First off, let me say that I've done my share of NORDO flying at uncontrolled fields. I love it, and the head is on a swivel because it MUST be. I've also been in the pattern with ag planes who do some non-standard stuff...to a point, that's cool and it's no big deal.
BUT the "He's gotta make a living so he can do whatever the hell he want so" argument is a joke. If that was valid, it would be OK for a bizjet to land opposite to get the late boss to the meeting on time to close a million-dollar deal. It would be OK for freight guys to do the same, cuz on-time is paramount to keep the contract. It would be OK for the RJ or 1900 guys to do the same in order to make their schedules so that their airline can survive in the industry. Give that a rest.
And I also find this alarming:
avbug said:
Do me a favor, though. Don't make any radio traffic calls on my behalf.
I respect avbug's experience, but YGBSM!!! do you really think that it's prudent for a guy to keep his mouth shut when he sees a NORDO plane doing nonstandard moves around an airport when there are other planes in the pattern!? ABSURD! How would you feel if a loved one flying a 172 was killed in a mid-air with an ag plane, and you found out that there were 4 other people in the pattern who all saw the ag bird but were afraid to say anything because some ag guy on an internet message board said they should just shut up?
I've made "courtesy calls" before while in the pattern with other planes when I see a NORDO bird doing his thing - something like "be advised, looks like there's a yellow Cub turning tight left base-to-final" or whatever. No, radios can't spot traffic, and it's not a big deal to go NORDO. But those who ARE using radios can use them to tell others about what's going on in order to increase safety. You'll never spot 100% of the traffic 100% of the time, obviously.
