I understand perfectly how the system is designed to work, but I also understand how the current airspace and air traffic managment system is DESIGNED to work...but the way it DOES work is vastly different. Human training, judgement and experience are vital elements in every aspect of aviation, and this system removes them in critical circumstances.
I am very familiar with flight control systems, flight management systems, autopilots, INS, GPS, TAWS and the host of other technology that inhabits modern aircraft. When they work, they're an aid to safe flight...
If my GPS or INS or autopilot/autothrottle system goes dead, guess what? I switch them off or pop the breakers, and fly the airplane. If they break under the proposed system and I have no ability to control the aircraft...well, that smoking hole just isn't my idea of a good way to end the day.
Here's a question for you: would you accept a system in your car that completely removed your power of autonomous action when the vehicle neared an arbitrary security zone? Are you THAT confident in the software and hardware that you'd risk your life with it? Of that of your family?
This of course leaves aside the hideous cost of a fleet-wide retrofit for commercial aircraft...and the question of whether every private aircraft will require the system. Does a 4 passenger Piper or Cirrus need it? How about a privately owned King Air? Or a Gulfstream IV? How about the guy flying his little Rotax-powered homebuilt (hell, it could carry a suitcase nuke)...
And what about airspace controlled under the system. One day its P-56 over the White House, but whats happens as it expands for political considerations? (See the fact that there is a "temporary" Flight Restriction over Walt Disney World as a current example...their lobbyists asked for it and got it.)
I think you see the slippery slope this represents for a marginal safety benefit.
(And, if you doubt the willingness of trial lawyer scum to sue at ANY kind of opportunity, welcome to the real world.)
I'm not trying to make the best the enemy of the good, but in this case, the good isn't good enough. Don't mistake a clever technology for a wise one.
I've heard the 70 hours figure over the years and it keeps edging up over time. I never undestood it though. Did my private pilot checkride at 41.5 hours at at a cost of around $4500. And with all the usual caveats, Flight Simulator was helpful for learning navigation and instruments.
Slashdot Mirror
Amen Brother....I remember seeing it when I was maybe 17 on a road trip. The SIZE of it...whew.
I understand perfectly how the system is designed to work, but I also understand how the current airspace and air traffic managment system is DESIGNED to work...but the way it DOES work is vastly different. Human training, judgement and experience are vital elements in every aspect of aviation, and this system removes them in critical circumstances. I am very familiar with flight control systems, flight management systems, autopilots, INS, GPS, TAWS and the host of other technology that inhabits modern aircraft. When they work, they're an aid to safe flight... If my GPS or INS or autopilot/autothrottle system goes dead, guess what? I switch them off or pop the breakers, and fly the airplane. If they break under the proposed system and I have no ability to control the aircraft...well, that smoking hole just isn't my idea of a good way to end the day. Here's a question for you: would you accept a system in your car that completely removed your power of autonomous action when the vehicle neared an arbitrary security zone? Are you THAT confident in the software and hardware that you'd risk your life with it? Of that of your family? This of course leaves aside the hideous cost of a fleet-wide retrofit for commercial aircraft...and the question of whether every private aircraft will require the system. Does a 4 passenger Piper or Cirrus need it? How about a privately owned King Air? Or a Gulfstream IV? How about the guy flying his little Rotax-powered homebuilt (hell, it could carry a suitcase nuke)... And what about airspace controlled under the system. One day its P-56 over the White House, but whats happens as it expands for political considerations? (See the fact that there is a "temporary" Flight Restriction over Walt Disney World as a current example...their lobbyists asked for it and got it.) I think you see the slippery slope this represents for a marginal safety benefit. (And, if you doubt the willingness of trial lawyer scum to sue at ANY kind of opportunity, welcome to the real world.) I'm not trying to make the best the enemy of the good, but in this case, the good isn't good enough. Don't mistake a clever technology for a wise one.
Exactly. As a pilot I'll tell you that this idea has so many layers of stupidity that it defies imagination.
Exactly...committment to the process probably the key determinant...I just treated it like grad school ;)
I've heard the 70 hours figure over the years and it keeps edging up over time. I never undestood it though. Did my private pilot checkride at 41.5 hours at at a cost of around $4500. And with all the usual caveats, Flight Simulator was helpful for learning navigation and instruments.