In Reply to: Re: No fly zone for me posted by UCLABB on September 24, 2024 at 10:26:24
Yeah, the deadliest decision pilots make is called "VFR into IMC," which translated is "visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions." I was taught to immediately execute a 180° turn to get the hell out of there and safely on the ground at a nearby airport, or divert or re-route.
It's interesting about your flight to Santa Barbara. Tall buildings should not have been an issue. In an urban area, obstructions over 299 feet above ground level are clearly marked on the navigation charts. I do ask my passengers to keep an eye out for other planes, especially when we're near an airport; an extra set or two of eyes can be helpful in busy airspace to supplement my eyes and a screen on my panel that shows me most other traffic.
As for motorcycles, I had to stop riding in late 1990 due to a back problem, but I was limiting how much I rode in L.A. traffic anyway, especially during rush-hour. People in cars and trucks just don't look out for motorcycles. Luckily, I had taken courses from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and learned a lot of techniques to avoid situations where other drivers don't see you. But so many motorcyclists become statistics because they are downright stupid. If you hear traffic reports on KNX radio, almost all of the "motorcycle down" reports involve the carpool and/or #1 lane. Why? Because of idiotic lane-splitting, including not following the rules (yes, there are rules) of lane-splitting.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts.