What a ridiculous statement, Ty. Do you suppose that holding a commercial certificate vs. a private pilot certificate makes on any safer? Not hardly. Commercial certification requires just a few more hours, and grants a few more privileges. Private flying is not necessarily unsafe. Let's face it. I know plenty of ATP's with whom I wouldn't send my dog (if I still had her).
Someone who meets the practical test standards for a type rating meets the same standards that would be required of an ATP. There are not private standards vs. ATP standards for a type; it's one standard, and it's the ATP standard. Therefore, one can surmise that one who obtains a type has demonstrated performance to ATP standard, at a minimum.
Do you really suppose that holding a private pilot certificate makes one unsafe? Do you imagine that some great barrier exists above FL180 that requires some greater level of certification for entry?
The fact is that flying a turbojet is easier than flying most any piston airplane. The fact is that flying IFR is easier and more simple than flying VFR. The fact is that flying a turbojet airplane under IFR is about as simple as it gets...are you saying that this is beyond the capability of a pilot because he or she holds a private pilot certificate?
It may surprise you to know that Flight Safety, Simuflite, Simcom, and others handle a number of private pilots every year...pilots who can afford and operate high performance, complex aircraft, and who attend based on mandated sim training.
Stay out of controlled airspace because one has only a private pilot certificate? Rather egocentric, don't you think?
Just how many radio calls do you think someone should make when taking the runway? You're not one of those dingbats that says, "any inbound traffic please advise," are you? I make one radio call, and I go. Perhaps you had better hope you never fly in the same airspace I do, hmmm?
You suggested that one who makes only one call doesn't know if his transmitter is working. Does he know if he makes two calls? Nope.
Does anybody know he's taking off? Sure. Anybody who happens to be watching, and anybody who happens to be listening.
Perhaps this would be better.
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberryis starting the left engine, and will shortly be taxiing to runway three five, via taxiways alpha, bravo, Sierra, and the tail end of Tango, down by the little rock that's painted white with the airport logo on it. Any traffic in the area, please advise.
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry has both engines running now, and is taxiing from the ramp area for runway three five, via taxiways alpha, bravo, Sierra, and the tail end of Tango, down by the little rock that's painted white with the airport logo on it. I am wearing a white shirt with cute little gold epaulets. Any traffic in the area, please advise."
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry is on taxiway alpha, headed for Bravo, then Sierra, and the tail end of Tango, down by the little rock that's painted white with the airport logo on it. My turn-ons include latex, women who paint, and the sounds of broken glass. Any traffic in the area, please advise, and for the love of Pete would somebody give me a radio check and let me know my transciever is working??"
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry is on taxiway Bravo, gettin real close to Sierra, and the tail end of Tango, down by the little rock that's painted white with the airport logo on it. Iv'e got a gal in Kalamazoo, her name is Fran. Does anybody know the words to My Darling Valentine? I feel great today. Very regular. Any traffic in the area please advise."
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry is on Taxiway Tango, down by the little rock that's painted white with the airport logo on it. My bad, I forgot to call taxiway Sierra, any traffic. We'll be sitting here for a few minutes while my only passenger, Eric Fishbein, the CEO of a small company located right here in the valley, finishes his soup. Any traffic in the area, please advise."
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry is preparing to take runway three five for departure to the Northwest, headed for Portland, for a twelve o'clock landing. This is it. I mean it this time, if you're out there, advise me; it's almost your last chance."
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry is really on runway three five this time. Any traffic, stay clear. I'm on the runway. It's mine, I'm using it, you can't land on it. I'm departing the runway at this time using a normal takeoff proceedure, I'm powering up now, and there's probably a really loud sound going on right behind my airplane. Any traffic in my way, please advise."
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry is half way down the runway, approaching V1, which is my takeoff safety decision speed for all you uneducated private pilots out there. There's no turning back now. Don't cross the end of the runway, cause that's where I'm going. Over."
"Podunk area traffic, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry is up and clear. Switching."
"Aaah, Citation Fish Five X-ray Underwear Dingleberry, this is Whatchamacallit Center. Be advised you've been on Center frequency for the last fifteen minutes..."
Do you really think that a radio replaces see-and-avoid? I surely don't.