Radio Show Antics

[cjh]

I wonder whether there might also be any interstate problems from flying/broadcasting in one state while pretending an emergency in another????

 

[ifly4food]

I am familiar with Mancow and Q101.

I would encourage you to avoid this stunt. We don't need to foster the public's misperception and fear of small airplanes.

While the general public will eventually realize this is a prank, there will be some moments of terror that a small plane is about to "crash into their heads".

This is a time we need to be proactive to protect our passion from a public that would rather take our right to fly away.
A juvenile prank like this is the last thing we need to add to our poor image right now. Being assocoated with Mancow is no honor either.

Sorry for being a wet blanket, but I encourage you not to partake in this stunt.

 

[TXCAP4228]

Think again

GA is already cast is a bad light. Why would you feed the fire?

I think you're letting your desire to be on the radio interefere with your objectivity. This would be a dumb thing to do (and I think you know it) and you could possibly get into some trouble.

Don't do it.

 

[ifly4food]

After thinking some more about this, I'm very concerned about the safety and PR implications this will have for general aviation.

I just spoke to Inspector Sandy Boerman at the DuPage FSDO. I told her about the proposed prank, and that it would be on Q101 on Tuesday morning. If you think I'm bluffing, call her at (630) 443-3100. She seemed very concerned about possible false 911 calls and unecessary deployment of emergency personnel. She also seemed concerned about the bad publicity it would bring both pilots and the FAA when it is realized this was a hoax.

I hope this is added insurance that you will make the right decision and not partake in this prank.

 

[frankbama]

everyone needs to lighten up! being scared of everything is whats brought us here in the first place as soon as it was over everyone would know it's a prank anyway it's not like these people will spend the rest of their lives thinking some dj got talked down. or pilots were flying around having heart attacks.

relax, go get in your minivan with eight airbags go down to the store and buy yourself a six back but make sure it's organic and doesn't contain any fat, better yet no alcohol just drink a pepsi instead it's much safer and besides you would not want to explain drinking a beer once in your airline interview.

 

[cjh]

Remember the violations and public uproar last year over pilots dropping paper towels over a stadium? Nothing lethal, harmful, or otherwise dangerous really. But public fear ruled the day, and the FAA took a dim view of the antics. Like it or not, as pilots we have to be mindful of public perception and do our best to present ourselves and our industry in a favorable light.

 

[Rush Limbaugh]

I seem to recall a CFI that got a little too realistic training his students in engine failures and policeman actually responded when he witnessed the airplane go out of sight over a bluff. The cop got in too much of a hurry, got in an accident and suspended. He then pressed the FAA for enforcement action since the "emergency" he was responding to wasn't real. They ended up suspending the dudes certificate I believe because he failed to to teach the procedure in accordance with the Flight Training Handbook. Don't quote me on that part though.

I think they can pull off this prank without being anywhere near an airplane. If you take part, you may not be anywhere near an airplane for a while.

 

[avbug]

I'm a little more dense than most, but I don't understand why you would even need to fly, for this event. It's a radio program, after all. If you're willing to falsify a coronary, then why not falsify the flight?

Why even make it an issue? Do the radio show if you like, but why even bother with getting the airplane out of the hangar?

 

[ms6073]

Since you will be the pilot in command and ultimately the final authority as to how to safely conduct the flight...

Here is something to consider, been to federal building lately? Take a look at the plexiglass that in the windows of the offices - it is nearly 1 inch thick and capable of withstanding some heavy firepower. It did not used to be like that. Think the government is any mood for practical jokes and foolish pranks? The feds like the FAA, and TSA have absolutely no sense of humor these days so it seems to me that although humorous, a stunt like this will ultimately find you answering questions to some very unsympathetic federales!

Why dont you email or call AOPA's legal counsel, Bruce Landsberg, and ask his opinion. Next, make an appointment with a FSDO inspector and get his/her take on this since the FSDO will be a promary point of contact for subsequent investigations.

Finally, think long and hard about this - vioaltion of the FAA or TSA regulations is a federal offense which means under the right circumstances you can and possibly will be detained in a federal detention facility, possibly indefinitely, should the authorities feel such action is warranted.

 

[501261]

Sounds pretty funny, but don't do it. There are just some pranks that you need to say no to.

As far as the FAR's if they want to violate you they will find a way, but like you said you own the airplane and you don't fly professionally, who cares if they suspend your license? Take a month off flying, conveniently doing an annual at the same time.

I wouldn't be too concerned with the FAR's since you're not a professional, what I'd be worried about is your own personal liability legal and civil. I think the cops have an open and shut case for reckless endangerment.

