bwicker
8th Jan 2007, 09:50
Recently we've come under a little fire for the use of our practice fields about the noise that we generate. Doing a little browsing i've found this website that most of you may or may not have seen. http://www.stopthenoise.org
These guys are ridiculous in their propositions, and it scares me that there are people out there that crazy. Because fanatics always seem to find one another and unite, and when they do they can do some scary things. I think we as pilots don't give these guys enough credit for the damage that they COULD do. There is probably no reasoning with them, however i've tried, so i'm going to include an email that i sent to them just to get some opinions on what others thing about what i said, and maybe we could unite and provide more of a common front against these people.
My email to the website below.
I recently had the "pleasure" of coming across your website. I say "pleasure" because I feel that it is important as Americans that we exercise our rights as a people. However, I must say that I am VERY disturbed by the undertones in your website.
I agree with you that every person is entitled to peace if they want it. However, You speak as if you and the homeowners in your group are the only ones who are entitled to their rights as Americans. You imply that you as a homeowner have the right to do what you wish while, I as a pilot, do not have the right to do a perfectly legal activity for my own pleasure. Think of it this way, IF you win your battle (based on the absurdities of your claim, you will not) then you will be infringing on my right to do an activity that i've devoted MANY hours and MANY hard earned dollars towards excelling at. In this fact we are all at a sort of Catch-22 if you will. If you exercise all of your rights, you will be infringing on mine.
You are right on at least one account, in that we as pilots flock to uninhabited areas for practice. We do so for two main reasons. First and foremost is out of consideration for safety, both to ourselves and the public. Flying is inherently dangerous activity that we as pilots fully understand and accept. Most of the public does not accept this and we would not expect them to. So, if we're practicing a maneuver and heaven forbid a problem arises with the aircraft we have an uninhabited area to let down. And then we have our own safety to consider. Areas congested with people such as towns and cities generally have an airport nearby, with that airport comes aircraft traffic. Imagine the chaos and danger of a midair accident that would be created with an aircraft practicing turns around a point in an approach corridors. The second reason we do so was us being polite to the majority of the public. We understand that constant aircraft traffic at low altitudes can be distracting (although with the recreational flying you describe it's not "dangerous" to your hearing) And it's funny that this is what you're taking action against, because we're doing it to avoid bugging people like you. It just so happens that we aim to please the majority. If 40,000 people live in one area, and 300 live in an area near there, naturally we will want to go to the less inhabited area, i'm sorry that you live in that area.
What if I lived next to a highway (I do) and the noise from the traffic was interupting my sleep (at times it does), and I felt that the drivers who were driving and creating this noise were mostly drivers who were just driving for just the fun of driving on a beautiful sunday afternoon in their cars with loud exhaust systems? Therefore I attempted to sue these drivers. Maybe it's something about my mindset, but i find that to be a ridiculous thought.
Let's spend some time thinking of the practicalities of your ultimate goal. How can you, as a homeowner, establish the difference between a pilot flying for the joy of it and a student pilot working on an advanced rating hoping to get a job with the airlines? Also, how can you determine the altitude of an aircraft flying overhead? I've got to tell you something, i've been around airplanes for 15 years, i've spent countless hours sitting outside at the airport chatting with fellow pilots watching airplanes fly around, and I still can not tell the altitude of an aircraft that's flying by with any accuracy. I feel that is justified by the attempts that you've made to have administrative actions taken against pilots for "flying too low" with the FAA and them not taking the action because they've reviewed radar tapes, etc. But I can tell you that the naked eye would not be able to tell the difference between 500 feet and 1000 feet when on the ground. But I digress; let's assume for a moment that your proposed action takes place. Where would training flights occur? Since we would not be able to do them over open fields in fear of someone hearing us? Maybe we could do them over an airport, you ask. However, that makes no sense, because now we have people building houses or moving within a mile of an active airport and them complaining about noise from "pesky airplanes" Which is probably one of the stupidest things i've ever heard of... You say you're not trying to shut out general aviation, but sir, we all know that is what you are proposing through your actions. So; now we have no flight training going on, by civilian and military pilots because we may raise the noise level on the ground by 8dB. So what right? Who needs military aviation? What harm could come from running out of airline pilots and not being able to train any more? No one thinks air travel is efficient or practical anyhow! W-R-O-N-G my good sir. Maybe I should sue NASA every time a satellite traverses the sky within my sight at night because it interferes with my right to look up and see the beauty of a natural sky?
I'm flipping through your website and i'm finding specific arguments of yours that are not valid or otherwise preposterous:
1.) You say that the FAA does not take legal actions against pilots? Tell that to the numerous pilots who are fined, have their tickets revoked, or face other administrative actions every year.
2.) "practicing noisy maneuvers that serve no purpose other than to please the pilots and to enrich those who rented them the airplane."-- I take it from this statement that you haven't spent much time talking with pilots about this issue, and i mean talking and LISTENING. Most maneuvers practiced by pilots in non-aerobatic aircraft aren't pointless as you'd like to deceive your readers into believing. Especially for student pilots these maneuvers establish coordination between the eyes, the mind, and the actions. I really wish that you would fly with an instructor some day and try some of these "pointless maneuvers" and maybe you would see how they relate to proficiency in the air. These maneuvers help the novice pilot understand the wind on the affects of the path of the aircraft. If you see an aircraft circling a tree 99 times out of a hundred it's not just putting the aircraft in a bank and holding it there and you'll get it right. Your eyes are constantly moving around, juggling looking for other traffic, keeping an eye on your point that you're circling, judging the effect of wind on your current flight path, deciding what kind of corrections will be necessary to keep the aircraft flying a perfect circle around the point. Those are all fundamentals of basic airmanship, navigation, and task saturation. These skills need to be practiced from time to time. You'll always be able to do them once you learn it, but you won't be nearly as good or safe unless you practice often.
3.) "Pilots enjoy anonymity while flying above our homes and lands. Pilots like this for obvious reasons. FAA likes it because it enables them to take no action on citizen complaints."-- Sir, we have no anonymity. As you mentioned, there is a listing of all aircraft and their registration numbers on the FAA's website. As a driver you have more anonymity than I do as a pilot. I can read the registration numbers on most aircraft while in the traffic pattern (an established 1000 feet) quite clearly. How many license plates can you read from 1000 feet? Even if you could read a license plate how much more difficult is it to get specific information on that driver such as his name and address? I whole heartedly support the FAA in their argument against overly large N-numbers under the wings of aircraft, mainly because of people like you and your followers. I like knowing that I have to be doing something illegal before someone can sue me. The easier it is for you to see those numbers the more likely we as pilots will receive more FRIVOLOUS lawsuits. Don't get me wrong, if someone is doing something illegal, actions need to be taken. But if you can not see those numbers, there's a good chance with most aircraft that they're not flying illegally.
There are more, however, I will not get into them at the moment for lack of time, but i'm sure you get my point, and if you don't please ask me.
We, as a people, are an overly litigious society, and you are no exception. It is my understanding that you did not attempt to talk to these pilots realistically in an effort to overcome these problems outside of the court room. I believe you are a prime example of someone taking advantage of a wonderful system of laws that we have here in the United states. But what's even more interesting is that you're taking advantage of these laws in order to please yourself while taking away the rights of others, and i hope you see that in the end you're really hurting yourself as well. So sir, i implore you to quit trying to infringe on my rights.
I'm assuming that this letter will never make it on to you website because i'm not making threatening statements to strengthen your cause. Honestly, I feel that those pilots are acting out of anger, and I don't condone it, but I don't blame them. If we threatened to take away your right to do a hobby that you are completely passionate about i'm sure you'd be angry as well.
The gist of this is that we have attempted to appeal to the masses, we will never be able to appeal to ALL people, but that's life. When i'm at the park reading I don't get upset that I'm hearing children ruin my concentration with their laughter while playing an "unnecessary" game of baseball. I just feel you are being selfish, but you have that right I suppose. So sir, if your proposed action comes to light (again, i'm not worried) and I am forced to quit training for my future airline career, you WILL be receiving a lawsuit from me for ruining my livelihood.
http://myspace-032.vo.llnwd.net/00200/23/03/200493032_m.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=3764607&imageID=200493032)
Brian Wicker
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
b-wicker@<hidden> (b-wicker@<hidden>)
These guys are ridiculous in their propositions, and it scares me that there are people out there that crazy. Because fanatics always seem to find one another and unite, and when they do they can do some scary things. I think we as pilots don't give these guys enough credit for the damage that they COULD do. There is probably no reasoning with them, however i've tried, so i'm going to include an email that i sent to them just to get some opinions on what others thing about what i said, and maybe we could unite and provide more of a common front against these people.
My email to the website below.
I recently had the "pleasure" of coming across your website. I say "pleasure" because I feel that it is important as Americans that we exercise our rights as a people. However, I must say that I am VERY disturbed by the undertones in your website.
I agree with you that every person is entitled to peace if they want it. However, You speak as if you and the homeowners in your group are the only ones who are entitled to their rights as Americans. You imply that you as a homeowner have the right to do what you wish while, I as a pilot, do not have the right to do a perfectly legal activity for my own pleasure. Think of it this way, IF you win your battle (based on the absurdities of your claim, you will not) then you will be infringing on my right to do an activity that i've devoted MANY hours and MANY hard earned dollars towards excelling at. In this fact we are all at a sort of Catch-22 if you will. If you exercise all of your rights, you will be infringing on mine.
You are right on at least one account, in that we as pilots flock to uninhabited areas for practice. We do so for two main reasons. First and foremost is out of consideration for safety, both to ourselves and the public. Flying is inherently dangerous activity that we as pilots fully understand and accept. Most of the public does not accept this and we would not expect them to. So, if we're practicing a maneuver and heaven forbid a problem arises with the aircraft we have an uninhabited area to let down. And then we have our own safety to consider. Areas congested with people such as towns and cities generally have an airport nearby, with that airport comes aircraft traffic. Imagine the chaos and danger of a midair accident that would be created with an aircraft practicing turns around a point in an approach corridors. The second reason we do so was us being polite to the majority of the public. We understand that constant aircraft traffic at low altitudes can be distracting (although with the recreational flying you describe it's not "dangerous" to your hearing) And it's funny that this is what you're taking action against, because we're doing it to avoid bugging people like you. It just so happens that we aim to please the majority. If 40,000 people live in one area, and 300 live in an area near there, naturally we will want to go to the less inhabited area, i'm sorry that you live in that area.
What if I lived next to a highway (I do) and the noise from the traffic was interupting my sleep (at times it does), and I felt that the drivers who were driving and creating this noise were mostly drivers who were just driving for just the fun of driving on a beautiful sunday afternoon in their cars with loud exhaust systems? Therefore I attempted to sue these drivers. Maybe it's something about my mindset, but i find that to be a ridiculous thought.
Let's spend some time thinking of the practicalities of your ultimate goal. How can you, as a homeowner, establish the difference between a pilot flying for the joy of it and a student pilot working on an advanced rating hoping to get a job with the airlines? Also, how can you determine the altitude of an aircraft flying overhead? I've got to tell you something, i've been around airplanes for 15 years, i've spent countless hours sitting outside at the airport chatting with fellow pilots watching airplanes fly around, and I still can not tell the altitude of an aircraft that's flying by with any accuracy. I feel that is justified by the attempts that you've made to have administrative actions taken against pilots for "flying too low" with the FAA and them not taking the action because they've reviewed radar tapes, etc. But I can tell you that the naked eye would not be able to tell the difference between 500 feet and 1000 feet when on the ground. But I digress; let's assume for a moment that your proposed action takes place. Where would training flights occur? Since we would not be able to do them over open fields in fear of someone hearing us? Maybe we could do them over an airport, you ask. However, that makes no sense, because now we have people building houses or moving within a mile of an active airport and them complaining about noise from "pesky airplanes" Which is probably one of the stupidest things i've ever heard of... You say you're not trying to shut out general aviation, but sir, we all know that is what you are proposing through your actions. So; now we have no flight training going on, by civilian and military pilots because we may raise the noise level on the ground by 8dB. So what right? Who needs military aviation? What harm could come from running out of airline pilots and not being able to train any more? No one thinks air travel is efficient or practical anyhow! W-R-O-N-G my good sir. Maybe I should sue NASA every time a satellite traverses the sky within my sight at night because it interferes with my right to look up and see the beauty of a natural sky?
