As a Brit on holiday in Florida, (I was in Tampa today) I agree with Terry
that the media in the US is in a frenzy over the 15 year old crashing into a
Tampa high rise.
The good news is that AOPA and other Aviation experts are talking sensibly
about overreaction and this being a one off incident. In the words of a
local newspaper 'only 15 out of 221k planes were stolen in the USA in 2001'
however 'twice that many cars are stolen every week in Orlando alone'.
However, the politicians are jumping on the band wagon (Jeb Bush is on the
TV as I write this) and they demand votes from a frightened populace.
The 15 year old was supposed to preflight the Cessna before a lesson but he
jumped in, took off without radio contact, the authorities did alert the Air
Force (he overflew a major base close to Tampa, but they did not consider
him to be a threat) and he was intercepted by a Coast Guard helicopter and
still hit the skyscraper. He was said to be 'quiet by nature' and wanted to
be a military pilot because of Sept
11th.
My own experience is that flying is free and easy but very well controlled
in the US. There are so many airports and planes around and yet no one has
commented about the gun lobby and the threat to the populace.
Happy New Year to all in Europa land
Steve Pitt #403
----Original Message-----
From: Terry Seaver <terrys@cisco.com>
Date: 08 January 2002 22:24
Subject: Media attacks on GA
>For Europa-philes in the USA,
>(my aplology to you others for the long e-mail)
>
>As many of you are probably aware, the yellow
>press are in a feeding frenzy over the C172 crash
>in Tampa.
> Demands are being made for metal detectors
>and bag searches before boarding private planes,
>and for 24 hour security staffing for all air fields
>(NBC Nightly News). Other media experts were
>recommending GA be kept 100+ miles away from
>major cities. A CNN pole indicated 63% of the public
>were in favor of more controls on GA.
> I believe we cannot rely on AOPA and others to
>save us from this one, we need to participate as well.
>I have written to several news media, and my senators
>and representatives, and I recommend you all do the same.
>E-Mail to your representatives can be made at the following
>web sites; www.house.gov and www.senate.gov
>
>An example of the things being said by the media is at;
>http://www.msnbc.com/news/683579.asp
>
>I tended to focus my letters on the following;
>
>1) There is no valid reason to believe that small planes
>weighing less than an economy car are a danger to society,
>the crash in Tampa proves that.
>2) Threat is a function of vehicle weight, therefore cars/trucks
>are more dangerous than small planes (Cessna 172 1400#,
>economy car ~2800#).
>3) A weak excuse has been given that cars can be barred by
>barriers, but not planes. Where are all these barriers? When
>will every business, school, church, and home have them installed?
>4) Hysteria over aviation and resulting irrational reactions have cost
>jobs, businesses, and even lives (an article during Thanksgiving pointed
>
>out increased auto/decreased air travel would cause a larger number of
>traffic deaths over the holidays).
>5) Those who attack GA for the sake of cheap sensationalism
>are no better than the couple who faked the wife's death
>on 9/11 for the money.
>
>regards,
>Terry Seaver
>
>ps - If you use some of my ideas in a letter, please modify
>my text enough so the two letters don't look like a form letter.
>
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