Even more importantly is the civil liability; do you own a house or anything of value? Well, if I have an accident sometime on Tuesday morning, I'm calling 800-thehawk (or any other sleaze ball) and telling him, I've badly injured myself because, while driving to work, I was looking out at the sky, since according to Q101 there is an out of control airplane flying around!

Maybe, do something else that might be a little less endangering! Maybe have Turd get sick or something and have to drop a turd from 6000'. Then have someone else call in saying they got "turded on"

 

[becket]

I wouldn't even entertain the idea of doing this. What's the harm in saying no? So you pass up one hour of single engine recip. time. Big deal. don't do it.

 

[Flywrite]

501261,

You say why be concerned about FARs if you're not a professional pilot!?

This is a heck of an attitude for a professional pilot to be advocating. The FARs are not in place for professional pilots, they are there for everyone. Occasionally they seem to make no sense, but for the most part they exist to make up for some people's lack of common sense, and to protect persons and property from harm.

 

[TDTURBO]

Thanks for all the input everybody,

iflyforfood,

I called Sandy, they will be doing it on the ground, taping the sounds and dubbing in the radio show. This avoids any possibility of any FSDO getting involved.

I think allot of people on this board are unfamiliar with Mancow, if they were, they would know his weekly pranks and stunts are ficticious and should be taken as such. Pilots by nature are serious, they should be, but like other people eluded to, you guys are WAY TOO SERIOUS.

It's light humor, the demographics of this show appeal mainly to the South Park crowd. You wouldn't call 911 if every time Kenny gets killed would you? Turd gets injured and almost killed every week, nobody takes this stuff seriously.

Finally, avbug is correct as usual, no need to go anywhere to make this program fly....pun intended. Again, thanks for everyones input.

 

[501261]

Flywrite,

You're right the FAR's are for everyone, but think about it logically.

What are the FAA's enforcement powers, they can fine you (maximum of $1000 per violation, for non-hazmat), or suspend your license, but not both. Now if I had my license suspended for 30 days I'm out a ton of money and will very possibly be fired. To me the FAA's enforcement policies work very, very well.

On the other hand if I'm a doctor or lawyer, do I really care if I can't take my little Malibu out for a month, or for that matter do I really care if the FAA suspended my license, I might go fly any way. There's been lots of cases of farmers out west that have been flying around there ranches without pilot licenses. What's the FAA going to do revoke a license they don't have? It would be like the AMA revoking my medical license, I'm not a doctor (though I did stay at the Holiday Inn Express last night), so who cares?

What I was trying to get to Tdturbo at is there are other laws than the FAR's that would affect him more.

TDTurbo sounds like a good solution! I wish I lived up there to listen to it

 

[TDTURBO]

We may change things tomorrow, I would rather Turd get sick and pretend to puke all over the inside of the plane causing me to throw up all over him and the avionics.

The great mess and ensuing chaos would be a typical day in the life of Turd. I think this could be extremely funny to a listener that is safe and clean on the ground.

Try to tune in to Q101 tomorrow morning and find out.


Any other suggestions might be helpful, we are just kinda wing'in it!

 

[TDTURBO]

Did anyone hear the show this morning?

Comments

 

[frankbama]

how did it go ?

 

[TDTURBO]

I just received the tape of the show a few minutes ago, it was funny as hell!

I told them, while on the air, that I didn't think it would be a good idea to go flying since I was depressed, the weather was bad and I had been drinking all night with a hangover.


We get back on the air on the take off roll and everything is going fine, Turd is making noises of joy, I talk to Mancow and tell him we are going to do some "maneuvers".

The show breaks and we get back on and Turd begins to get sick, in the ensuing struggle to find a sic-sac, he hurls all over the radio stack, which then causes me to puke all over him. The sound effects were awesome! The radios then short out along with the gear extension switch.

Mancow goes to break and we come back with me passed out covered in vomit and Turd screaming that we are going down and he doesn't know how to fly......This goes on for a minute or two and the show is out of time and ends.

Naturally, all this is b.s but it sounded excellent. The show got a million calls wondering what happened.

Since this was done on the ground it was all legal.....I checked.

No one called the police or emergency vehicles, hard to do when they didn't have a clue were we were, and everything went off without a hitch.

I can't believe no-one mentioned it or heard the show on this board since it's nationally syndicated.

It was fun, both FBO's on the field loved it. Just another day in the life of Turd.

 

[TDTURBO]

I have an audio CD of the show edited with just the Turd stuff on it but have no idea how to post it. If you have someway to host it or if its possible to e-mail it, I will. Maybe you could host it and provide a link.

 

[ShawnC]

If you can encode it as an mp3 I can host it. Or send a copy of the CD to me I can rip it and host it too. Send me an e-mail for details [email protected]