bumper wrote:Unfortunately I had erased my GPS track, as that would have helped, though it didn't record altitude.

In the past I've only saved my GPS tracks so that I could overlay them on Google Earth, but it's a simple procedure to back them up to your computer. It could save you ass in the future.

I think I'll start saving all the tracks off my 496.

I knew a guy who was airborne in the E-3 AWACS during 9/11. The dopes at the local FAA control facility tried to tell them they needed to land (knowing full well who they were talking to, mind you.)

Thankfully, the Air Force told them where they could put it and kept doing their job.

I personally had the opportunity to work alongside some FAA folks at an ATC facility for one of GW's visits. I was looking into becoming a controller and asked the lead controller about the recent contract renegotiations.

He said that there were controllers up in arms over the fact that they could no longer wear flip-flops to work. Apparently school groups come through every so often and they looked unprofessional. They had also stipulated they had to.........wait for it ........WEAR A BUTTON UP SHIRT!!! Heavens no!! The injustice of it all!!

They were additionally pissed off that a new controller was ONLY going to be making around 75k starting pay. I mean foaming at the mouth pissed off over a STARTING wage of 75k a year!

I'd seen enough and decided then and there I didn't want to be a controller and deal with those union clowns.

Before you flame me, I'm sure there's good controllers out there but it seems to me that the organizational culture needs some perspective.

1SeventyZ wrote:In the past I've only saved my GPS tracks so that I could overlay them on Google Earth, but it's a simple procedure to back them up to your computer. It could save you ass in the future.

Or hang it if you let them have the GPS unit to study. Just another witness

Gump

If we are going to get off track and start bitchin' about the government, I suggest we keep our eye on the prize and try to keep it related to our rights as aviators. Though it may speak to the state of our nation, I do not think it posses any real threat to our rights, if controllers whine about clothing requirements.

What does worry me though, is the TSA. You probably know that these guys can demand to see your certificate. Did you know they can force the FAA to revoke your certificate by claiming you are a "suspected" security risk. This is a means of depriving you of your pursuit of happiness based on an allegation. You can request information as to why you have been deemed a threat, but because you are a threat and may pose a national security risk, they do not have to give this information to you. This change to the "regulations", whether law or not, certainly was not subject to the public debate that the creation of law requires. As MTV suggests this matter of law, regulation, and rulemaking is more than we may want to go into.

Be reminded the TSA is currently suggesting that general aviation be subject to a more stringent security program. Do a search of "TSA" and "rulemaking" and you will find that there is a proposal afoot to make large, over 12,500 lbs. gvw, aircraft, whether corporate or private, subject to a formal security program --nothing more than some finger printing, third party auditing, verification that passengers are not on the no-fly list, check for accessible weapons. They, of course, expect the pilot/owner to pay for this program. They refer to it as "enhncement"

Really, I am not much into conspiracy theories, or bashing the government, and I know that 12,500 lbs. is not back country, but if they start putting the pinch on those guys, how long before we need their help. I guess it might point to some deeper systemic problem. We all have an example of how bad this or that is. We are all certain some rights are the inalienable rights. As if the FAA was not bad enough. Remeber the TSA can revoke your ticket based on suspicion, so beware the stories you tell and the company you keep.


Regards,

Chet

Tick wrote:They were additionally pissed off that a new controller was ONLY going to be making around 75k starting pay. I mean foaming at the mouth pissed off over a STARTING wage of 75k a year!

I'd seen enough and decided then and there I didn't want to be a controller and deal with those union clowns.

So how much do you make instead?

Tick wrote:I knew a guy who was airborne in the E-3 AWACS during 9/11. The dopes at the local FAA control facility tried to tell them they needed to land (knowing full well who they were talking to, mind you.)

Thankfully, the Air Force told them where they could put it and kept doing their job.

I personally had the opportunity to work alongside some FAA folks at an ATC facility for one of GW's visits. I was looking into becoming a controller and asked the lead controller about the recent contract renegotiations.

He said that there were controllers up in arms over the fact that they could no longer wear flip-flops to work. Apparently school groups come through every so often and they looked unprofessional. They had also stipulated they had to.........wait for it ........WEAR A BUTTON UP SHIRT!!! Heavens no!! The injustice of it all!!

They were additionally pissed off that a new controller was ONLY going to be making around 75k starting pay. I mean foaming at the mouth pissed off over a STARTING wage of 75k a year!

I'd seen enough and decided then and there I didn't want to be a controller and deal with those union clowns.

Before you flame me, I'm sure there's good controllers out there but it seems to me that the organizational culture needs some perspective.

Tick,

The Bush administration "crammed down" a contract on ATC a couple of years ago. B -Scale salary for newhires etc. Lots of veteran controllers are unhappy. None the less..... I think that you got some bad information from someone who was jerking you around.

Are you a qualified military air traffic controller?

Bob

What were we talking about again?

chetharris wrote:I know that 12,500 lbs. is not back country

Tell that to the Casa, Herc, or DC-6 guys.

Gump

I may have gotten off track, but I believe we were talking about revoked certificates. I think I hit on that or around it.

On a different note, I should have been a controller. They can hardly whine more than a bunch of carpenters and contractors.