I don't believe ego has anything to do with it. I never claimed that I was perfect or the aircraft I fly are perfect. If you feel that adding the parachute to your aircraft makes you feel safer for the 'what if' scenarios, then by all means do it. It just wouldn't be my decision.

(Written on 10/06/2017)(Permalink)

Well OK then. I suppose I should clarify a few things about my opinion here. I never said I was a 15K hour pilot or owned/lived/breathed Cessna. I was just giving my opinion that a modification that adds weight and reduces performance seems like a waste of money. And I feel this goes for any aircraft type or make. Now, being an aircraft owner vs. just talking about spending thousands of dollars on an aircraft are also to very different worlds. If you own an aircraft there is a real hard argument of is the juice worth the squeeze. If you don't own, it's easy to say you can't put a price on a "get out of jail free card", but you can. It can be hard enough to save up for that new comm radio, let alone a ballistic parachute that you will, in all reasonable likelihood, never use. As far as my exact feelings, I'd rather be in positive control of the aircraft until the moment it is on the ground and stopped, no matter the situation. Cessna will fly themselves to an almost straight and l

(Written on 10/06/2017)(Permalink)

I fly in the mountains quite often, not sure I'd need the chute. It seems to me that if you were in a situation in the mountains that required it, you'd be too close to the ground for it to be useful. Flying in challenging environments requires planing and experience.

(Written on 10/05/2017)(Permalink)

So, this should be installed as a Plan B just in case your passenger doesn't want to land the plane? I'm not sure what situation you'd get yourself into in a 172/182 that would require a parachute. After almost twenty years of flying them, I've not once found myself wishing for a parachute on it. Am I just crazy or does it just seem like adding weight unnecessarily?

(Written on 10/05/2017)(Permalink)

Adds new destinations seems like a misnomer. More like starts to again fly to destinations it flew to previously.

(Written on 07/19/2017)(Permalink)

Glad they landed safely but the writing in that article is the real disaster. No clarification of what MABAS is but glad we now know that a bird strike means they hit a bird.

(Written on 12/15/2016)(Permalink)

Nice a strong response without knowing the facts and whys of the situation. Clearly the FAA is actually standing up for the flying public's interest (who they are supposed to represent). Meanwhile he is promoting an art show at the local Yaht club... I bet he would feel differently if this was a fight over the marina.

(Written on 12/15/2016)(Permalink)

Seems like an odd business decision with all the turmoil at that airport. However, it does seem like they are trying to show the residents that there can be a benefit to them by having an airport with affordable air fares to other cities, but I suspect it is far too late for them to see reason. Then again, maybe they'll start using the flights to Carlsbad and get angry that there are no caves...

(Written on 12/15/2016)(Permalink)

Honestly, the choice of where to land and order with which you choose them is wholly dependent on where in the country you are, and what phase of flight you are in. Here in Eastern Colorado, we have an almost endless selection of well-groomed fields, rural roads and some highways. In other parts of the country, the choices are not as plentiful. Also, most interstate highways don't have power lines next to them. That is more often something that follows roads or state highways. Taking a closer look at the highways in question here, there doesn't appear to be any power lines next to them. As to phase of flight, if you are in any phase other than takeoff, you will have time to assess your surroundings and pick the best off-airport landing site. Based on the proximity of the airport to where they landed, can be seen here https://goo.gl/maps/bVjmY8kr1382, I'd guess they had just taken off and the engine quit. At that point your best option is to pick the safest spot straight in front of

(Written on 08/30/2016)(Permalink)

Yeah, a definite over exaggeration of the media. But I would expect no less.

(Written on 08/24/2016)(Permalink)