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Having read many, many articles on the ADSB situation it has come to mind that we might be giving up a lot to gain what is offered. I'd like to submit this letter in an effort to promote discussion and thought on the other side of the ADSB coin. I fully realize that this may be controversial and I apologize in advance if it is too strongly worded for some. WHAT IF YOU RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING LETTER IN THE MAIL? DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Dear Fellow Citizen, The Secretary of Transportation has determined that for purposes of traffic monitoring, control and safety, starting on Jan 1, 2020, in order for you to be allowed to travel by car or truck to, or near, any one of 137 named cities or, to use the Interstate Highway System, you will be required to install on your vehicle, a GPS tracking device (at your expense) that will transmit your position, your instantaneous speed and your travel direction to this department and, simultaneously, to the local law enforcement agency for the area you are traveling through. Your license plate data and vehicle information will be included in such GPS transmissions. This data will be recorded by the Department of Transportation and law enforcement for future use. The scope of this future use and the retention time of these records are, as yet, undetermined. If you elect to travel to these cities and install said GPS tracking device as required, you will not be allowed to disable the unit at any time and you must allow us to track your every movement from then on. Whether to the named cities, to the local bank or to the grocery store; we will, after installation, track and record your movements, at all times, any time your vehicle moves, . Your identification, tracking and travel data will be made available to anyone in the general public, via open dissemination, in real time. The Department will also provide traffic and weather information to you, as you travel through these areas via another radio receiver if, and only if, you elect to purchase such a unit, again, at your expense. Both the GPS tracking unit and the Information receiver must meet Department of Transportation design requirements and the installations must be documented and approved by this Department. The installations may only be accomplished by a “Department Approved” installation facility under penalty of law. The Department reserves the right to use, record and disseminate the reported and collected data, as it sees fit, for internal use and for use by other governmental entities, law enforcement and the general public. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter and please-drive safely.

Thanks to Shane Schmidt of http://www.thesquawkshoppe.com who rode with me and put this video together. I think we used four GoPro's in all. https://youtu.be/18oD6potX98 I fly the M20C and Sandman flies the M20E. After waiting for a full month, the clouds finally lifted in Texas just enough for us to get out an play. Hope to see you all at the Caravan Clinic in San Marcos next weekend.

Quote from another controller, on another forum, confirming what I heard from my single serving drinking friend: Every new technology that comes about they always say it will make the NAS more efficient by letting them cut the space between aircraft. It never happens. Airplanes are already as close as they're going to get. On a dry runway you are going to need a minimum 2.5 miles between jets. That's an absolute bare minimum and everything has to go right. That also does not allow for any departures. You'll need 5-6 miles in trail for that. That also assumes no extra miles for wake turbulence. Right now all aircraft following a heavy or B757 require extra miles. All jets that are smalls require extra miles not only behind heavys but the larges as well. You want to increase system capacity? Simple, build runways.

My $0.02 worth of opinion 1) the term "terrorism" seems to be applied incredibly liberally by your government agencies. A crazy guy plotting to behead a police ísn't really an act of terrorism. It's just some crazy guy doing what crazy guy would do. 2) and when you shift the goal posts and redefine terms this way, you create an impression of the pervasiveness of terrorism (thanks Fox News!). This simply gives your government and its agencies plenty of justification to intrude on your privacy and to violate your constitutional rights. And their arguments almost always boil down to this - well if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear...ad nauseam

I think it's best practice to do the complete opposite of whatever PTK says.

It is for days like this that they invented beer.

Marauder: About 600 or so hours. Clarence has the log book. I think we were using an additive, but I am not sure. No 1 reason for this? Not flying it enough (and perhaps not drying the engine in the summer). Winters are cold and dry here. As for sharing, I used to be in a partnership. The one thing it taught me is that I am not doing it again. Maintenance decisions are mine alone now. I like that.

