Originally Posted by creekster (Post 40391)

This does seem to be little more than stirring for the purposes of stirring.

Do you expect our air defenses to keep track of every aircraft (including, for example, ultra-lights, homemade fixed wing, private fixed wing, helicopters and so forth) at all locations and at all altitutdes at all times? Even if being tracked by radar a small plane disappearing from a scope in urban areas means only that it is not giving a signal, but radar doesn't say it ran into a building or that it was full of explosives. NORAD was designed to protect us from the commies who were going to be coming over the horizon. It was not desinged to protet us from a small aircraft piloted by a beginner who apparently could do little else other than hit the broad side of a barn. Especially if the impact is in a media saturated area like NYC, the earliest reports of a plane hitting a building are likely to be on TV or radio. Should NORAD wait for official channel reports beofore reacting or, if NORAD sees somethign on CNN should it act? I think your expectations are unreasonable.

Originally Posted by hoyacoug (Post 40394)

I expect them to be aware of airplanes flying at 500 feet over Manhattan, yes. Once they find that airplane (whose flight plan could NOT have included flying at 500 feet over Manhattan) going outside of their flight plan, I would expect them to immediately respond rather than wait for crash reports on tv.

Originally Posted by hoyacoug (Post 40379)

The fact that an airplane crashed into another building in NYC or the fact that the guy in charge of North American defense didn't know anything was going on until he saw a report of the crash on television?

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...10-11-19-07-01

Exactly what purpose are radar and our other detection devices serving? Perhaps we should just have the media patrol the skies...

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute (Post 40397)

According to CBS news, the aircraft was not required to be in contact with air traffic control because it was flying under VFR (visual flight rules).

I don't see how this has anything to do with whoever is in charge of North American defense, but it seems that the FAA needs to change some policies on flights of small aircraft.

Originally Posted by Archaea (Post 40396)

Planes flying on VFR DON'T file flight plans, only IFR requires a flight plan. That's small plane pilots, even they are instrument rated, often fly VFR. I would not be surprised if there are some restrictions regarding Manhattan, but you do not appear to be a pilot, nor familiar with flight procedures, air traffic control or reasonable expectations in this arena.

Hoya, in terms of air security, it appears you're out of your league, because your expectations are NOT reasonable.

Originally Posted by Archaea (Post 40396)

Planes flying on VFR DON'T file flight plans, only IFR requires a flight plan. That's small plane pilots, even they are instrument rated, often fly VFR. I would not be surprised if there are some restrictions regarding Manhattan, but you do not appear to be a pilot, nor familiar with flight procedures, air traffic control or reasonable expectations in this arena.

Hoya, in terms of air security, it appears you're out of your league, because your expectations are NOT reasonable.

Originally Posted by Stick It In Him (Post 40402)

Don't waste his time with details like this. They get in the way of his bitching. He wants to seem smart when he does it.

Originally Posted by hoyacoug (Post 40405)

Who knew the short bus provided wireless access.

Originally Posted by Archaea (Post 40400)

Why?

The FAA has plenty to do, and making flight more difficult for small planes and pilots shouldn't be one of them.

Originally Posted by hoyacoug (Post 40401)

I have been to Manhattan countless times. I have yet to see an airplane flying at 500 feet over the city. I am unaware of any airport on Manhattan itself that a small plane would take off from, leading me to conclude it took off from outside of Manhattan and then flew over the city. This happens dozens of times a week in DC. Whenever it does happen, they first attempt radio contact, then respond with fighter jets. On occasion, the plane gets close to important areas in DC and evacuation procedures take place at those venues. This is extremely rare, though, because the communication and fighter jets usually produces the retreat of the aircraft. Most of those planes are small planes like this one in NYC. Why could DC track them and not NYC?