Apparently some animals are more equal than others....

[flyersfan31]

One question I did not see addressed in the article:

Did Inhofe take the hotel courtesy car when he got there?

Oh you are a vely bad man! Vely vely bad man!!!!

 

[AdamZ]

Wow this just keeps getting more bizzar and the Sen. gets more brazen

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/new...ed_runway_texas_faa_investigate_203537-1.html

 

[bigred177]

Inhofe said he didn't see the Xs until late on final and was concerned he might not be able to abort safely.

Um...? That would worry me more than anything.

 

[Kelvin]

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) says he won't guarantee he'll be more vigilant about checking NOTAMs after he landed on a closed runway occupied by maintenance workers ten days ago in Texas. "People who fly a lot just don't do it," Inhofe told the Tulsa World. "I won't make any commitments." Inhofe added that while "technically" pilots should "probably" check NOTAMs, it would be impractical for him to do so on the many flights he makes to small airports in Oklahoma each year.

This is a textbook flippant, arrogant attitude....

 

[TMetzinger]

OK class, what hazardous attitude(s) is our humble public servant displaying?

Let me see if I have the full story

Departed without getting NOTAMS, in violation of 91.103. Further states that it's impractical to do so and makes no commitment to be more vigilant in the future. Probably also 91.13

Saw the big Xs closing the runway, and landed on it anyway even though there were people working on it (91.13). States he was concerned he wouldn't be able to abort the landing (i.e. go-around) safely. If true, this indicates a serious impairment of his abilities to perform to the PTS of any grade of pilot certificate.

If this was any old airman (or if it was me) doing and saying these things, I'd think an appropriate response would be a 709 reexamination of his preflighting planning skills (including getting and interpreting relevant NOTAMS, and fuel planning to include alternate airports), airport signage (identify what X's on a runway end mean), landing skills to include balked landings/go arounds, diversions to another field, and recognition and corrections of hazardous attitudes.

I see no reason why his job would make a difference, except maybe to make it worse, since as a public figure he serves as more of a role model than the average person.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

Inhofe said an airport official "hates me, I don't know why."

Gee, I can't imagine...

And, yea, how low do you have to be before you see the big X, trucks, and people on a runway? And that's to low to go around??? This guy has a problem.

 

[SCCutler]

I feel so silly, getting those briefings and stuff.

 

[TMetzinger]

I feel so silly, getting those briefings and stuff.

Yep, that's probably two months of my life I'll never get back.

 

[jhausch]

I wonder if anyone at AOPA is having some behind-the-scenes conversations with the Senator?

 

[sba55]

I wonder if anyone at AOPA is having some behind-the-scenes conversations with the Senator?

Since he's one of the main GA supporters on Capitol Hill, I'd imagine so.

I'm also wondering if this is meant to shed some light on the broken NOTAM system. I wonder what his plan is/was all along...

 

[TMetzinger]

The NOTAM system is ugly and a PITA, but that's not the same as broken. I've not yet failed to get a relavant NOTAM via DUAT if it was published at the time of my briefing. I had to wade through all the TFR/SFRA/FRZ junk, but otherwise it's as usable as it was a decade ago - better, since all the notams show up now.

 

[dmccormack]

The NOTAM system is ugly and a PITA, but that's not the same as broken. I've not yet failed to get a relavant NOTAM via DUAT if it was published at the time of my briefing. I had to wade through all the TFR/SFRA/FRZ junk, but otherwise it's as usable as it was a decade ago - better, since all the notams show up now.

I've been shooed away from a local airport (which will remain nameless) that "forgot" to submit a NOTAM.

And then others have blanket NOTAMS (CLOSED UFN 10MAR1903) or wait until 0200 to list a 0000Z closure.

It may not be "broken," but it runs as good a '78 Pacer.

 

[rpadula]

Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) says he won't guarantee he'll be more vigilant about checking NOTAMs after he landed on a closed runway occupied by maintenance workers ten days ago in Texas. "People who fly a lot just don't do it," Inhofe told the Tulsa World. "I won't make any commitments."

​

What an azzhole!

 

[Steve Foley]

it runs as good a '78 Pacer.