Well it happened. C-FSWR is in for annual, seven years after the overhaul, and metal in the oil filter is indication of a serious problem. Picture attached. And it is also apparently time (because of the mandated overhaul of my prop whose blades no longer conform) to get the B hub with replacement blades. The oil filter inspection was done at the beginning of my annual last week. This was three hours after the oil change I had done immediately after our return from Las Vegas. That inspection was done by the local flying club and did not show anything in the filter. Here is the result: engine inspected and spalling lifters and camshaft metal particle contamination throughout (including piston skirts) new camshaft and lifter kit ordered purging of said particles from governor, bearings, oil cooler, and anywhere else they may have gotten into. three or four-fold increase in cost of annual that already had some extras on the list overhauled B Hub (and blades) from the Katana factory that replaced their new production models with MT props. one week annual now a two month engine removal, repair and remount. No more eddy-current inspections?? Crankcase is now split and sitting in the engine shop on the field. We hope to get it mounted back onto C-FSWR by the beginning of July, or I will have trouble making it to the Caravan this year. We always have the possibility of facing such a circumstance, just like there is always the possibility of losing an engine at altitude. The former is easier to face and it helps prevent the latter as doing this now is obviously better than losing bits in flight. I am not ready to give up flying yet. I am keeping the aircraft and replacement of needed parts is cheaper than a new engine. Nimis Brevis Vita Est Volare Tarde

That's s good article. Elite made it 2 days longer than Philips/ Camguard. Both lasted two weeks longer than oil with no additives. Still think Camguard does nothing? . Where is aeroshell 15W 50 in that article?

OK, Pete, I'll drag out the Aviation Consumer report for you to show it, but let's see your data that shows AS 15W50 and Exxon Elite outperform Camguard/philips for rust protection.

but it does work.Aviation consumer tested metal coupons soaked in oil and hung to dry. Camguard samples rusted later than all the other ones did. Does it eliminate corrosion? No. Does it slow it down? I think so. No oil or additive will matter, however if inferior metal is used for the cam or lifters. If the surfaces dont have the sufficient rockwell hardness number, then the face of the lifter flexes slightly when under load. Then the metal collapses underneath, and the surface disintegrates. This is also how potholes are formed. Three lifters on our plane were spalled. Two on one lobe, but the lobe was almost serviceable, still.

My airplane is in a heated and dry hangar through Winter and a dry not so humid hangar in the Summer. I'd be interested to hear from those that have found this kind of failure how their airplane was stored when not flying. What happened to Ned and others is in direct opposition to what the oil additive people market as being the save all to this type of failure. I think Clarence is right on the money with the metallurgy over everything else. David

Highly recommend Nashville flight training at BNA. Tall to jeremy or Erik. both really good people and great flight instructors. They have two Skyhawks and an archer. they are also cheaper than wings of eagles but the planes aren't as new.

I think if you show up in any DMV office you will see people who believe it is their right to drive. On my last DMV visit, I watched an elderly man struggle to understand what the DMV clerk was asking him to do. And then struggle with the eye test. The clerk said to him "That's okay honey, you're good for another 5 years." How many of us were faced with parents who we needed to convince that it was time to hang up the keys to the Buick? The reality is that driving is a privilege but it is treated as a right. And because of that treatment, we hear a lot more about "An elderly woman mistaken the gas pedal for the brake as she plowed into the convenience store" or "The driver had a heart attack and lost control of his vehicle and drove into a crowd of people killing 3" than we do "A pilot passed out losing control of his plane and flew into a school". Personally, as a citizen, I would like have my rights and privileges too. The challenge is balancing these... Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

No, you provided features, not benefits. Features that accomplish nothing for anyone. Reducing separation from 5 to 3 miles outside of terminal areas accomplishes nothing. Same with expanded radar coverage in lower 48. It expands radar coverage where no IFR flights exist. And understanding the technology, I will keep my XM. When terminal areas get busy, bandwidth on UAT becomes limited. Terminal areas get busy when you most likely need updated weather. It's a broken POS and was a broken POS from start.

You might work traffic all day, but you still have not pointed out a single benefit. It's not about the 3 or 4 grand. It's about 30 year technology, taking 20 years to implement, that offers no benefits what so ever to anyone and costing billions and billions. It's about FAA's inability to pull anything off. The systems running amazon's warehouses are considerably more complicated than keeping 4000 or so aircraft apart. It's a total joke.

With the Blackstone shipments I think the issue is their plastic shipping bottle. I think it freaks the USPS people out . I have one to send now and I'll put their bottle in a box and see if USPS gets it to them in the 4-5 days without losing it.

