[Mad Doggy Dog]

Ya know, I used to be a member of the AOPA.

Back when I was a CFI building time for an eventual airline job, I always found it amusing when they called me asking for donations. What part of CFI salary did they not understand?

I think they put out a great aviation magazine. I always felt they were a strong lobby for the private pilot. They fight hard for airspace access for small private planes.

But when I started flying big jets into crowded airspace for living, I quickly realised something: Airliners and small private planes do not mix too well.

I have had 6 near misses in the last 10 years. Six! All of them in California. Four in the LA basin, two in the SFO Bay area.

Three of the LAX area close calls were the result of Air Traffic Controller error getting me in conflict with small planes near ONT.

The other two were private pilots screwing up.

The last one was an Air China cargo 747 not understanding English to well.

None were my fault.

All were scary.


Getting to my point.

I think the AOPA goes too far in pushing for access for GA. Most GA aircraft need to be kept far away from the airliners. And visa versa.

I have enough threats to worry about doing an arrival into LAX with out having to add the additional task of looking out for GA traffic because Angelina Jolie wants to fly her Cirrus from Santa Monica to Big Bear.

OK, Angelina Jolie can do whatever she wants [to me] as far as I am concerned. But for all those other private pilots out having a good time...........they need to stay away from the airliners. Far away. Far far away. And the AOPA needs to stop fighting to give these folks access to places they have no business being in. This is why I quit AOPA.


If I were king of the universe, I would decree:

No VFR traffic anywhere in the LA basin. Same for the SFO Bay. And the NYC area too. And the area in between FLL and MIA.

No VFR flights allowed in class B airspace.....ever! Especially ATL. And ORD. And JFK.

And at SNA, I would prohibit airline operations there. This place is an accident looking for a place to happen. Move the airline ops to El Toro. Or add 3000' to the runway, delete the noise abatement procedures, and kick out all the small private planes. One or the other.

I would bulldoze the runways at MDW, DCA and LGA, and put up some nice condos. I'd fill in the bay south of JFK and put in new terminals and 6 more runways. Then I'd take my bulldozer over to EWR and PHL, knock down a bunch of nearby buildings and houses, and put in more runways too.

And I would acutally see to it that the money that was already collected as passenger / avfuel tax actually went to imporve the facilites and fund ATC.



For those of you flying small planes without TCAS, just wait. Wait until you get your first job on an airplane equipped with TCAS. You'll be amazed. Amazed you've never had a mid air collision in your prior flying.

Newly hired Regional, Corporate and 135 guys, am I right?


Just my opinion.....


Rant mode off.