Potomac Airfield NewsletterPotomac Airfield Newsletter - Feb 2010
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IS fi GOOD THING115 - Thomas Jefferson
I FEEL SORRY FOR 'TSA
If you stop to think about it, TSA is
in a no win situation: On one hand,
TSA is tasked with striving toward
perfect security. On the other hand,
transportation's value comes from
the opposite, being easily accessible.
As the recent `knicker-bomber'
demonstrates, until TSA is mandated
by Congress to feel down all of the
passengers, they are really in a no
win game.
To me, that suggests a solution:
Years ago, I was traveling through
Seattle -Tacoma Airport, which had
little stands in the terminal offering
massage services to passengers. For
a few dollars you get a back rub.
I immediately called a friend at TSA
suggesting TSA was taking the
entirely wrong approach to
screening passengers. The obvious
conclusion (to me anyways) was to
have TSA certified masseurs frisk
the passengers, while simultaneously
providing massage.
Once frisked, a passenger could then
get a little pass, and proceed directly
to their aircraft, without further
delay, and a smile on their face.
Instead of complaining, passengers
would get into line with enthusiasm:
"7 can't wait to get to the airport my
back is killing me. "
Maybe it would evolve into a new
networking and dating service.
"I always found it hard to meet
people, but then I met my wife at
SeaTac airport. She started frisking
me, then we got to chatting. Next
thing you know... "
"Hey, that TSA eur at gate 7 is
really HOT 2y I always fly
United. "
TSA could add premium services,
such as TSA certified chiropractors:
Get a massage, have your bones
cracked, and TSA makes a few
bucks to offset any budget cuts.
This might also fit nicely into current
federal programs, trying to get the
economy moving: Congress could
use stimulus money to literally
cause, well, stimulus.
Thousands could be employed
providing essential services, which
would also make people feel good.
PRESORTED STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
CAPITOL HEIGHTS, MD
PERMIT NO. 2125
A few years ago a pilot walked
into my office commenting he was
certified by the Department of
Defense to drive a 95,000 lb
vehicle with nuclear weapons, but
FAA would no longer permit him
to fly his Cessna 172.
Ah, that's just silly you say...
More recently, another pilot calve
into my office saying he had just
been certified by US Air Force, in
the top 5% condition of all fighter
pilots; but FAA turned down his
medical.
Better yet, he was an `Aviation
Medical Examiner' for another,
ah, well,.... federal agency.
These events finally woke me
from my slumbers. After doing a
bit of research, overcoming my
natural shyness, I filed a formal
petition with the Secretary of
Transportation.
To understand the basis for most
regulatory actions you must peer
back through the obscurity of time to
re-create the scene of the crime.
It seems when FAA originally call
up with 'medical requirements' for
pilots, FAA grabbed the medical
standards for drivers of 65,000 lb
commercial vehicles from the DOT.
HOWEVER, public regulation really
ought to be limited to the damage
one person can do to another-,
otherwise sky -diving, or eating too
many chocolate eclairs in one
sitting, would become illegal.
The cold-blooded actuarial facts
certify you represent more of a
threat to the public in your family
car, than you do in your small family
airplane: It costs more to insure
$ 1 00k of liability in your car, than to
insure $100k of liability in your
comparable airplane. QED.
What about all those feeble pilots?
While everyone becomes feeble
eventually, (some sooner than later),
flight checks, like BFRs, are really
more effective at keeping pilots from
doing -in themselves, or others.
A good friend who just turned 95,
who still has his medical, suggested
requiring more common flight
checks for geezers would make a lot
more sense than medical checks.
Lastly, from a public safety
standp
oint, , is there any REAL
difference between a 1,300 lb LSA
which requires NO medical, and a
small family aircraft, comparable to
the family
car? (Hence 6, 000 lbs)
Action on this could clear arbitrary
impediments; perhaps even more
than GPS and XM weather have,
unleash the economic utility of the
entire General Aviation industrv.
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The only way this petition will get
anywhere is if it goes 'viral.' That
requires YOU submit comments to
the DOT petition. Circulate support
to your Congressman and Senators.
With a head of steam, it becomes an
NPRM for formal action with FAA.
A few have suggested AOPA ought
to pickup this torch. But, as with all
good jokes, timing is everything: I
just happened to file this petition
about a month before AOPA came
out with their new program to help
pilots comply with the very medical
requirements I am questioning, for
only $951year!
Instead of collaborating with the
status quo, I prefer to question its
basis. I prefer to ask the more
fundamental question, "Why?"
Perhaps EAA as a more grass -roots
organization should pickup this
particular torch? Let them know.
MAKE YOUR COMMENTS
TO DOT ONLINE & PASS
THIS ALONG It will take you all
of five minutes to submit your
comments online to DOT. I've put
the links to DOT submissions at
Circulate this to your friends and
enemies alike; maybe we can
establish some common-sense
common -ground, and start a friendly
little revolution in the public interest
I ADMIT THE POSSIBILITY
THAT POTOMAC AIRFIELD
MIGHT BE A BIT, ...WEIRD
Upon deep and reflective
introspection, I've come to realize
Potomac Airfield may be, well,
perhaps a bit 'unusual,' as general
aviation airports go.
WHO SAYS NATIONAL
SECURITY CAN'T BE
FUN? A friend at TSA admitted
quietly to me, "It's a bit strange
for a Federal security agency to
refer to a private airport website
which has James Bond dolls and
directed energy weapons. "
What's so strange about that?
WE ARE GOING STRONG
Fortunately, Potomac has been
mostly insulated from the current
economic crisis: I offer the
defense and intelligence business
has remained mostly unaffected by
current market conditions.
I OOLL at cost to our fuel club
members doesn't hurt either
100LL $3.701gal
Even the new flight school at
Potomac, with its slick, high-tech
Diamond Katana DA20 aircraft,
has already signed up a bunch of
new customers and is going strong
,,,.GT—AV1AT10N.e0M
THERE IS NOTHING TO
FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF
Lastly, DC area aircraft owners,
originally fearful of our 'Circle of
Doom,' have finally realized
they've been wasting hours
driving back and forth out to their
aircraft in the boondocks, for no
real reason at all.
`Trusted' status as an NID3 pilot
makes the airspace almost
transparent, and home becomes a
civilized, gulag -free place, just
minutes away from work and play.
Yes, Potomac Airfield may be a
bit weird ... but it is also very cool!
David Wartofsky Feb 1, 2010
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