Not looking for that much property. would be nice but too much to keep up. The idea is to downsize somewhat. The airports closest to the area we want to live are much more expensive than what I have now and the cheaper ones are not much closer so I'll stay where I am. BILL

The compliance for Class B may make sense. Class C where I am based? NOPE. This is ultimately about Government mandated control and a precurser to user-fees. I will simply relocate (at the last possible minute) outside of Class C Airspace and the safety that the longer/wider runways provide. I do not wish to "pay to play". The convenience and safety are trumped by the costs and my desire to not be mandated by the Federal Government.

My airplane is inactive for long periods of time. I'm not completely sold that time alone is a big factor in this as much as what's the environment like that the airplane is sitting in. Mine has sat all Winter in a heated hangar and has for the last five years with no issues yet to date. I don't use any additives and change my oil on average between 30-50 hours. This issue is not a cut and dry case of not flying enough or did you use Camguard, AvBlend, etc or not. David

I had read somewhere in the last couple-three years that most, if not all, late model vehicles produced had some kind of tracking device integrated into the electronics which could be used by local governments should a mileage tax be imposed. The possibilities for nefarious uses are endless. Regarding the original post, this is and has been my biggest issue with the ADS-B mandate along with the expense dumped in our laps. Flying represents the pinnacle of freedom and, in this day and age, it still amazes me that I can go out to the airport, hop in the plane and fly wherever without communicating my intentions to anyone if I don't wish to. Soon, "they" will no where, when, how fast and how high you are if you want or need to equip for the affected airspaces; even if you're just going for a hamburger. I wonder if the IRS will be able access use of likely cheeseburger routes when evaluating your healthcare participation? I used to be able to take my boat and go fishing any time of the day or year and no one needed to know what I was up to. Now that the ANS (aquatic nuisance species) issue has made it to western states with the introduction quagga & zebra mussels, you have to jump through all the hoops to get your boat on & of the water. The need for the program is clear but it's just another bunch of bureaucratic toadies telling when you can and can't go and knowing where you are. In recent years, a registration and permit program was implemented to enter a nearby wilderness area. No fees -yet. Can't even go for a walk in woods without the king's permission. I value little more than my liberty and privacy. It astonishes me how little others value theirs and simply accept as either acceptable or inevitable the erosion of their own. That's all I gotta say 'bout that.

Man -- I gotta go to work, just when this is starting to get interesting. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I ship stuff USPS about 25 times a month. They haven't lost anything in the last 4 years. I prefer UPS still, but I can't say that USPS is that terrible. FedEx on the other hand consistently pisses me off. They left a brand new laptop in a box with a huge Dell logo on it sitting on the sidewalk in front of my house. I was home at the time. No knock, just left it sitting out where anyone could walk away with it. The UPS guy knocked on my door, handed it to me and was like "WTF?" A month or so later FedEx delivered a stack of 6 very expensive racing wheels, also in very obviously labeled boxes. Again I was home, again they stacked them at the edge of my driveway and left. When I called to complain their answer was "well the shipper didn't request a signature so they can leave things." SMH

I use a blend of guacamole and Camguard. The guac is from Haas avocados. My mechanic is very organic!

Sounds like I need to charge for this event! [emoji308][emoji68]‍[emoji68]‍[emoji65] Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Rick I think its everyone's fight and AOPA is helping lead the charge but we can only do it with the support of our members. If you've received an email asking for Political Action Committee support and feel like making a contribution isn't money well spent, then I'd suggest that support can be in many forms, not just financial. Lend your voice, write letters, ask for an appointment to meet with your congressman/senator. If everyone were as fed up as you obviously are and we could channel that energy towards the policy makers in DC things would almost certainly move faster. Earlier in the thread I listed 10 things that AOPA has done and continues to do for the betterment of GA. When you consider all of those things (and more) are part of $59 annual dues, I think is a pretty good value. Believe me when I tell you the folks at AOPA are well meaning, passionate, dedicated pilots. We want the same things as you. If your unconvinced send me a PM and I'll be happy to discuss with you personally over the phone or in person at a fly in. Safe Fights George

A middle ground ... Done by Aero Trim at KFPR for $7K Headliner was covered with leather, side panels repainted, new carpeting. Professionally done.

