Citizens On Patrol, the local flyer playing airport enforcer. Have you met one yet?

[CalifDan]

FNFAL,

That's a little more clear now. I was not sure from your first post why the guy was confronting you. Yes, he should have a least introduced himself and indicated that he was concerned for security reasons. I've introduced myself to many at the airport without showing an ID just to make sure I get to know those that are supposed to be around. I've never had anyone tell me to show an ID or get lost, but then it usually is done with an outstretched hand that is not windmilling.

My first impression when someone approaches me in "civilian" clothes is not that I'm about to be hijacked, but then maybe I'm a little too trusting. I've never asked anyone at the airport for ID nor have I ever been asked to show it except to rent an airplane. I supppose someone could pick-up a police uniform and still get the drop on you.

It sounds like the guy over reacted to your presence. Was he just a nut case or was there something different about the situation?

 

[Almerick07]

Dillingham Airfield on Oahu has a unicom natzi, has markers on his windows to tell if your enting the pattern at a 45 degree angle and actually clears people to land and directs traffic. He actually denied "clearance" to land to a buddy of mine because he didnt enter the pattern at a 45 degree angle and when my buddy told him to screw off he asked for his phone number. If thats not rediculous I dont know what is, after him asking me for my phone number I would have asked him for a hamburger....freak.

 

[Metro752]

I would like to clarify my response of "F*** your mother" was to a punk who got in my face like I had comitted a criminal act or something.

 

[PDH]

There are some guys out there who identify themselves as FAA Safety Counselors for a particular airport. After a "run-in" with one, I looked it up. Sure enough, he was right. However, I realized you don't have to be a pilot, mechanic, or have any license at all to be one. Just being a nosey SOB is the only qualification. I guess this will change to some degree on October. I think you will have to be more qualified. This guy raked me over the coals for cutting him off in the pattern. He was on at least a 3 mile base in tail dragger while I was flying a Seminole. Heck yeah I cut him off......I was off the runway before he had put in his last notch of flaps. Those who cannot do, they teach, those who cannot teach, they regulate, those who are left...well they enforce.

 

[J.C.Airborne]

There are some guys out there who identify themselves as FAA Safety Counselors for a particular airport. After a "run-in" with one, I looked it up. Sure enough, he was right. However, I realized you don't have to be a pilot, mechanic, or have any license at all to be one. Just being a nosey SOB is the only qualification. I guess this will change to some degree on October. I think you will have to be more qualified. This guy raked me over the coals for cutting him off in the pattern. He was on at least a 3 mile base in tail dragger while I was flying a Seminole. Heck yeah I cut him off......I was off the runway before he had put in his last notch of flaps. Those who cannot do, they teach, those who cannot teach, they regulate, those who are left...well they enforce.

regardless of the type of aircraft you are flying..you still shouldnt have cut him off. Its rude, unprofessional, and yes even unsafe. When you start cutting people off instead of waiting your turn you put yourself in the position of having to identify whether you can make it in in before the next guy or not. You could take longer than you anticipate and then this poor smuck had to do a go around...or worse you crash and people die. Wait your turn next time is my advice.

 

[PDH]

regardless of the type of aircraft you are flying..you still shouldnt have cut him off. Its rude, unprofessional, and yes even unsafe. When you start cutting people off instead of waiting your turn you put yourself in the position of having to identify whether you can make it in in before the next guy or not. You could take longer than you anticipate and then this poor smuck had to do a go around...or worse you crash and people die. Wait your turn next time is my advice.

You have 5 or 6 planes in the pattern at an uncontrolled field. You have some older gentleman flying a homebuilt taildragger who is barely reporting his positions and flying vso +2. In order to keep things safe and professional as you would deem, I would have to be on a 5 mile final and other aircraft beyond me. I try to never put myself in the unsafe position of deciding whether or not I can make it. It is typically a black and white decision. I had my after landing checklist completed before he had even put his wheels on the runway. Some controlled airports run them much tighter than that. Even my instructor agreed with my decision. He was there. Safety is a subjective term to some. I feel that 3+ miles is a substantive margin for error considering the circumstances. Maybe I am wrong....I hope not.

 

[FN FAL]

I had my after landing checklist completed before he had even put his wheels on the runway.

Still reading how to fly a plane?

 

[PDH]

Still reading how to fly a plane?

Yep, I have Alzheimers. It started.....Yep, I have Alzheimers. It started... Yep, where am I?

 

[jr51xx]

Radio Nazi

Dillingham Airfield on Oahu has a unicom natzi, has markers on his windows to tell if your enting the pattern at a 45 degree angle and actually clears people to land and directs traffic. He actually denied "clearance" to land to a buddy of mine because he didnt enter the pattern at a 45 degree angle and when my buddy told him to screw off he asked for his phone number. If thats not rediculous I dont know what is, after him asking me for my phone number I would have asked him for a hamburger....freak.

I remember that idiot at Dillingham. His radio procedures were appalling and he indeed thought that he was in charge of the universe. Like many other local pilots I just ignored him and made traffic calls. That seemed to really wind him up. There was sometimes some speculation as to why the State of Hawaii would want this guy there and what it would take to really make him self implode.

The shame of it is that after all these years he is probably still there, ranting and raving with his non-existant authority. As in other places with an absence of authority, such as an uncontrolled GA airport, an authority will tend to emerge, even if it is not a legitimate one.

 

[Huggyu2]

Funny you mention Dillingham: I was in Oahu for the first time about 3 weeks ago. While there, I went and got an hour of dual time with an instructor, and we ended up at Dillingham for a couple of patterns. I heard what sounded like someone "controlling" the airport, but remembered that the sectional showed it as non-towered. I figured it was some sort of "local thing", and didn't bring it up when we debriefed the flight. Now, I have "the rest of the story".