Was that a Freudian slip Ferris - "ominously quiet"?
It appears in all his attempts to initiate changes that Dick personalises the argument and takes the attitude of all or nothing. Subsequently it seems that the response in opposition has evolved to a similar format. Both sides have a "take no prisoners" attitude. What a shame! Dick should have realised by now that he can't "win" using these tactics except in small arenas. Aviation interests have divided into sides and teams and there seems to be this current recruitment drive to get supporters on one side or the other. There is no clear winner from all this, but aviation is the definite loser.
As a result of all these shenanigans, there appears this enticing middle ground that remains out of reach and forgotten yet again. It's not that one side is absolutely right and the other wrong. Both sides have valid points, but in the confrontationalist and heavy-handed tactics employed by Dick, truth and common sense appear to be the first casualties in his relentless push for the absolute.
In my opinion, NAS has some very good aspects. The previous airspace had some fine aspects too. Class E airspace, particularly in radar coverage over Class C and Class D, is both pleasureable and convenient to fly in. It's such a disappointment to have the whole program relegated to a simplistic, basic vote of "NAS" or "No NAS", which can also be confused with a vote for or against Dick Smith. But that's how Dick runs his campaigns and if he continues to do so, then I don't see how he can expect any other reaction from the aviation community than what he is getting now.
Last edited by Lodown; 21st Apr 2004 at 22:03.