I'm flipping through your website and i'm finding specific arguments of yours that are not valid or otherwise preposterous:
1.) You say that the FAA does not take legal actions against pilots? Tell that to the numerous pilots who are fined, have their tickets revoked, or face other administrative actions every year.
2.) "practicing noisy maneuvers that serve no purpose other than to please the pilots and to enrich those who rented them the airplane."-- I take it from this statement that you haven't spent much time talking with pilots about this issue, and i mean talking and LISTENING. Most maneuvers practiced by pilots in non-aerobatic aircraft aren't pointless as you'd like to deceive your readers into believing. Especially for student pilots these maneuvers establish coordination between the eyes, the mind, and the actions. I really wish that you would fly with an instructor some day and try some of these "pointless maneuvers" and maybe you would see how they relate to proficiency in the air. These maneuvers help the novice pilot understand the wind on the affects of the path of the aircraft. If you see an aircraft circling a tree 99 times out of a hundred it's not just putting the aircraft in a bank and holding it there and you'll get it right. Your eyes are constantly moving around, juggling looking for other traffic, keeping an eye on your point that you're circling, judging the effect of wind on your current flight path, deciding what kind of corrections will be necessary to keep the aircraft flying a perfect circle around the point. Those are all fundamentals of basic airmanship, navigation, and task saturation. These skills need to be practiced from time to time. You'll always be able to do them once you learn it, but you won't be nearly as good or safe unless you practice often.
3.) "Pilots enjoy anonymity while flying above our homes and lands. Pilots like this for obvious reasons. FAA likes it because it enables them to take no action on citizen complaints."-- Sir, we have no anonymity. As you mentioned, there is a listing of all aircraft and their registration numbers on the FAA's website. As a driver you have more anonymity than I do as a pilot. I can read the registration numbers on most aircraft while in the traffic pattern (an established 1000 feet) quite clearly. How many license plates can you read from 1000 feet? Even if you could read a license plate how much more difficult is it to get specific information on that driver such as his name and address? I whole heartedly support the FAA in their argument against overly large N-numbers under the wings of aircraft, mainly because of people like you and your followers. I like knowing that I have to be doing something illegal before someone can sue me. The easier it is for you to see those numbers the more likely we as pilots will receive more FRIVOLOUS lawsuits. Don't get me wrong, if someone is doing something illegal, actions need to be taken. But if you can not see those numbers, there's a good chance with most aircraft that they're not flying illegally.
There are more, however, I will not get into them at the moment for lack of time, but i'm sure you get my point, and if you don't please ask me.
We, as a people, are an overly litigious society, and you are no exception. It is my understanding that you did not attempt to talk to these pilots realistically in an effort to overcome these problems outside of the court room. I believe you are a prime example of someone taking advantage of a wonderful system of laws that we have here in the United states. But what's even more interesting is that you're taking advantage of these laws in order to please yourself while taking away the rights of others, and i hope you see that in the end you're really hurting yourself as well. So sir, i implore you to quit trying to infringe on my rights.
I'm assuming that this letter will never make it on to you website because i'm not making threatening statements to strengthen your cause. Honestly, I feel that those pilots are acting out of anger, and I don't condone it, but I don't blame them. If we threatened to take away your right to do a hobby that you are completely passionate about i'm sure you'd be angry as well.
The gist of this is that we have attempted to appeal to the masses, we will never be able to appeal to ALL people, but that's life. When i'm at the park reading I don't get upset that I'm hearing children ruin my concentration with their laughter while playing an "unnecessary" game of baseball. I just feel you are being selfish, but you have that right I suppose. So sir, if your proposed action comes to light (again, i'm not worried) and I am forced to quit training for my future airline career, you WILL be receiving a lawsuit from me for ruining my livelihood.
http://myspace-032.vo.llnwd.net/00200/23/03/200493032_m.jpg (http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=3764607&imageID=200493032)
Brian Wicker
Arkadelphia, AR 71923
b-wicker@<hidden> (b-wicker@<hidden>)
