Skiplane Ops

[Taylor Maid]

Here is an article about a couple of folks who landed on a lake in Minnesota. Maybe if they would have had Taylorcrafts, the local police would have been been more sympathetic.

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=836009&catid=391

I am not sure if this carries any weight or not, but I have an ORV (off road vehicle) sticker on my plane. This has changed the minds of some of the general public as to whether what I am doing is legal or not. I just tell them it's the same as a sled or an ATV and that seems to be enough to ease their minds.

I guess if they really wanted to get their undies in a wad, someone could violate any of us for the all powering, "careless and wreckless" caveot. My answer to that would be, "Hey, I was landing! Dang engine was running rough!" knock on wood.

Dang authorities getting in the way of fun....again...

-Suzy

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Skiplane Ops

In Illinois you can not land a certified aircraft anyplace except an aproved airfield! Period! Ultralights are still flying under the radar on that one but don't be trying that with a T-Craft or a Super Cub. The only thing I do not know about is floats. We have float planes operating off the Mississippi all the time but I do not if there are any flying off lakes. But skis and wheels on farm land, islands, empty fields, even with the owners permission, are "verbotten"!

[Taylor Maid]

Re: Skiplane Ops

Well then, chalk Illinois up to a state that I will not live in by choice.

This really exemplifies the general public's hatred towards airplanes. It's a shame.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Skiplane Ops

Well then, chalk Illinois up to a state that I will not live in by choice.

This really exemplifies the general public's hatred towards airplanes. It's a shame.

It's not usually hatred...it's usually ignorance (in the true sense of the word).

Take an average member of the public (or their child) for a trip round their local patch and they'll see that you're not spying on them sunbathing in their back garden, or about to "stall" into their local school. You'll end up with an aviation friend for ever.

Take a journalist (or their kid) for a similar trip, and they'll take a different view next time an aviation story crosses their desk.



(Full story about my brush with a small-town journalist here)

I'm preaching to the converted on this forum here, I know, but it's still a message worth repeating.

Rob

[flylo]

Re: Skiplane Ops

I may be wrong but I believe there are only 2 lakes in Michigan you can't land on & where I live there are tons on farm runways, a dozen in a 10 mile radius I can think of.

[AKbrew]

Re: Skiplane Ops

Illinois? First Obama and now this? Ill just moved up to my 3rd least favorite state. (Nothing can unseat the first two unless they secede or fall into the ocean...one in the Atlantic and the other in the Pacific.)

[perryv1]

Re: Skiplane Ops

I was asked by a jounalist to take her along the Androsccogin river to do a documentry on the river,but she Only could do it on 1 day,before noon,Had to be back for Something! I told her it wasn't the best flying day,(just bumpy thats all)But she Insisted.So, Off We Go.I went upriver first knowing that I could let her out when we got over our town,and I was right.
She didn't ask to go to the end.
At least I didn't make an enemy
PV

[wlas]

Re: Skiplane Ops

All I can say is that I hope Alaska stays the way it is, I can't hardly believe you can't land off field down there.

[Dick Smith]

Re: Skiplane Ops

I'm with you wlas, we have a precious freedom here in Alaska...!
Hope we never have to see signs like this disappear. Dick

[guns68]

Re: Skiplane Ops

Amen!

[Carrieve]

Re: Skiplane Ops

Here in Wisconsin, I have landed with wheels and skis on ponds, lakes and hay fields. Never had a complaint. Even took a sheriff who was looking for whacky tobaccy and we landed in a farmers field.

[AKbrew]

Re: Skiplane Ops

Wacky Tabacky recon in a T-Craft? That sounds like WAYYYY too much fun! ("Ooooh look! I think I see some more! HARD bank left, then right, then left again

[Len Petterson]

Re: Skiplane Ops

In Canada we a federal laws in aviation unless some local authoretys think they have somethng to say. any place is a place for landing and takeoffs if suitable for aircraft. ( and within the pilots cababilety)
The General Puplic is very uninformed about aviation and the more we educate them the better. Plane fall out the sky all the time attitude comes from the news media reporting of 90 % of aviation miss haps and 80% of the getting it all wrong. They are getting better thanks FAA and other oficials makeing proper statments, based on what they know, or making educaded gueses based on experiences so they at least sounds good.
Yet, they jump in an airliner without problem. Ignorance is bliss! they say. What is why I sitt in the seat beside the emrgency exit all the time! (They panic while I GET OUT)
Invite them to a clubmeeting or take the local political man for a ride. ( you know : The fellow what thinks he is important)
They call it PR, you know.
Len

[Len Petterson]

Re: Skiplane Ops

Dick I never seen the sign you posted a picture off, but I wish they would be around.
Would be usefull in the north country, where a road would be the only place for a landing.
Len

[cropduster]

Re: Skiplane Ops

North Dakota is very aviation friendly also. I have almost 10,000 hours logged, and I know for sure that at least 80% of my flying has been done off roads, fields or lakes. One of the largest aviation colleges, is UND Aerospace in Grand Forks, ND, and they say it is because the eastern half of the state is the largest landing site in the US. In fact they just took in another 1,000 students from China last year, in addition the the already huge number of students there.