Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: SOL - Memorial day - EAA falls down

I went back and read the EAA story. It's reprinted here. A few things about how the EAA handled this story make me mad. The EAA basically rephrased stories printed by others. In their hurry to get stories into print, and with limited resources, they don't seem to investigate. By doing this they amplify errors, falsehoods and incomplete reporting done by others, and spread this to a wider audience. In addition, the story stays the same on their website, with no corrections or retractions noted. They owe their members, and the wider aviation community the fiduciary duty to get it right the first time, and to show a record of changes and retractions when they happen. And in a deeper sense, they have a duty to defend pilots in the public forum, to educate the public, and to condemn other parties who make errors, as the Park Service did in this case. In jumping at the chance for a quick sensational story, they may have gotten eyeballs on the web page, but they have disappointed me in the things they didn't do.
The web allows the space to fully discuss a story, something that print didn't allow. It's too bad that they don't use this advantage, but instead rewrite short sensational stories with hot button phrases and words like "Pilot Buzzes Lady Liberty", and "they weren't terrorism videos,"
They condemned him with: "came within 150 feet of the Statue of liberty", "As with most airspace violations", "After his up-close look at the US landmark", "Maggio's familiarity with the airspace was antiquated".

As it turns out, the only person who made a mistake that day was the Park Service employee.

The EAA needs to look long and hard in the mirror. They need to ask themselves who they serve, and then each time a story materializes, They need to ask themselves "how do I best serve my members, pilots and aircraft owners, and the aviation community"? Sometimes waiting, not rushing to judgment, and for heavens sakes, not passing on bad reporting, is the best course. A later, less attention grabbing story would have been "Park Service Errs by Calling Cops on Pilot". It would have given the EAA a chance to wait for all the real facts to be found out, and then to respond with real educational information for pilots, the public and other agencies. It could have made us all more aware of the rules in the Hudson/NY area, and simply by refreshing us on those rules, impress on the general public, the professionalism of the EAA and its members.
Their job is to foster a public view of pilots as responsible people with appropriate training and good judgment and skills. In this case, they missed their opportunity. I'm waiting to see if they can do better next time.

Bill Czygan
EAA Member No. 1006273

Bill

Here's the EAA story:

Pilot Buzzes Lady Liberty in a Trike
Monsoon trike
File photo

June 3, 2010 — Barry Maggio of Massachusetts, decided to take advantage of the glorious weather Monday (May 31) and tour New York City from the air. Barry came within 150 feet of the Statue of liberty according to the Wall Street Journal, which wrote that "the U.S. Parks Police notified the Federal Aviation Administration, the New York Police Department launched a chopper to intercept the flight."

After his up-close look at the US landmark, Maggio headed back north up the Hudson. An NYPD helicopter caught up to him near the George Washington Bridge. Maggio, who was flying an Apollo Aircraft Monsoon trike, was escorted to Westchester County Airport (KHPN), where he was questioned.

As with most airspace violations, Maggio's familiarity with the airspace was antiquated and was quoted as saying, "I haven't lived here in a while but I guess I didn't realize that security was that tight... [Security is] obviously different in the city here, in Lower Manhattan, and I didn't take that into account."

Maggio videotaped his three-hour journey, and the authorities reviewed the video but once it was determined "they weren't terrorism videos," he was released.

Bill

--- In Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com, "Rick Pitcher" <lightflyer@...> wrote:
>
> Sorry Abid, I was refering to your comments about EAA and AOPA "showing their complete ignorance".
>
> I actually believe that they are both good organizations.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: apollonorthamerica
> To: Sport_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 8:16 AM
> Subject: Light-Sport Aircraft Yahoo group Re: SOL - Memorial day
>
>
> EAA and AOPA show their complete ignorance calling his aircraft an ultralight, calling him an ultralight pilot and jumping to conclusions without even knowing the facts. Amazing.
>
> Abid
>

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