After writing this I found Patrick Smith’s Salon columns. He has a tad more clout than I, is a great writer, and addresses this issue in many of his articles.

Notice the very first slide, where the text suggests that the D.o.T. is blaming the airlines for refusing to modernize!! It refers to ATC as a “relic of the 1950s” and makes it sound as if the airlines are the ones getting in the way of the progressives at the FAA who want to modernize!!

I DAMN NEAR CHOKED! What absolute b.s. As if the airlines had ANY choice but to use the FAA’s system (WHICH, B/T/W, IS STILL INCREDIBLY SAFE, AT LEAST THE ARTCC’s are).

But why be surprised? Don’t we have a president who constantly blames Congress for ‘getting in the way’? As if Congress should just roll over and pass every bill he proposes. It’s SPIN, and they’re counting on an uneducated public to drink their Kool-Aid.

Absolutely infuriating!

Stan-the-Debrief-Guy

The graphic that shows the zig-zag course taken on a flight versus the “direct” route is misleading. The supposed direct route does not take great circle navigation into account and is *NOT* the shortest route. In fact, as far as I can tell, the “taken” course is closer to correct. You can’t just draw a straight line 2000 miles East to West and get the shortest route.

I long ago determined that the media is willing to report with great authority on things they have no experience or knowledge of. It only becomes clear when it is something that the reader does understand. What worries me, is that they are probably just as (in)accurate about everything else.

The FAA and the ATA have been pushing hard to get their message of “NextGen will fix everything” out to the press and convince the taxpayers that it is the “bigwigs” in their private planes are causing the problems and robbing us blind. Meanwhile, we should ignore airline mismanagement, inefficient operations, bailouts and plundering of pensions.

NetJets, private jets and their ilk are flourishing because of declining service from the airlines. Every time an executive flies private, they don’t buy a last minute, full-fare, First Class seat.

Casimir (PPL SEL)

And just because you’re flying in a corporate jet doesn’t mean you’re a fat cat millionaire. Medical staff, college sports teams, scientists, or just guys going to Vegas often charter small jets. It doesn’t make them rich. I held a part time job to obtain my private certificate, and I’m proud of it.

The concept of small planes full of rich snots hogging up your airspace and airports is another falsehood the public is being sold.

james…