The 78 Pacer ran just fine. It wasn't until AMC started trying to computer control the carbs that everything went to hell.

Which is why my 87 Jeep has a 78 Carb on it.

 

[TMetzinger]

I've been shooed away from a local airport (which will remain nameless) that "forgot" to submit a NOTAM.

And then others have blanket NOTAMS (CLOSED UFN 10MAR1903) or wait until 0200 to list a 0000Z closure.

It may not be "broken," but it runs as good a '78 Pacer.

Not sure how any system will correct the guy who forgets to submit the info in the first place.

That's not to say there isn't a LOT of room for improvement.

Would folks like:

Plain English, but longer, NOTAMs?
TFRs given their own category (instead of being lumped in with FDC).
NOTAMs tagged by VFR/IFR relevance?
NOTAMs in Latin?

 

[dmccormack]

Not sure how any system will correct the guy who forgets to submit the info in the first place.

That's not to say there isn't a LOT of room for improvement.

Would folks like:

Plain English, but longer, NOTAMs?
TFRs given their own category (instead of being lumped in with FDC).
NOTAMs tagged by VFR/IFR relevance?
NOTAMs in Latin?

Perhaps better link to online flight planners?

 

[Kelvin]

Although I think this guy is a flaming a**hole for his attitude...furthering the rich elite a**hole pilot myth in a very public way, I think that from most any bad situation some good can be extracted...

Looking at the NOTAM system could be that positive....It is, IMHO, a diversion to this guys pi** poor attitude...

His comments are hard to take...

 

[gprellwitz]

According to AvWeb, the FAA is going to be investigating the incident. http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/new...ed_runway_texas_faa_investigate_203537-1.html

 

[wsuffa]

I've been shooed away from a local airport (which will remain nameless) that "forgot" to submit a NOTAM.

And then others have blanket NOTAMS (CLOSED UFN 10MAR1903) or wait until 0200 to list a 0000Z closure.

It may not be "broken," but it runs as good a '78 Pacer.

Reminds me of a trip I mad out west a few years ago. Planned fuel stop at Deming, NM, got full breifing (both online & by phone), flew IFR. Arrived at airport and set up for landing on the appropriate runway..... only to discover that there were big X on each end of runway. Went around, landed on another runway. Asked at FBO desk: "oh, yeah, everyone knows the runway is closed for construction".

Filed outbound flight plan, asked for NOTAMs - again, no notam. advised FSS of the situation, they said they'd take it up with airport management.

I was not a happy camper.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Gee, I can't imagine...

And, yea, how low do you have to be before you see the big X, trucks, and people on a runway? And that's to low to go around??? This guy has a problem.

Well... He is in a good-sized twin... Is it possible that he didn't see the X and such until he was below Vyse, or worse yet Vmc, and decided it'd be safer to land than go around?

The bigger birds bring some new sides to flying that may not be obvious to us little-bird guys.

That said - I doubt it. I don't like his attitude. Plus, he turns 76 years old in a couple of weeks - Maybe his vision and/or judgement are starting to fail.

 

[rpadula]

That said - I doubt it. I don't like his attitude. Plus, he turns 76 years old in a couple of weeks - Maybe his vision and/or judgement are starting to fail.

Or maybe he just had his head up his ass.

BTW, if one is flying around with one's head up their ass, is that loggable as simulated instrument time?

 

[JeffDG]

Wow...LockMart has really downsized their operation:

TulsaWorld.com reports that Inhofe said he was unaware of the runway's closure NOTAM because of "a bad relationship he has with one individual, who the Senator said declined to take his phone calls before the flight and did not tell him about the NOTAM."

Only one guy at LockMart, and he's refusing to take calls from a sitting United States Senator and provide him with NOTAMS...

 

[chucky]

BTW, if one is flying around with one's head up their ass, is that loggable as simulated instrument time?

That made me laugh. I'm gonna steal that one sometime, okay?

 

[wsuffa]

Maybe his vision and/or judgement are starting to fail.

Starting? How long has be been an elected representative?

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Or maybe he just had his head up his ass.

Well duh. He's been an elected representative for HOW long?

