RE:Hmmm ..we are doing completion check-out flights and flight testing here in Savannah as you read this. #626 did a 14-hour endurance check on Saturday.
Tony,
I can assure you your endurance flight check was operating under IFR rules and plans and in full time contact with center. If you went above 18,000ft I guarantee you were operating IFR which was allowed. I have just checked with the Riverside FSS as of 1400Z 9/18/01 and VFR GENERAL AVIATION IS PROHIBITED FROM THE NATIONAL AIRSPACE.
The question is WHY?
General aviation was not responsible for any of the attacks. Some say "well, their a potential for causing a terrorist act". No s**t Sherlock!....so are folks renting Ryder trucks and buying fertlizer from Home Depot. The Terrorist used cars to take them to their starting points of their terrorist acts but are they banning cars? NO... they banned curbside check in. WHOPEE! That means the terrorist will have to park in the overflow parking and go to the counter for check in. I'm feeling safer by the moment. I'm still waiting for the next dumb a** statement to come from our government.
The real people getting hurt in this draconian ban on GA is the people who serve them. The FBO's that sell fuel, provide flight training, rent airplanes, and mechanic services who service them have been basically out of work for a week and it is continuing. Many FBO's will go bankrupt and the ripple effect will be felt by all who have anything to do with GA.
And weather people agree or not, here is my prediction what will occur over the next six months.......
1. General Aviation will end as we know it.
2. Our privacy will be invaded in the name of National Security.
3. Our country will suffer the highest unemployment rate in history.
4. CNN will brodcast pictures of children running down the streets of Kabul with their clothes burned off.
5. After #4 occurs, no one will wave their flags anymore and support for war will decay rapidly.
6. Because of #5 we will only do a half a** job at fighting terrorism.
7. We will be no safer than we were last tuesday.
Excuse me while I reset my pressure relief valve......
Dave G