WSJ Journalist lands on Carrier...

[ben4prez]

Found this to be an interesting and somewhat amusing outsiders perspective of carrier aviation...nothing really new here, but nice to see the print media seeing what we do...especially a journalist as accomplished as Stephens.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110010330

 

[Brett1]

I wanna watch the Chinese Carquals.......

 

[A4sForever]

I wanna watch the Chinese Carquals.......

Probably gonna' look a lot like this .... at least there's always hope ....

 

[MasterBates]

Loger Ball!

 

[Steve Wilkins]

We don't think of this as a dangerous business. It's just a terribly unforgiving one.

Naval aviation isn't dangerous?

The pilots are low-key and self-effacing. The women in their lives, so to speak, are often their fellow pilots...

It's not gay if it's underway.

 

[insanebikerboy]

Naval aviation isn't dangerous?

That's what I've always been told, it's not that it's dangerous per-se, just unforgiving of mistakes.

Best example I can give is with reductions gears from the main turbine on a boat. Granted, it'd be almost impossible for a wrench to get left in there, but say one did, the reductions gears break and the ship coasts to a stop.

However, leave a wrench (or even a nut) in the freewheeling unit of a helo and it's now a big, expensive lawn dart.

Both are mistakes, but in the former, no one dies, just maybe loses a job, the latter there's gonna be several funerals, since it's less "forgiving" of making said mistake.

 

[xmid]

That's what I've always been told, it's not that it's dangerous per-se, just unforgiving of mistakes.

Isn't that sort of the definition of dangerous? Kind of like saying base jumping isn't dangerous, its just very unforgiving of mistakes...

"If at first you don't succeed, base jumping isn't for you..."

Best example I can give is with reductions gears from the main turbine on a boat. Granted, it'd be almost impossible for a wrench to get left in there, but say one did, the reductions gears break and the ship coasts to a stop.

However, leave a wrench (or even a nut) in the freewheeling unit of a helo and it's now a big, expensive lawn dart.

Both are mistakes, but in the former, no one dies, just maybe loses a job, the latter there's gonna be several funerals, since it's less "forgiving" of making said mistake.

Wouldn't that make riding in a helo more dangerous than riding on a ship?

 

[A4sForever]

.....Wouldn't that make riding in a helo more dangerous than riding on a ship?

It is ....

 

[insanebikerboy]

Isn't that sort of the definition of dangerous? Kind of like saying base jumping isn't dangerous, its just very unforgiving of mistakes...

I'd argue that BASE jumping is quite safe done properly.

Wouldn't that make riding in a helo more dangerous than riding on a ship?

Not the way I interpreted it. We may be splitting hairs on this, but my take is hey, I can ride in a helicopter all day long and be safe and sound. The mere act of riding in a helo isn't unsafe. Make a mistake (leave that nut in the FWU) and your not gonna have much chance to rectify that.

Most mishaps in Naval Aviation are human error, but if most of the mishaps were due to our aircraft breaking, a.k.a. mechanical error, then I'd be one to say it's "dangerous". Just my $.02

 

[HAL Pilot]

Most mishaps in Naval Aviation are human error, but if most of the mishaps were due to our aircraft breaking, a.k.a. mechanical error, then I'd be one to say it's "dangerous".

If there is a human error or mechanical breakage in a helo or any aircraft, the chances of someone getting hurt or killed are much higher than if it occured on a ship.

Human errors and mechanical breakage occurs all the time.

So yes, it is more dangerous.

 

[A4sForever]

.... ....I'd be one to say it's "dangerous".

*sigh* ...... When will they ever learn ... when will they E-E-E-E-ver learn ... (with apologies to the Kingston Trio).

INSANE ---- You obviously didn't get this brief:

Iceman: You're everyone's problem. That's because every time you go up in the air, you're unsafe. I don't like you because you're dangerous.

Maverick: That's right! Ice... man. I am dangerous.

 

[Pugs]

my take is hey, I can ride in a helicopter all day long and be safe and sound.

Clearly someone who didn't ride in very many H-3's!

 

[insanebikerboy]

*sigh* ...... When will they ever learn ... when will they E-E-E-E-ver learn ... (with apologies to the Kingston Trio).

INSANE ---- You obviously didn't get this brief....

Haha, good point.


I suppose there is a reason people called "insane" when I used to race downhill on mtn bikes.

 

[skidkid]

Loger Ball!

Spent any time in Asia?

It would be "Roger Barr"

They cant pronounce "l" not "r"

 

[A4sForever]

Spent any time in Asia?

It would be "Roger Barr"

They cant pronounce "l" not "r"

Perfect ... as most Oriental imports went to school @ UC"R"A .... i.e., UC@LA for the unwashed.