Why Do We License Private Aircraft?

[ThomWV]

What need is there for private aircraft in the continental United States? Why should we allow them in our skys? They pollute horribly. They are more likely to be involved in crashes than commercial aircraft; no one can be thought of as safe from them, they can drop of of the sky anywhere. Few toys match them for displays of opulent wealth but in fact they congest already overburdened airspace and add to the burden faced by air traffic controllers. They benefit you and me not one single iota and yet every airport has its fleets of Cessna's and Pipers and Lear's lined up waiting for their wealthy owners to desire a jaunt.

Lets save a little fuel and clean up our skys, stop licensing them now.

Certainly no one can suggest there is a 'right' to own and operate one. At least its something I can't find in my copy of the Constitution.

[wakeme2008]

1. Why do we license cars

What need is there for private cars in the continental United States? Why should we allow them on our roads? They pollute horribly. They are more likely to be involved in crashes than commercial transportation; no one can be thought of as safe from them, they can crash anywhere. Few toys match them for displays of opulent wealth but in fact they congest already overburdened roads and add to the burden faced by police. They benefit you and me not one single iota and yet every airport has its fleets of Hummers's and Fords and Mercades Benz's lined up waiting for their wealthy owners to desire a jaunt.

Lets save a little fuel and clean up our road, stop licensing them now.

Certainly no one can suggest there is a 'right' to own and operate one. At least its something I can't find in my copy of the Constitution.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. You're kidding, right?

General aviation aircraft are not merely toys for the wealthy. Without them no commercial pilots could be trained (that's their primary use), and that would be the end of the airline industry. These aircraft are also used for search and rescue, pipeline patrol, fire-spotting, transportation in areas that have little or no commercial air service (like most of Alaska), law enforcement, and countless other non-recreational purposes. I used to work as a flight instructor and a volunteer search and rescue pilot, and I can tell you that very few of the other pilots I instructed or flew with (including me) were wealthy -- I can think of only one who really had a lot of money, and he used his airplane for his business, not to jet off to Vail.

You don't know what you're talking about.

[sabbat hunter]

3. well if you are a strict constructionist

there is no right to own a car either. nor does it allow for the US to have pollution control standards. i am sure that you arent against them. we do have property rights here in the US under the constitution, planes fall under property.

because this is a free country people are allowed to own what they want to own. we can restrict it by requiring certain emission standards.

newer private aircraft are low emission just like new jumbo jets. an A380 airbus is FAR more polluting and waste of space and airspace than a small jet.

large planes can just drop out of nowhere too.

small planes on an individual basis are cleaner and more efficient than large planes. however since large planes carry many more passengers that makes up for it.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. At least they are licensed and so are the pilots that fly them, like cars, but not handguns!

[Squatch]

5. You can pry my 172SP from my cold, dead hands, friend.

Molon Labe!

[Virginia Dare]

6. C'mon Thom, rich people gotta get to their golf resorts...

without having to associate with the great unwashed on the highways and in the airports, quit being such an asshole! :spank:

[Hobarticus]

7. Try to know what you're talking about...

"Few toys match them for displays of opulent wealth"

Every private plane owner I know is a blue-collar guy. I know one guy who leases air-time in someone else's aircraft for personal enjoyment and to maintain his rating. My father owned a third of a share of a plane for most of his life.

"Waiting for their wealthy owners to desire a jaunt."

Some of those planes are also likely owned by businesses, and are used for business purposes. I travelled back and forth on a company plane for years.

'Certainly no one can suggest there is a 'right' to own and operate one"

The Constitution doesn't spell out a lot of things, Scalia. It doesn't spell out that you can post on DU, but here you are.

Are you also directing your ire at automobiles, since they likely pollute far more so than private aircraft, or are those excluded because....oh, you own one?

[Firepit 462]

8. Bravo !!

[cobalt1999]

9. Great response.

It's amazing the views people take without knowing anything about the topic.