Hi guys, please let me take a minute to clear things up here, because it seems that things have gotten out of hand in my absence over the weekend.
Firstly, I would like to assure you all of my total commitment to aviation in all of its forms, even helicopters
. My whole career choice, especially choosing to document aviation as a full time job, stems from a deep seated passion for all things aeronautical- I eat sleep and breathe aviation every second of every day.
That said, in my current position, it would be totally idiotic and reckless to totally alienate myself from any sector of the aviation community, and I fear that in misunderstanding my post on avcom, I might be seen as doing just that.
My reference to rocket scientists in a derogatory fashion was aimed at those who fly microlights in IF conditions, as stated by the title of the thread. As one who is fascinated by everything that flies, I harbour none of the stereotypical generalisations toward any group of pilots, unless a pilot gives me a reason to do so, and then I will have a problem with him as an individual, not the rest of his group.
I am in full support of sharing the sky with any person who can do so responsibly, and safely, without sacrificing the major reason we should all be flying > THE FUN FACTOR.
So accept this as an apology if my intentions with my post were not clear enough.
I just feel so strongly about flying IF without a rating, because every year, it is the single greatest killer of pilots in this country, yet its always a perfectly serviceable machine that they die in. For people like this there is no cure. Unless they decide to look after themselves, no else else really can, because as I mentioned these guys arent always based at fields where there are eyes watching them arrive at night, in IF etc.
to be a safe pilot only you are your final regulator. only you really determine how safe you are, and only you have the final say over which side of the legal line you tread. Licenced aviators shouldnt need to be policed. Your sense of responsibility must become your policeman.
ps: I am very far from one of those guys who pulls his nose up flying smaller aeries. I just want to fly, dont really care in what.
...but gyrocopters scare me>
) we all share one common experience - FLYING!
