A lot of pilots leaving the forums
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Fuji
The LondonDerry trip Is a good example. Leaving Belfast the aircraft (737) descends towards LondonDerry OCAS, descends below FL100 OCAS prob IMC. This whole procedure is without RADAR. He then talks to LondonDerry ATC still without radar coverage and positions for a pilot interpretated procedure onto the ILS unless things have changed since I was last there 2 years ago? LondonDerry is not unique. There is a gliding club close by and it is quite feasable that some lost glider could be in the clouds with them.
Pace
The LondonDerry trip Is a good example. Leaving Belfast the aircraft (737) descends towards LondonDerry OCAS, descends below FL100 OCAS prob IMC. This whole procedure is without RADAR. He then talks to LondonDerry ATC still without radar coverage and positions for a pilot interpretated procedure onto the ILS unless things have changed since I was last there 2 years ago? LondonDerry is not unique. There is a gliding club close by and it is quite feasable that some lost glider could be in the clouds with them.
Pace
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Pace, perhaps you misunderstood my phrasing.
I said "HIS accident report blamed the airfield......!"
Which was the pilot speaking, not the investigators, they didn't do much investigating so they took his word for it. We were of another opinion entirely, and thought him a complete w......
Fire engines were summoned, and spread foam around. An ambulance arrived and wasn't required. To make things even safer, the next day we siphoned off the avgas, and put it to good use. (If I knew how to summon up a smilie, it would be the blue one with the toothy grin.)
I said "HIS accident report blamed the airfield......!"
Which was the pilot speaking, not the investigators, they didn't do much investigating so they took his word for it. We were of another opinion entirely, and thought him a complete w......
Fire engines were summoned, and spread foam around. An ambulance arrived and wasn't required. To make things even safer, the next day we siphoned off the avgas, and put it to good use. (If I knew how to summon up a smilie, it would be the blue one with the toothy grin.)
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I said "HIS accident report blamed the airfield......!"
But just shows the worst pilots are those who blame everything for their mistakes but themselves and hence they never learn.Pace
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...........and there I was thinking that this thread was about 'Lots of pilots leaving the forums'
Too many self opinionated willy waivers simply turn off the average flyer from posting anything!
Too many self opinionated willy waivers simply turn off the average flyer from posting anything!
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Too many self opinionated willy waivers simply turn off the average flyer from posting anything!
Let me offer this.
Flying will in part attract pilots with strong personalities. After all private pilots are often financially successful people that are well motivated (note the use of often, not always).
Moreover what is the point of a debate unless contributors are forthright and have convinction about their posts.
However you are right some posts cross the line and are vexatious or ill informed.
I wonder what others think?
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I said "HIS accident report blamed the airfield......!"
Flying will in part attract pilots with strong personalities. After all private pilots are often financially successful people that are well motivated (note the use of often, not always).
IMHO the explanation is that flying involves so much crap (on the ground, mainly) that only the strongest motivated people (or perhaps the wierdest anoraks) will hang in it for long.
Even looking at it most charitably, those flying seriously long-term will be people who are successful in their business or profession, and these tend to be reasonably competent and thus forthright in their views
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I could offer an opinion, but I can't be bothered 
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Oh yes I can! I've got a new aeroplane and I'm back in the mood!!!
Seriously; for the last two years I haven't flown much and have sort of felt "out of the fold" so to speak. Now, as there is light at the end of the tunnel, I feel far more inclined to contribute (not that I have anything great to offer). I'm sure that in this time of austerity, many will be feeling the pinch, flying less and feeling down generally ... not a mix that makes posting on forums seem important.
SS
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Oh yes I can! I've got a new aeroplane and I'm back in the mood!!!
Seriously; for the last two years I haven't flown much and have sort of felt "out of the fold" so to speak. Now, as there is light at the end of the tunnel, I feel far more inclined to contribute (not that I have anything great to offer). I'm sure that in this time of austerity, many will be feeling the pinch, flying less and feeling down generally ... not a mix that makes posting on forums seem important.
SS
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I think the reason people drift away from general purpose forums is because the proportion of uninformed opinion increases to a level where it swamps out the interesting, informed view. There are a few contributors here whose posts are always well worth reading, but far too many others think they're an equal member of some online community and just as entitled to express their ill-formed thoughts. There's obviously very little correlation between verbosity, knowledge and being able to form a sensible opinion. That includes some who actually make their living in aviation.
Aviation forums start out as a discussion between pilots talking about something they're out doing in the real world. The most active ones end up overrun by people who use them as a substitute for a social life. If you need a sensible discussion about a topic, there are much better forums with a higher proportion of people who know what they're talking about against those who feel compelled to chip in with some rubbish which takes the thread off in a totally different direction.
The sad reality for the forum addicts is that there just isn't enough change happening in aviation to continually feed a 24 hour discussion. That doesn't seem to stop them trying though.
Aviation forums start out as a discussion between pilots talking about something they're out doing in the real world. The most active ones end up overrun by people who use them as a substitute for a social life. If you need a sensible discussion about a topic, there are much better forums with a higher proportion of people who know what they're talking about against those who feel compelled to chip in with some rubbish which takes the thread off in a totally different direction.
The sad reality for the forum addicts is that there just isn't enough change happening in aviation to continually feed a 24 hour discussion. That doesn't seem to stop them trying though.
