Flight Training - February 2013 - 8

LETTERS

Talk back
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. Please email letters to flighttraining@aopa.org. Letters will be edited for style and space.

ARE UAVS A THREAT TO GA?

NOT SAFE ENOUGH

am disturbed after receiving Flight Training today seeing the UAV on the cover (December 2012), and am considering cancelling my 14-year membership. How does AOPA justify promoting one of the biggest threats to general aviation? It is evident that the push for NextGen is for “safe integration” of these spycraft and little else. I and most others don’t feel computers are safe enough yet to be trusted with the level of responsibility required to pilot aircraft, which could potentially collide with
manned aircraft or with persons or property on the ground. Perhaps someday, when they become safe enough, the corporations that manufacture these UAVs should pay to equip my aircraft with NextGen-mandated avionics, since this system mostly benefits their integration and since this expense—combined with all the others—may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for me and many other pilot/ aircraft owners. Who is AOPA looking out for, anyway, us or big brother? Time to get in touch a little better with the needs of your membership, I think. Richard Taracka Port Townsend, Washington
NEGATIVE ADVICE

things on the radios, but “contact” and “no contact,” come on. John Williams Methuen, Massachusetts Rod Machado responds: Yes, you are absolutely correct. Those are the correct terms to use. Sometimes old habits are hard to let go of.
UNDER PRESSURE

In"Since You Asked" (December 2012 Flight Training), Rod Machado blew it with his answer on communicating traffic or the lack thereof to a controller. It’s not “contact” or “no contact”; per the Pilot/Controller Glossary and the Aeronautical Information Manual the correct answer is “negative contact” and “traffic in sight.” I’ve heard a lot of goofy

When reading “Under Pressure” (December 2012 Flight Training) I was reminded of a Christmas present many years ago. I worked for an architectural firm, and the staff decided to give the three owners a balloon ride as a present. I think I recall that the launch had been postponed once before and at the predawn launch prep, the wind began to build. At liftoff it was deemed right at the edge, yet off they went. Boy, did they go! They nearly clipped a tree leaving the ground, and I don’t remember how long they were up, but they covered many miles. When they finally landed— if “landed” is the right word—they had easily covered 20 miles or more. The basket was dragged

JOIN THE FEBRUARY FLIGHT TRAINING CHAT
What comes next? What do you plan to do with your new pilot certificate? Join the Flight Training editors on Tuesday, February 5, for a live Facebook chat on adventure flying and adding new certificates and ratings. Go online (www. facebook.com/AOPAFlightTrainingMag), click the Chat icon, and follow the directions. You can set a reminder here, too.
8/ FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG
Flight Training

Chat with FT

http://www.PilotShop.com http://www.facebook.com/AOPAFlightTrainingMag http://www.facebook.com/AOPAFlightTrainingMag http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - February 2013