----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
Frank, There follows my response to Rick Green. Dear Rick, Thank you for taking the time to write your feelings about VFR flying and the "protest" that was being discussed on the Internet via email. While I agree that civil disobedience in this case is not a wise thing to do, and has many many serious repercussions, all negative and, without question, would damage our community I must disagree with your rationale regarding the prohibition against VFR flying. Your are wrong. Way way wrong. No terrorist is going to follow any rule. Prohibiting you and me from flying up that marvelous VFR path on the Hudson River is never going to stop one of those people from doing it. fact is, even today, one of them could load a 182 with 600 pounds of fertilizer and make it from any New Jersey airport to anyplace in New York City. No rule, and no F-16, will be able to stop them. This isn't about stopping that kind of a pilot. This is merely the government wonks wanting to do something to feel good. Equate this with the gun laws. Same thing: the good guys are the only ones who obey them. No, this is about an unfeeling and, in many cases, unknowing, government who just isn't tuned into our plight. The most frustrating thing is that the rule of NO VFR doesn't catch anyone. Cant ever. What a shame. What a tragedy. We have had in the last 24 hours 3 (as in THREE) flight schools here in New Jersey close. Two have put their aircraft up for sale. They are gone for good; already. A friend who is an FBO in Texas sells between 800 and a thousand gallons a day of av gas a day. since last Tuesday, 8 days, he has sold exactly 36 gallons total. He has furloughed his mechanic as no aircraft can arrive for annuals. His flight school is shut down, may reopen. Depends on how long this will last. Dave, this isn't about catching terrorists. It is about government stupid. This action is crippling a basic major industry in America. Our government is just not tuned into us. They need to be. I disagree with all my being your points that somehow flying around the patch and shooting a few landings is somehow aiding and abetting an enemy. NOT flying is aiding and abetting that enemy. A terrorist's purpose is to change the way his enemy lives: if we allow this to go on then he has succeeded. They are not going to be caught chugging along in their cessnas alone in the sky. Stupid they are not, yet that is your point. We don't fly; they do, and the feds come riding in and grab them. You cant be serious. You letter makes me sad. I too am connected to law enforcement, was an Air Force pilot twice, once in SAC combat rated and once, not exactly a volunteer, during Nam for 7 years as a cargo pilot. I have been flying since age 12. I lament this loss of our freedom and I find obscene this victory over us by these terrorists. To not fly is to surrender. You are wrong. Very wrong. Respectfully, Skip Rawson/ an old pilot ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiLm.aVzvvT Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
<<attachment: winmail.dat>>
