When will media types learn a runway is not a tarmac.

(Written on 2015/04/18)(Permalink)

The edge of 13/31 is just 200 feet from the seawall. A modest deviation off the runway, whatever the cause, got the left wing caught on it real quick. The resulting left yaw brought the nose up on the wall(thankfully avoiding the storm water pump stations). I get the impression the aircraft nose slid down the seawall as opposed to the media screams that they were headed straight towards the water. The wall was just high enough to keep the bird on the dry side. In effect the energy was dissipated over several seconds, keeping the hull intact and injuries minimal. My guess is all this happened just after they passed the 'Welcome to New York' sign on the seawall.

(Written on 2015/03/06)(Permalink)

Long ago I got my PPL as a teen. I wanted a flying career. I paid the extra fee for a first class medical just to be sure it wouldn't be a problem later on. Then out of nowhere, at age 21, I found myself on insulin and my plans for a flying career came to a sudden end. In fact all flying for me came to a full stop with no exceptions possible. I agree with the comments here. These days you can fly with limitations if you are tightly controlled and can prove it. Forget commercial flying though. Like you said the memories are good. I'm real happy at least I attained my PPL before it was too late. I sure wish I could fly one of the new Piper Super Cubs. I never got to learn tail wheels. There's a legitimate problem with insulin. Despite your best efforts, you can blackout with little warning. The worse part is often you can't see it coming and take corrective action. I wonder if I can fly as 2nd pilot if I test every 15 minutes. Glucose being a bit high, let's say up to 200 is not a

(Written on 2014/09/29)(Permalink)

Why be so alarmist about it? How about having it fly in low and slow from one corner of the playing field, deliver the ball, then walk it out. That means not over the crowd or even the players if you map it out properly. The irrational fear of drunken males knocking it down can't happen. It took me 10 seconds to Google UM stadium image and see a solution. Even the FAA would approve.

(Written on 2014/09/26)(Permalink)

Hey Matt, go to YouTube where striking a match is roundly denounced by self appointed safety monitors.

(Written on 2014/07/26)(Permalink)

Concerning the change in track color, may I suggest dashed lines where tracks have weak data. I find the difference between green and white lines to be slight. A dashed line is more intuitive and better serves those with problems interpreting colors and shades.

(Written on 2014/07/26)(Permalink)

This tragedy really troubles me. A few days earlier (14 July)I was thinking about a friends frequent trips to Lahore, Pakistan. I wondered about precisely what route is typically taken. My concerns were along the lines of what airports are along the route if a mechanical failure or some other event arises that would require a quick landing. I was shocked to see not only PIA but many major carriers were taking a line directly over eastern Ukraine, a known hot zone. I knew there were air defense batteries in the area that are hot, meaning they've been actively targeting and firing at opposing force aircraft. Why on earth are all these carriers flying here?? I could see a line of flights, 10 an hour or more when I checked on the 14th. If it bothered me, it must have bothered the pilots actually flying the route. I understand the FAA informed US flag carriers to not take the route. But why would others not follow our lead? Was there company pressure due to financial concerns or wa

(Written on 2014/07/18)(Permalink)

This is so much more that could have happened at the hands of these fools. Simply firing or jailing is not enough. How can this happen? What if the AC was a departing passenger flight and they ran into a running engine after push back, or ruptured a wing fuel tank? How did they get hired for a job that puts them in a position to allow such havoc?

(Written on 2014/05/02)(Permalink)

It was 1988, when I got a sales order for farm ag chemicals from an Iraqi State owned farm chemical company. I had seen the horrific footage on TV with kids lying dead in the streets, killed by Saddams' CW squad. US State gave a green light to ship even though I explained the sale is basically precursor material for CW. Still State gives a green light. Quandry: If I ship, I kill kids. If I don't ship I miss out on a good sale and some other supplier will ship it. The Answer: Do a full chemical study of chemicals and come up with a plan, consult with chemical experts, make a custom formulation that never become CW and better yet will ruin any Iraqi chems combined with my stuff in a way so the CW production reaction never happens and it's impossible for them to figure out just what happened to their lovely facility. We faked all the labels and packaging. Now, no CW is produced, other cursors are ruined, the plant manager probably gets shot, the money and effort put into my material n

(Written on 2014/04/19)(Permalink)

Easy, use gravity vortex sillyons to create a gas barrier. It's been made practical by Elon Musk using his new Flydox technology. It invisibly draws back atmospheric gases on one side thereby allowing people to pass through unimpeded. Brief passenger discomfort occurs in the form of a mental image that there are onions lurking about.

(Written on 2014/03/01)(Permalink)