Originally Posted by xfc3dcd

For every unregulated AP operator that would compromise public safety in pursuit of greater profit, there is another who would never consider doing the same due to having every spare moment and dollar invested in the business. Most people I respect feel only very light regulations are warranted for commercial AP work and I agree.

There is nothing about your post that I disagree with. Unfortunately air crash history is full of cases where a company who wanted to make a little more money ended up killing their employees and their customers. Companies have the best intentions and have posters on the wall that say "We are committed to doing everything for the health and safety of our customers and employees".

Then there comes a day when the profit margin starts to look a little thin, and a decision has to be made. The decision is whether or not to fly with a plane that is known to have problems and the new parts are not going to be in until next week and we need to make this flight, and there is only a .5% chance of killing anybody, and the only other option is to go bankrupt. Which of these choices is the one you would choose?

I am probably not a good example. When you have invested thousands of hours into obtaining cinema quality video, the last thing you would ever do is fly the rig with a known problem, not even with a gun to my head.

Originally Posted by xfc3dcd

I am probably not a good example. When you have invested thousands of hours into obtaining cinema quality video, the last thing you would ever do is fly the rig with a known problem, not even with a gun to my head.

thats you
and most airlines wouldnt ether but some have
the NTSB logs are filled with reports where the cause was from poor / lack of maintenance or just cutting corners to save a buck

Originally Posted by xfc3dcd

I am probably not a good example.

You are a good example. If everybody had your desire for quality, the world would be a safer place. Unfortunately, the western world is full of people who are willing to hire accountants and statisticians to calculate the most optimum cost/death ratio. Of course they also are hiring lawyers to defend their decisions in case something goes wrong.

xfc

good point. if you craft isn't in top notch shape you may loose your investment.

That plus you can get overly attached to your rigs....even giving them names. My fleet goes by -

Arnold
Travis
Ivan
Franco
Brutus
DJ

Originally Posted by patrickegan

xfc

good point. if you craft isn't in top notch shape you may loose your investment.

This is the view of a hard-core investor, with no thought given to the health and safety of the passengers, employees, innocent bystanders, or the environment.

Originally Posted by Jovanx

Then there comes a day when the profit margin starts to look a little thin, and a decision has to be made. The decision is whether or not to fly with a plane that is known to have problems and the new parts are not going to be in until next week and we need to make this flight, and there is only a .5% chance of killing anybody, and the only other option is to go bankrupt. Which of these choices is the one you would choose?

We all know, really, that most would take the chance, although of course most (or none!) would admit to it.

I believe most smart and well beings would not fly a fart machine
I would never fly something that I know could crash because of a faulty part...
that's not only dumb but flat out stupid to risk your flying machine!!
I've never done it and never will....

Speaking of safety, maybe Boeing needs to hire some RC guys to explain to them about Lithium batteries...

-Max

lol

Yes Boeing should realize that we RC'ers have put the lithium batteries to the ultimate test, including impacts and extreme temperatures. For those who haven't seen it, here is Westjet's idea to use helium to make their 737's lighter. Enjoy.

April Fools - WestJet introduces state-of-the-art money-saving feature (1 min 27 sec)

it would make it slightly lighter XD yes i know its a joke
hmm wonder it would save some weight filling the tires with He over compressed air or N

Heres a link to a FOX2 story about a surveillance project a couple of local Michigan AP pilots (Kyle & I) did a couple of months back. Read the first paragraph.

http://wjbk.membercenter.worldnow.co...type=printable

Harry,

Interesting - did you have any written agreement with the city or any other organization?

Tom