 

[TMetzinger]

Well... He is in a good-sized twin... Is it possible that he didn't see the X and such until he was below Vyse, or worse yet Vmc, and decided it'd be safer to land than go around?

The bigger birds bring some new sides to flying that may not be obvious to us little-bird guys.

That said - I doubt it. I don't like his attitude. Plus, he turns 76 years old in a couple of weeks - Maybe his vision and/or judgement are starting to fail.

I'm not an expert, but I don't think there are any twins out there where it's unsafe to add some power (perhaps not full power), stop the descent, and accelerate in level flight to an appropriate speed for climb out.

 

[woodstock]

So, what are the odds he will get away with this?

 

[Anthony]

I thought he flew a Tiger?

He should be fried like anyone else for violations. The guy is a HUGE supporter of GA, not that it buys him a pass, just sayin.

 

[JeffDG]

So, what are the odds he will get away with this?

A lot better than yours or mine would be!

I would guess 80-20 that there is no action taken. On an unrelated note, ADS-B will receive accelerated appropriations.

 

[PittsDriver]

OK, despite all the stuff about NOTAMs and such, there's this heavy slant here toward how boneheaded it was for him to land there, where ever he landed, and take off on a taxiway. Can someone please cite what FARs were busted by his actions other than the one about having all available info for the flight? Is it reasonable to assume this was a part 91 flight? If so, and he determined that it was safe to land and take-off from anywhere then where's the problem?

And by the way, I totally agree that it seems his GA persona with the press needs some work.

 

[JeffDG]

I've not seen many people cutting the good Senator up for the taxiway takeoff, but landing on a closed runway, with people on it, that's NOTAM'd closed, would trigger a 91.13(a) for anyone else.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

OK, despite all the stuff about NOTAMs and such, there's this heavy slant here toward how boneheaded it was for him to land there, where ever he landed, and take off on a taxiway. Can someone please cite what FARs were busted by his actions other than the one about having all available info for the flight? Is it reasonable to assume this was a part 91 flight? If so, and he determined that it was safe to land and take-off from anywhere then where's the problem?

I have no problem with the taxiway takeoff, provided he actually looked at the full length first.

I do have a problem with the landing - It's not like he "determined that it was safe to land," he basically had an oh-$#!+ moment and landed anyway.

I have a REALLY big problem with his attitude. This whole "nobody who flies a lot checks notams" stuff is bull****. It makes all of us look careless and elitist.

 

[SCCutler]

...
I have a REALLY big problem with his attitude. This whole "nobody who flies a lot checks notams" stuff is bull****. It makes all of us look careless and elitist.

+1k

filler

 

[silver-eagle]

Not sure how any system will correct the guy who forgets to submit the info in the first place.

That's not to say there isn't a LOT of room for improvement.

Would folks like:

Plain English, but longer, NOTAMs?
TFRs given their own category (instead of being lumped in with FDC).
NOTAMs tagged by VFR/IFR relevance?
NOTAMs in Latin?

Plain language text would be good or an option for it. I concede that when teletypes were used, it made sense. In the days of high speed data, use of shorthand (in notams, metars, tafs) should go away. It's not like you're saving trees or ink. Most are never printed.
Overall, it's arrogance to for Inhofe to not follow the rules. The FAA should slap him down hard just as an example to the rest of them.

 

[PittsDriver]

I have no problem with the taxiway takeoff, provided he actually looked at the full length first.

I do have a problem with the landing - It's not like he "determined that it was safe to land," he basically had an oh-$#!+ moment and landed anyway.

I have a REALLY big problem with his attitude. This whole "nobody who flies a lot checks notams" stuff is bull****. It makes all of us look careless and elitist.

I totally agree on the attitude point as I mentioned above. I'm not sure we know how it "looked" on landing or what he did anyway. AFAIK, it's perfectly legal to land on a closed runway, taxiway, grass, whatever for a part 91 flight as long as proper precautions are taken regarding the safety of such an act. I agree it's not something where you'd get there and wing it the way he apparently did and not run afoul of 91.13. And I'm sure there's some questions he'll be getting about the whole escapade.