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If you need a sensible discussion about a topic, there are much better forums with a higher proportion of people who know what they're talking about
I know there are type specific forums, but most/all of them will be American and my experience of a few years on the Socata one (run by an ex Brit living in the USA) is that most European pilots cleared off it by about 2005 and the place is now dominated by a dozen Americans posting mostly banal stuff. Maybe the Cessna one is better; I believe you have to pay to access it.
The sad reality for the forum addicts is that there just isn't enough change happening in aviation to continually feed a 24 hour discussion.
Maybe there really is a strong economic factor, but why isn't pprune flooded with postings from homebuilders flying their 200kt machines on 10 litres/hr? They do have their forums but from what I recall there is almost nobody on there.
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“Maybe there really is a strong economic factor, but why isn't PPRuNe flooded with postings from homebuilders flying their 200kt machines on 10 litres/hr? They do have their forums but from what I recall there is almost nobody on there.”
Most of the home built owners have followed a relatively set sequence. This is by no means true of all, but it is true of well over 50%. It starts out with a PPL, moves almost immediately to a share (or total ownership), probably in an IFR capable “4 seat” aircraft. An IMCR is gained and used for UK touring, with the perception that most flights require IFR and an enthusiasm to log IFR. European touring is then undertaken in greater amounts. IMCR not valid in Europe so a different approach is needed. VFR is “rediscovered” as extensive European trips are undertaken with sufficient experience and equipment to fly down to VFR minima. Realisation dawns that the same approach can be used in the UK. Homebuilt aircraft then appear attractive as operating from a strip with self maintenance (LAA inspected) removes vast cost and 90% of the hassle, as well as introducing a degree of social camaraderie. This journey takes a long time. I started out in Gliding from 1984 to 91, owned a variety of 4 seat IFR machines alongside shares in various LAA machines and finally committed to the LAA solution alone 5 years ago. More than 50% of the pilots at my strip followed a similar path, but most are older than me and not great computer uses (I have a degree in it).
One also has to understand that some people on here have no clue about LAA type flying and spout utter rubbish in huge quantities. This is not a compatible environment for LAA pliots unless you have a thick skin, or just don’t care, but if you stick at it can be fun. I have taken many forum members up in the MCR and most have found it huge fun. There is now a series of fly ins organised every year aimed at getting forum members to fly in and go for rides in each others aircraft. This is done mostly on Flyer as it has a fly in section. The next one is in October;
FLYER Forums • View topic - Forum Fly in October
Rod1
Most of the home built owners have followed a relatively set sequence. This is by no means true of all, but it is true of well over 50%. It starts out with a PPL, moves almost immediately to a share (or total ownership), probably in an IFR capable “4 seat” aircraft. An IMCR is gained and used for UK touring, with the perception that most flights require IFR and an enthusiasm to log IFR. European touring is then undertaken in greater amounts. IMCR not valid in Europe so a different approach is needed. VFR is “rediscovered” as extensive European trips are undertaken with sufficient experience and equipment to fly down to VFR minima. Realisation dawns that the same approach can be used in the UK. Homebuilt aircraft then appear attractive as operating from a strip with self maintenance (LAA inspected) removes vast cost and 90% of the hassle, as well as introducing a degree of social camaraderie. This journey takes a long time. I started out in Gliding from 1984 to 91, owned a variety of 4 seat IFR machines alongside shares in various LAA machines and finally committed to the LAA solution alone 5 years ago. More than 50% of the pilots at my strip followed a similar path, but most are older than me and not great computer uses (I have a degree in it).
One also has to understand that some people on here have no clue about LAA type flying and spout utter rubbish in huge quantities. This is not a compatible environment for LAA pliots unless you have a thick skin, or just don’t care, but if you stick at it can be fun. I have taken many forum members up in the MCR and most have found it huge fun. There is now a series of fly ins organised every year aimed at getting forum members to fly in and go for rides in each others aircraft. This is done mostly on Flyer as it has a fly in section. The next one is in October;
FLYER Forums • View topic - Forum Fly in October
Rod1
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One also has to understand that some people on here have no clue about LAA type flying and spout utter rubbish in huge quantities.
Gosh, to think I was keeping 100,000 homebuilt pilots from posting here. Quite an achievement, single handed.
Oh, the irony.
The tone of that last post is seen often, and is likely a major reason that many people won't bother with forums. Petty backbiting and points scoring is rarely conducive to encouraging people to contribute.
IO, you're usually better than that.
The tone of that last post is seen often, and is likely a major reason that many people won't bother with forums. Petty backbiting and points scoring is rarely conducive to encouraging people to contribute.
IO, you're usually better than that.
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Maybe the internet (Usenet e.g. rec.aviation.* 10+ years ago, and the www forums taking over since then) has provided a means of discussion but after the standard topics have been covered a dozen times, people lose interest. And the very static nature of the owner-pilot population means that when they lost interest, there was nobody around to replace them.
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There's nothing wrong at all with this Forum.
I have asked many questions here over the last few years and never once got "flamed".
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience on here,just need to tap into it.
I've just asked a question on a topic running here,and I know I've asked about the topic before,it is quite difficult to get a definite answer as the authorities can't make a decision,but I have just had a helpful reply.
I think a lot depends on how the question is posed
Lister
I have asked many questions here over the last few years and never once got "flamed".
There is a wealth of knowledge and experience on here,just need to tap into it.
I've just asked a question on a topic running here,and I know I've asked about the topic before,it is quite difficult to get a definite answer as the authorities can't make a decision,but I have just had a helpful reply.
I think a lot depends on how the question is posed
Lister