Why would they get the idea it is dangerous when you have to wear a Nomex suit and helmet and that is just to fill up out of a plastic can? Perhaps it could be a little of the image we project?

I have to pay more for fuel and higher taxes. I have pay property tax, sales tax, tie down fees, Annuals, re-register my airplane, get a new Xponder, prepare for ADS-B, get a medical every 2 years, BFR

Now the threat of loosing air space to UAV's. The best way for big brother to gain air space for UAV's is to reduce the Number of GA. The best way to reduce the number of GA is to make it cost prohibitive. The best way to make it cost prohibitive is to increase regulation, taxes and Fees.

Some who are posting on this topic seem a bit proud of their ability to zap anyone who says anything negative, or harbors blind ignorance of our flying. I'm with Zane, though.

We're a very small group, us pilots ... roughly half a million out of 300+ million, and we have a bad safety rep amongst most of those 300+ million. We make noise. We take up valuable real estate with our airports and airstrips. We sometimes crash into houses and kill the occupants ... not very often, but every single one of those incidents makes headlines in the local paper, live video at 6 pm, etc. etc.

Some may sneer at the concept of our being "ambassadors" of our hobby/sport/profession of flying ... but we could easily have flying taken away from us by government regulation, budgetary decisions, and lawsuits. Maybe some don't remember, but back in the 1980s, product liability lawsuits virtually destroyed the GA aircraft manufacturing industry in the USA. It took government action limiting that liability before Cessna, Piper, etc. were able to get back into business making airplanes again.

Any of us who have ever spent time in a foreign country - most of which are far less friendly to GA than here in the USA - you'll understand that whatever burdens we think we have now can always be made far more onerous.

If too many of us go around with a chip on our shoulders, grumpily putting ignoramuses in their place, and generally confirming for too many taxpayers and voters an impression that airplane drivers are a bunch of flaming assholes ... well, maybe we'll just get legislated out of our airplanes as a result .... or the local government will decide shut down the GA airports 'cause we're a pain the ass, and there won't be a political price to be paid because everybody thinks we're a bunch of pricks anyway. Or the Forest Service will start closing their backcountry airsrips, because they won't have to worry about facing an angry mob at the public hearing.

Remember that next time you launch into another rant, and "tear someone's head off and shit down the hole". And by the way, thanks very much for endangering my right to fly.

The grand scheme is to boost the public's image of general aviation until it exceeds the starry-eyed excitement and admiration that it once enjoyed post WW2. I'm pretty sure pilots still crashed into houses and died on a regular basis back then, but from what I have read, people shook it off because aviation was awesome! That's the spirit that beat the Japanese!

Wow- Z has really hit the nail on the head! I personally believe that "ambassadorizing" for aviation is the single most important thing we can do to preserve our ability to fly. We've had a little fly-in at our local airport for years, and work really hard to get the local residents, sheriffs, fire departments and such to join us and take a ride. They've recently built a high school under the base leg, and have cleared land for a mega-neighborhood under the departure and crosswind path for the other runway. That development is on hold for now, but when it starts up again we will be plastering the neighborhoods with signs reading "Airport: 0.5 miles", and flyers will go into the neighborhoods to invite them to join us at our next event.

Lack of public awareness and support for GA will kill us if we let it!

All,

The rant was here in this community to fellow pilots. I didn't shit down the guy's neck hole. This didn't happen at the ramp it was at lunch while at work, not at the young eagles rally. I was actually talking up aviation to a colleague when the guy leaned in from an adjacent table to crap on our parade.

I get the ambassador thing. I live in an airpark, we have neighbors that often feel conflicted about living near aviation. It's a full time job for all of us who have a stake in aviation to educate the masses about aviation safety. However, when someone crosses the line as regards manners I feel that it would be shameful to miss the opportunity to inform them that due to a technicality (the A-hole rule), that they are intrinsically protectected from any bodily harm or injury resulting from flying in my "puddle Jumper".

I actually thought that it was rather gracious ending to the conversation.

Well in that case you should have spit your coffee in his face as you feigned "surprise" like some sort of sitcom.

RobBurson wrote:We all have our own style of dealing with non pilots and there impression of planes and flying. I have used both methods. It all depends on my mood. Some times I am nice. Other times I'll tear their head off and take a S ^ & % down the hole.

Good day

Fish on, I knew someone would bite It is a figure of speech. I am nice 99% of the time. There is the 1% who deserve both barrels to the face. (Figure of speech) I don't actually shoot morons in the face with a shot gun. There is no such thing as a stupid question. Just stupid people. Just kidding, don't get your panties in a wad.

Now I am serious. The pilot community has been nice since the Wright brothers. Where has it got us? If true Americans were nice we wouldn't be flying over this piece of dirt we call the USA.

Gosh I hope that commit doesn't send this to Hot Air.

Nice doesn't always get you where you want to be. Sorry that is just the cold hard truth. Want more air space, more airports. All it takes is $$. Get the right people elected, give enough money to reelection campaigns.

