"Emotional Reactions Without The Benefit Of Facts"
The reaction from the
general media immediately following Wednesday's unfortunate
accident in New York City was swift... with the talking heads and
pundits openly questioning how a small plane was allowed to fly so
close to buildings in a major metropolitan area.
It remains to be seen what consequences may arise from the
accident, as calls for tightened flight restrictions have grown
increasingly vocal in the past 24 hours. If the response from
the general aviation "alphabet groups" is any indication of things
to come, however... GA will not accept harsher restrictions without
a well-reasoned fight.
In the hours following the accident, representatives with the
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Experimental
Aircraft Association (EAA) and the granddaddy of them all, the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) were on the phones...
and often, on the airwaves... responding to questions posed by the
major media outlets concerning the "danger" posed by light
planes.
EAA President Tom Poberezny called the accident that claimed the
lives of NY Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle (right) and CFI Tyler
Stanger an "unmistakable tragedy for everyone involved" -- but
cautioned against those who want to use the incident to change the
way people fly in and around major cities.
"There have been calls
by some politicians and media outlets for bans of general aviation
in and around metropolitan areas. This, however, makes no more
sense than banning cars and trucks from roads after an automobile
or semi-trailer accident," said Poberezny. "There may be calls for
tightened security after this sad event, but such demands are
emotional reactions without the benefit of facts."
NBAA reports that since the accident occurred Wednesday
afternoon, the group has been in contact with media outlets across
the country. NBAA Senior Vice President Operations Steve Brown has
given interviews with ABC World News Tonight, CNBC, National Public
Radio, Bloomberg Radio News and other organizations -- and the
agency is actively offering its comments to all interested
outlets.
Thursday morning, AOPA President Phil Boyer appeared live on
CNN's American Morning to be interviewed by anchor Miles O'Brien --
who also flies a Cirrus, and is a member of the 408,000
member-strong pilot advocacy group.
"No small plane has been used as a weapon of terror," Boyer
reminded CNN viewers.
That followed an interview Boyer gave Wednesday night with ABC
World News Tonight, during which Boyer explained general aviation
security -- and reiterated why GA is not a terrorist threat. That
was but the first of many interviews Boyer gave from the television
studio at AOPA headquarters in Frederick, MD.
Boyer did not remain in
the studio, though. Thursday afternoon, he flew CBS News
correspondent Bob Orr and a camera team onboard his private Cessna
172, to give Orr a better understanding of VFR flying from a
nontowered airport, air traffic control airspace such as the Class
B surrounding both New York and Washington, DC, and security
airspace like the Washington, DC Air Defense Identification Zone
(which encompasses all of the Class B airspace and then some and
has an internal "no fly" zone within 15 miles of Washington).
In all, AOPA reports its media team has so far talked to more
than two dozen top media outlets from the United States, Japan,
France, and more. The team also authored a response to a USA Today
editorial that appeared Thursday morning, in which the newspaper
raised questions about what its editorial writers view as a failure
to address general aviation security.
AOPA's response, which appeared below the USA Today editorial,
states, "For you to question the need for increased ground security
ignores the fact that general aviation pilots know their passengers
and cargo. And it ignores the fact that the federal agencies
responsible for our security — the Transportation Security
Administration and the FAA — have looked hard at GA and said
that it does not pose a threat. Mayor Bloomberg himself indicated
that this event says 'nothing' about security to New York City.
"Pilots are passionate about the many joys of flying," the
response continued. "Our freedom of travel is one of the great
liberties we all enjoy in the USA. Challenging that through USA
Today's unfounded questions -- not honest and informed inquiry --
has neither merit nor benefit."