is such big news. Glad that Tiger came on the tube today and took the focus away from Austin today.

Joe A

[kyleb]

The point we have to make to the general public, (and through the media) is that anytime a deranged individual decides to kill himself and a bunch of others, the outcome is more or less decided. Look at the Columbine Massacre. How about the OKC truck bombing? There are dozens of events every year, some more spectacular than others, where some nut goes off and takes others with him. We could have the same thing tomorrow with a lunatic driving his car through a shopping center.

The point is that aviation is no different. If people want to use it to kill others, it can be done. But history shows that a light aircraft is less dangerous than a gun, less dangerous than a Ryder Truck, etc. so it makes no sense for the media to make a bigger deal out of GA incidents than even deadlier incidents using more common means. But the media almost always sensationalizes aviation.

In 2007 (the most recent NTSB data I found quickly), there were over 41,000 automobile related fatalities in the US. There were 545 fatalities in aviation. That's nearly an 80:1 ratio. But if an airplane has an accident within 500 miles of where you live, that accident will be front page news for several days. That isn't the case for a car wreck. Why? Because aviation interests the public, which is why the media runs with the story. And that works against GA. Also, what works against GA is that since the news media doesn't understand GA, they make genuinely stupid pronouncements to fill time. And those work against GA too.

I remember a mid-air here in the Atlanta area maybe 15 years ago. A Citation (IIRC) had a midair with a C-182 and both planes crashed. The first news story was about the dangers in our "increasingly crowded skies". Enough local pilots heard that comment and called in that the station had to make an on-air retraction, which was good. But the point is that the media's first response was to sensationalize the story, which was irresponsible. Yes, I know it drives their ratings, but it also harms real people who make their money in GA or who have GA as their hobby.

But back to my point. We need to do our best to make sure everyone, media, common citizen, politician, whatever, understands that in a somewhat free society, there are risks, but that General Aviation is pretty low on the list of threats, despite what some of the screamers may say on TV...

[Paul Agaliotis]

I say we buzz the crap out of CNN.
Paul

[Carl Prather]

One the difficulties here is separating the mind of someone intent on doing wrong from the means used to commit the wrongdoing. The other is that the flying community is a small compared to the U.S. population. What the public perceives can be grossly misrepresented by even one diabolical act. The problem here is not aviation, it's the disturbed person.

This is why we all need place aviation in a better light by showing others that we do is honorable, educational and worthwhile. Since bad news sells, we must do our collective best to keep the books of public opinion as balanced as possible. How sad that general aviation has been paying such an important role in Haiti with little or no news coverage. Such is life.

Therefore, my suggestion is to provide the non-flying public with positive experiences and examples of what general aviation is about. It's simple to do this, because it's simple fact. Have open houses, participate in Young Eagle flights, take your friends and neighbors flying or show that project that's in your garage.

I know most of you folks do these things now, it's just important not to lose sight of the positive, healthy effects of reaching out.

[joea]

I say we buzz the crap out of CNN.
Paul

Suppose you want us to dump the potty while overhead as well?

[SFC Hiatt]

I say we buzz the crap out of CNN.
Paul

Suppose you want us to dump the potty while overhead as well?

Who has the STC for the onboard pooper? I have needed one of those on several occasions.

[RickH]

I say we buzz the crap out of CNN.
Paul

Suppose you want us to dump the potty while overhead as well?

They're so full of it they'd never notice...

[shorty]

One the difficulties here is separating the mind of someone intent on doing wrong from the means used to commit the wrongdoing. The other is that the flying community is a small compared to the U.S. population. What the public perceives can be grossly misrepresented by even one diabolical act. The problem here is not aviation, it's the disturbed person.

This is why we all need place aviation in a better light by showing others that we do is honorable, educational and worthwhile. Since bad news sells, we must do our collective best to keep the books of public opinion as balanced as possible. How sad that general aviation has been paying such an important role in Haiti with little or no news coverage. Such is life.

Therefore, my suggestion is to provide the non-flying public with positive experiences and examples of what general aviation is about. It's simple to do this, because it's simple fact. Have open houses, participate in Young Eagle flights, take your friends and neighbors flying or show that project that's in your garage.

I know most of you folks do these things now, it's just important not to lose sight of the positive, healthy effects of reaching out.

Now instead of telling us, (the GA folks) Tell it to the public at large. Thats the problem.
We are such a small group, and the larger group thinks that what we do is unsafe anyway,
so when something happens which involves the smaller group, (us/GA) it gets sensationalized.
Due to the fact that it doesn't happen all that often.
The news media gives us; "There was a plane crash with no injury, film at 11" But we don't get "there were 300 car wrecks (unrelated) on I 75 today, some critical, a few no injury, and a couple died,, film at 11". Because in addition to the 300 on I75, there were also 500 on I85, and 50 on SR20, as well as another 100 on SR140, not to mention the 700 on HWY 400. as well as the 1000s that go unreported. (and that's all within a 75 mile radius of a single point)
Not trying to make light of the guy who crashed into the IRS building in TX. That was clearly a deliberate act. (and I can see why, but don't condone his actions) But there are hundreds of similar acts involving automobiles, in a given period of time. so why single out aviation?
Because of 9-11, That horse died 10 years ago, and th' powers that be are still beating it.
I could go on and on, but like Carl, I'd be "preachin' to th' choir".

[shorty]

I say we buzz the crap out of CNN.
Paul

Does your airknocker have a radio and a transponder?
Buzzin' CNN requires both.

[jc pacquin]

Be sure and buzz Fox noise too! Its all they had on for HOURS, that and Tiger Woods being oh so sorry. It went for hours with the same dizzy blonde ranting on.JC