On 1/25/2014 7:22 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:

On 1/25/14, 4:47 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 1/24/2014 10:52 PM, Wayne.B wrote:


I'd be interested in knowing why you didn't like helicopters. Didn't
know about the R-22 until a few minutes ago and thought it looked
pretty cool. Would it be safe to fly one to the Bahamas?




For me, learning to fly had been a lifelong dream and goal but once
accomplished I realized that I felt much more at home and safer on a
boat.


I was on a helicopter that "went down" hard in West Virginia. Some sort
of oil or hydraulic failure. No one was injured, and the copter was
hauled away on a flatbed. That was enough helicoptering for me.

I took a few flying lessons when I lived in Michigan. Then a friend and
political colleague who was an experienced pilot died when his plane
crashed. Then my political mentor and friend Walter Reuther died when
the Learjet he was in crashed. Then in DC, a printer who was a friend of
mine died when his plane crashed.

Oh, and when I worked for the NEA, I was on a commercial plane heading
for a landing near Harrisburg, PA. The weather was awful and suddenly
out the window we saw tall smokestacks at wing level right next to us.
The pilot took the plane as near vertical as he could and the flight
attendent, as she tumbled towards the back of the plane, muttered,
"we're going to die."

I dislike flying. I do it when I have to, but I am a lousy passenger.



I also dislike flying for many reasons. I did a lot during my working
career of course but as soon as it was no longer necessary, I stopped.
The last time I took a commercial flight was nearly 12 years ago.

Like many our age, I witnessed the glory days of aviation as a youngster
and thought being a pilot was about as cool of a job one could ever have.

I wonder how many people realize what the role of a modern commercial
pilot is. He or she is really a "cockpit manager" supervising a
prescribed list of operations that are mostly automatically controlled.
Those with the "seat of the pants" flying skills and experience like
"Sully" Sullenberger who landed on the Hudson River after a bird strike
are becoming the minority.

The main thing that turned me off to commercial flying was some
knowledge I gained of the industry while working. For example, the
engines in jets and prop driven aircraft are routinely rebuilt after so
many hours. It used to be that the engine manufacturer (GE, Pratt &
Whitney, etc.) did the rebuilding and testing. Not so much anymore.
Airlines farm out the rebuilding to third party companies who, although
governed by FAA and manufacturer's specs and requirements, get the
contracts by submitting the lowest bid.

That all said though, I acknowledge that for the number of daily
flights, miles flown and passengers carried, flying has an excellent
safety record. My problem is that I am listening to every sound, clunk
and hydraulic whir when strapped in the seat. :-)