I am just calling it as I see it. I may be wrong, but I don't think so.

I am nice 99% of the time, even though I don't want to be.

Good day

Rob, employing the rare but effective conversation-with-himself technique.

Guess it all depends on where you are. Ask the people of bush Alaska if they like airplanes, or if it's too dangerous to fly in a "little" airplane. They'll look at you like you're crazy.

Gump

Nice doesn't always get you where you want to be. Sorry that is just the cold hard truth. Want more air space, more airports. All it takes is $$.

Not having a$$loads of cash at my disposal, I guess nice is all I've got...

RDUStinson wrote:

Nice doesn't always get you where you want to be. Sorry that is just the cold hard truth. Want more air space, more airports. All it takes is $$.

Not having a$$loads of cash at my disposal, I guess nice is all I've got...

Beer, Beerman. You've got beer. Never underestimate the lubricative properties of a pint in bridging divides.

Beer, Beerman. You've got beer. Never underestimate the lubricative properties of a pint in bridging divides.

I think it's NICE to share your beer!

nmflyguy wrote:Some who are posting on this topic seem a bit proud of their ability to zap anyone who says anything negative, or harbors blind ignorance of our flying. I'm with Zane, though.

We're a very small group, us pilots ... roughly half a million out of 300+ million, and we have a bad safety rep amongst most of those 300+ million. We make noise. We take up valuable real estate with our airports and airstrips. We sometimes crash into houses and kill the occupants ... not very often, but every single one of those incidents makes headlines in the local paper, live video at 6 pm, etc. etc.

Some may sneer at the concept of our being "ambassadors" of our hobby/sport/profession of flying ... but we could easily have flying taken away from us by government regulation, budgetary decisions, and lawsuits. Maybe some don't remember, but back in the 1980s, product liability lawsuits virtually destroyed the GA aircraft manufacturing industry in the USA. It took government action limiting that liability before Cessna, Piper, etc. were able to get back into business making airplanes again.

Any of us who have ever spent time in a foreign country - most of which are far less friendly to GA than here in the USA - you'll understand that whatever burdens we think we have now can always be made far more onerous.

If too many of us go around with a chip on our shoulders, grumpily putting ignoramuses in their place, and generally confirming for too many taxpayers and voters an impression that airplane drivers are a bunch of flaming assholes ... well, maybe we'll just get legislated out of our airplanes as a result .... or the local government will decide shut down the GA airports 'cause we're a pain the ass, and there won't be a political price to be paid because everybody thinks we're a bunch of pricks anyway. Or the Forest Service will start closing their backcountry airsrips, because they won't have to worry about facing an angry mob at the public hearing.

Remember that next time you launch into another rant, and "tear someone's head off and shit down the hole". And by the way, thanks very much for endangering my right to fly.

Thank you once again obxbushpilot for confirming my interpretation of your anecdotal story. As in all encounters with our fellow human beings we find the incident relative and react appropriately.

"In the grand scheme of things" a relative encounter has nothing to do with "Ambassador Good Will" ! We have AOPA, EAA, and an assortment of orgs. that represent GA in legal matters with the government and good will toward the non flying public which most pilots are involved. Due to our litigious culture most conflicts end up in the courts. The point made about an org that opened flying to the non pilots is case in point. I know that most people are drawn to the concept of flight because humans have wanted wings after seeing the first bird. This type of outreach is a good thing for GA. The majority of people are enthusiastic and curious about flying even if they never entertained the idea of being a pilot.

On the day that the FAA was formed pilots lost the " Right" to fly. Like a drivers license a flying license is a privilege maintained via abiding regulations and money. The few times GA lobby gets Congress and the Senate to vote for a FAA regulation that makes flying easier it is not because of democracy. In the end it is because they want those few votes we as pilots can give them or they are on the ground floor of some new technology that will make a lot of money.

I call Bull $h#t on some A$$wipe being put in his place "for endangering my right to fly". As I indicated you don't have a right to fly! It occurs to me that the A$$wipe who imposed his hatred of flying is not the only self absorbed, uniformed individual on how the Country works! It is a lot more likely that in time you will lose your PPL because of regulation rather then some ill mannered, eaves dropping,
intruder into a private conversation. In this case I wouldn't care if I was having a conversation about how I like my eggs cooked. Mind your own business come to mind!
In conclusion there appears to be some self projection in your argument that upon reflection you might look at your own shoulder for the proverbial chip you speak of

Green Hornet is so right!

On the day that the FAA was formed pilots lost the " Right" to fly. Like a drivers license a flying license is a privilege maintained via abiding regulations and money. The few times GA lobby gets Congress and the Senate to vote for a FAA regulation that makes flying easier it is not because of democracy. In the end it is because they want those few votes we as pilots can give them or they are on the ground floor of some new technology that will make a lot of money.

It is extremely important to let you politicians know who you are and that you do vote. Political party doesn't matter, these creatures ar all alike. They just want to get re-elected to the good life. If pilots are unified and active voters, even as few, our voices will be heard.