ONE TINY MISTAKE           

It finally happened…  I make one mistake in four years as Publisher of Fly-Low and bam I get caught…  The full details and picture of the mistake are in the Air Mail column of this issue…  I had quite a few calls and comments via e-mail that showed me the error of my hasty ways.  I am glad to see that Fly-Low’s readers check us out so closely.  My thanks to Harold Wehrman for submitting a most interesting piece of memorabilia and thanks to those who commented...  I promise to do better in the next four years. 

From the Air Mail column

Dear Ralph 

Actually, Mr. Wehrman sold (or, at least, sent you a receipt of a sale of) 16.0 gallons for $.81/gallon. (Not too many old aviation pumps meter to the 100th) ;-)

 Keep the magazine coming, loved the NBC Terrorist article on page 2.

 Richard Ake

 Editor’s Note:  One of the things that seems to have caught the eye of a lot of readers was the credit card receipt sent to me by Harold Wehrman of Montgomery City (MO).  The card you see on this page reflects a purchase sometime in the sixties of 100 LL Aviation fuel at a price of eighty-one cents per gallon, not the seventy-seven cents calculated by me.  In my haste, I misread the amount of gas purchased as 16.81 gallons…  As Richard Ake (and the others) pointed out…  most gas pumps back then didn’t calculate gas down to the 100ths. 

I was just testing our readers… yeah, that’s it.

Thanks for your comments..  I know now that we have some rather astute readers

KEEP UP TO DATE 

Flying today is more serious business than ever before.  That comes as no surprise to any current pilot.  I had planned to have a good story to cover the TFR and private pilot.  My sources were late in responding to my questions.  That story will come next month.  Fly-Low attempts to keep those on our TFR Notification list current on the TFRs as they become available to us.  A pilot recently described this transmission he heard over ATC frequency. 

GA Pilot – Center, I have an F-16 off my right wing!!! 

Center – Yes sir, you do.  You busted a TFR… follow his directions.  Secret Service wants to talk to you when you land. 

It happens… and can happen to any of us.  How do we keep our ‘big buddy’ from flying formation with us?  Call FSS before you fly, even on a short flight.   

Another case this week, an 80 year old man and his friend was up sightseeing when he busted a TFR near King of Prussia in the Keystone state.  After more than three hours of on the ground questioning by officials, they were permitted to leave (story this issue).  Folks, the government takes TFRs very seriously, as should we.  It is all the more reason to call FSS before lift off. 

The following quote is part of a twelve page document sent to Fly-Low from FSDO to explain who can and can’t enter a TFR.   

DEGREE OF RESTRICTION. When a NOTAM has been issued in accordance with this Section, aircraft may not operate within the designated airspace unless:

(a) Authorization has been received from the official in charge of associated emergency or disaster relief response activities and the aircraft is operating under the conditions of that authorization;

(b) The aircraft is carrying law enforcement officials;

(c) The aircraft is carrying personnel involved in an emergency or legitimate scientific purpose;

(d) The aircraft is carrying properly accredited news representatives, and that prior to entering the area, a flight plan is filed with the appropriate ATC facility specified in the NOTAM and the operation is conducted in compliance with conditions and restrictions established by the official in charge of on-scene emergency response activities; or

 (e) The aircraft is operating in accordance with an ATC clearance or instruction. 

To read the document in full, go to http://www.fly-low.com/featsept04/TFR.pdf. 

We’ll have more on this next month. 

We, G. A. Pilots, didn’t create this mess, but must live with it as best we can.  It will be years before we return to the free skies of years gone by… if ever.  With all this known, a pilot should join one of the national pilot associations, as well as his state association, and the local club.  This gives us a stronger voice in our future flying life.