Snow removal other's plane?

Eric Stoltz

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
715
Location
PHNL
Display Name

Display name:
ES
Do I, or do I not... The home drome got about 6 inches of snow. I'm here waiting gratefully for the city to plow the runway so I can go play before the next dusting of snow. While I'm waiting, do I gently, mindfully, brush the snow offn the tails of the planes parked outside? Or not? I'm guessing not since they are not my planes. But I want to because I have a want to help. Opinions please.
4050963f559269011475b7248575019e.jpg
 
I thought you were at Hood?

I appreciate when my parking neighbors (old friends) sweep my plane in my absence but prefer strangers to keep hands off. If necessity is there my support network takes care of it. 6 inches is not an emergency.
 
I was always "hands off", as per the Golden Rule, I wouldn't want anyone helping me, when that help could potentially cause damage.
 
Similar to @Stewartb If you know them, ring them up and offer. Could turn in to some free beer later.

If you don't know them, don't touch it.
 
I live and work at PALH, but for some reason I bought a plane for the PNW. SMH. I'll defer to your positions. I'm seeing the issue as do you guys. I guess I needed to post; pause and think about if it is the next right thing to do. Besides, I only have sneakers on today. So, no, I shan't.
 
Last edited:
No thank you. I REALLY appreciate the thought though. I am finicky that way. There’s probably a few other piloty-types out there that have the same disorder as me. Driveway? Sure, have at it.
 
Unless I am close with the owner, I won't touch anything. My MIL ended up on the hook once when she tried to stop a shopping cart from blowing across a parking lot into a car. Instead it hit a doctor's wife's luxury SUV leaving a small crease. The doctor and his wife pursued damages, and my MIL's insurance wound up paying for it. I couldn't believe it. No good deed goes unpunished.
 
I would, I’d use my hands and not any tool though, but only if it looked to be at risk for damage.

Ask yourself if it was your plane...
 
More Cub wings have been damaged by brooms that anything. Cessna VGs get knocked off. If there's weight on the elevators that's harmless enough to remove. Hopefully guys in snow country aren't using internal control locks. Those are the owner's own problem.
 
I normally park on the ramp. My wife takes care of the plane as far as snow removal when I'm working. I talked to the folks that park near me and we all agree to remove snow from others planes when we can.

I use a soft bristle broom used to wash the plane... My first winter in a hangar, I love it. Today I had to put on ice cleats to get the plane back in the hangar....:)
 
Don't do it. You might run into a crotchy old bastard like me who goes ape**** anytime someone touches my plane! (usually its just a quiet internal burn - ie to self: "suppress, self-control")
Even pops, who has been around planes all his life, comes into my hangar and drums his fingers on the fabric (quiet bug-eyed shrieking to self).
Harm done? Zero. Not sure why I am like that. Probably need counseling.
 
Don't do it. You might run into a crotchy old bastard like me who goes ape**** anytime someone touches my plane! (usually its just a quiet internal burn - ie to self: "suppress, self-control")
Even pops, who has been around planes all his life, comes into my hangar and drums his fingers on the fabric (quiet bug-eyed shrieking to self).
Harm done? Zero. Not sure why I am like that. Probably need counseling.

If your trike plane is sitting on its tail, doubt you’re that OCD about it, and if you are you’d be happy someone was helping you out.
 
I'm such a grumpy old man, I don't even want the airport plowing out my hangar...the dang trucks leave little packed snow trails, that my old-ass falls on.

upload_2019-2-10_15-46-12.png
 
It’s always nice to help your neighbor,if you have the time ,and they can’t get to the airport.a phone call before helping is more than a good idea.
 
I was faced with a similar situation, and decided that it was a bad idea for me to touch someone else's airplane unless they told me otherwise. I assume they all knew that their trigear airplanes were now sitting on their tails as well.

Looking back, it may very well be that they didn't know that because we don't get snow very often.
 
+1 For wanting to do my own snow removal. The paint is 46yrs old, I know where it's most likely to chip off and I'm afraid of scratches the Samaritan might leave.

Now if you have free time at the airport and want to shovel in front of the hangar and chip ice...go for it :D

I think your intentions are awesome though!. It would be fantastic to show up and the plane is all cleaned off.
 
Unless I am close with the owner, I won't touch anything. My MIL ended up on the hook once when she tried to stop a shopping cart from blowing across a parking lot into a car. Instead it hit a doctor's wife's luxury SUV leaving a small crease. The doctor and his wife pursued damages, and my MIL's insurance wound up paying for it. I couldn't believe it. No good deed goes unpunished.

Really? Her actions resulted in their vehicle getting damaged and you’re surprised they didn’t like that? I’m not sure I would have gone all crazy about it and recognize the good intentions but still, you can’t really expect to damage other people’s property and have them be all happy about it just because the intention was pure...
 
Really? Her actions resulted in their vehicle getting damaged and you’re surprised they didn’t like that? I’m not sure I would have gone all crazy about it and recognize the good intentions but still, you can’t really expect to damage other people’s property and have them be all happy about it just because the intention was pure...

The wind would have blown the cart regardless of my MIL actions. However because she placed her hand on the cart it is now her fault? Like I said, no good deed. Don't lift a finger for another person, they may sue you. What a world...
 
The wind would have blown the cart regardless of my MIL actions. However because she placed her hand on the cart it is now her fault? Like I said, no good deed. Don't lift a finger for another person, they may sue you. What a world...

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought the scenario was: cart headed to car A. MIL tries to stop cart to prevent damage to car A and accidentally redirects wayward cart towards car B. Car B owners not pleased.

Either way, I agree it is an unfortunate ending to a good deed but there are limits to Good Samaritan protections and the way I saw it was a bit less surprising. Note: I’m not agreeing with the doctor and wife, just saying I don’t find their reaction surprising. I’m about as unlitigious of a person as you could find but I am heavily skeptical of other strangers' morality.
 
Back
Top