Around 6% for 15 years, with intentions of paying it off in 5 or less unless the plane has some expensive fixes needed. Excuse my ignorance,I'm a newbie. I know what PPI I'd but what's MSC? I can buy and store an O for 1.5 AMU a month?

By Stephen Pope — For those wondering if Harrison Ford would ever fly again, now we know. Three months after crash landing his Ryan PT-22 on a southern California golf course after an engine failure, the Hollywood star was back in the pilot seat, taking to the skies with an instructor in his Bell 407...[more]

To answer the OP's question. Yes, it bothers me. I'm not at all sure the government has the Constitutional authority to do much of what it does. This specific example included. But to make it clear as to why I believe this is so, we need to look at some actual numbers. First, we are living in a time where fewer people are killed due to war (mil and civilian) than since the ancient roman times. Likewise, terrorism, while it makes the news, kills very few people worldwide or nationwide. 911 was catastrophic, certainly. However, 911, from a risk assessment standpoint, was largely ineffective. Let's put that in perspective. On September 11, 2001 (14 years ago, by the way) 0.0000084 percent of the population was killed. And, a large terrorist attack has not happened since. So, we MUST consider the following years as part of the actual "risk" factor. Including the 911 attacks, a late 20th and 21'st Century individual American's chance of being a victim of terrorism can be quantified. The number is.... One in Four Million over the last 40 years. Or, One in 1.6 Billion annually. It's so small a number, it's "almost" not worthy of consideration using "risk based assessment" methodology!!!! We are safe. Period. End of story. Safer than we've ever been. And, it's not due to the FBI's recent unconstitutional actions. It's due to our grandfather's sacrifices during WWII.

Hadn't tried a msc yet, as its after hours now. But thought maybe someone knows of a general supplier of these basic eye bolts. They seem like standard parts.

That exact aircraft was based out of my home airport, F45, about 2 years ago. It's a well equipped Cessna 182 with a fully articulated FLIR camera mounted on the LH rear fuselage. I met the pilots daily at the FBO and they were total, complete, and utter (you fill in the bad word) . I'm not an anti government guy and I want our boys to have the very best equipment necessary to do their jobs. However, when those in authority behave in such a manner, they lose all credibility with me. This is not East Germany and they are not the Stazi secret police. I don't appreciate being threatened by our government agents. Back then, I did look up the registration and try to find out a little about the company it was registered to. All of it was "make believe". Our government is not behaving well. My hangar is at the approach end of 26L, so I get a very good view of airport operations. These guys were making multiple daily flights of a few hours each. One day, I took off just after them on my way to my TN property. They remained low and I prefer to go way up (for my aircraft, that's over 10,500 feet) . We both headed North up near the Florida coast. Since they were low, and slightly faster (since they were not climbing) , I was able to keep them in view below me, for quite some time. They flew from F45, to Port Saint Lucie and then flew in circles over the neighborhood. At which time, I lost them due to overflying them. I'd speculate they were looking for grow houses using the FLIR and installed software/hardware. It was a setup mounted like this one below. However the FLIR was much larger on the particular aircraft at F45.

And Tennessee sippin' whiskey! Best wishes, Ned. Hope everything goes smoothly for you.

Now this would give me annual anxiety!

I went with the short body although I did try out several mid and long bodies but the short body was .....oh wait were talking airplanes.. nevermind

If someone pays $12k on an interior and they're happy with the result, then they got a good value. But holy crap, paying 1/3 the value of my plane on just the interior would scare me away from aircraft ownership for ever. And comparing a well-installed Airtex interior to "a few cans of Krylon paint and some of their finest vinyl seat covers" is pretty obtuse and incredibly uninformed.

Not as bright. Draw much higher current. And, most importantly, incandescent light bulbs don't last! Changing light bulbs, now not exactly the end of the world, but still is a PITA exercise!

I think 12 grand is a lot of money. I did the interior in my Mooney for under 3K. Plastics refinished utilizing the SEM colorcoat system, new comfort foam, finest Spinneybeck Forte leather throughout, (seats and entire backrests including storage pockets, armrests, side panels with storage pockets, yokes) and new carpet. I've yet to see an interior by aerocomfort or anybody else that's 9K better!!!

As long as there is a judge involved and a warrant, no issues with FBI aircraft. TSA is another matter. They are simply expensive (in)security theater.

I would rather they fly Cessnas than helicopters. A lot better use of tax dollars.

Rick I too share many of your frustrations esp with the pace of change when the FAA/DOT and Congress are involved. However I am not familiar with any solicitations for funds to support the effort, only a call for action asking our members to contact their elected federal officials in support of 3rd Class Medical Reform. Member dues fund the vast majority of AOPA's advocacy efforts. While the effort to reform the 3rd class medical is taking a very long time, there are no exorbitant expenses associated with the effort. So I would caution you to not assume just because the pace of change is slow it is somehow linked proportionately with cost...That is just not the case. AOPA has been able to build the largest Caucus in congress to support 3rd class medical reform and while slow we are making progress (see Congressman Rokita's video). Also I'll take issue with your characterization that AOPA is a "wealthy" non profit. As someone who sits in the budget meetings I can assure you every dollar is spent wisely in a way designed to do the most overall good for the GA community. To your last point, AOPA does many things for the benefit of the community. I'm happy to list a few 1. Over 300 Free safety and education products provided by the Air Safety Institute which has had a positive impact on GA safety for 39 years and counting. Last year was the safest year on record for general aviation 2. No user fee's in the federal budget. AOPA has fought and won every year since the current administration took office to keep user fees at bay. 3. A pilot's information center that fields over 300,000 calls annually from pilots with questions that cover the gamut. Providing members accurate information, helping pilots understand the complexities of various FARs and guiding them to solutions when no one else can help. 4. Provides a variety of free planning tools including WX, Airport directory, online flight planning and TFR alert emails to warn pilots of pop up TFR's in their area. 5. Responding to members with a more grass roots, customer service oriented approach as seen in our regional fly in campaign 6. Put an end to the illegal stops and searches by CBP 7. Award winning publications including AOPA Pilot, Flight Training Magazine, AOPA Live, AOPA ePilot, and CFI to CFI Newsletter 8. Leading the effort to push through Part 23 reform 9. The AOPA foundation provides grants to numerous aviation organizations so they can do their work. Additionally the AOPA's foundation funds a host of scholarships to help young aviation enthusiasts achieve their dreams. 10. Established the Flying Club initiative to help pilots connect and share the love (and costs) of flying. Rick, while it's easy to focus on areas of frustration I think it's important to also acknowledge areas of success. Is AOPA perfect, no. Has it made some blunders over the years...YES! Are the people there committed to achieving the very same things you are...ABSOLUTELY. If you'd like to lend your voice (and channel your frustration) to the fight for 3rd Class Medical Reform, please do engage with your elected officials, call the pilot information center, speak directly with a team member in Government Affairs department and ask what you can do to help. Thanks for voicing your concerns and I hope the information I've provided makes a compelling case that AOPA is committed to serving our members and making some much needed improvements within the GA community. George

Once you accept the reality that your wallet is actually your mechanic's, you will be fine That is why I love working with my mechanic. We talk throughout the process and I am the one that usually says "let's replace it" when he says "it will be good for another year". Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I ceased being amazed years ago. That said, before every flight I spit into the oil fill tube. This action, and I have verified it with my MVP-50 engine monitor, has reduced CHT temps by 50º and has increased my climb out at TO by 250 FPM! Oil usage has been reduced to less than a pint per 25 hours. The EAA (Expectoration Advantage Action), as I call it, has also put my GAMI spread at 0 GPH! It is nothing short of miraculous! Try it!

I stopped having shops do maintenance for me years ago. You don't get the same quality of work you'd demand of yourself and you lose control of the parts sourcing. All you need is to find an IA who will supervise all your work and then follow up by verifying all the inspection. It's a good gig for the IA because he can make some money and not get greasy and you can ensure work is done right and open more possibility for parts sourcing. Rather than the one supplier used by the shop you can choose from Aircraft Spruce, Chief, some of the aircraft wrecking yards etc. if I couldn't work on my plane is probably just sell it. Too many things to go wrong. --Robert