Differences of opinions on aviation topics in real life and online

N918KT

N918KT

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For some reason, I always noticed that there are some topics in aviation when discussed in real life would have a different or even just the opposite in online aviation forums or online news websites within the comments section.

Examples:

1. Aviation colleges and aviation programs
Real life: Some people want to go to aviation colleges or someone might even encourage a person to go to aviation college.
Online: Don't go to aviation colleges, major in a non-aviation major, go to a regular 4 year school, get flight training outside of colleges

2. AOPA's president and AOPA's performance as an organization
Real life: Aviation people may think AOPA is doing good, they like the AOPA president, etc.
Online: AOPA is doing poorly, not worth paying for membership, complaints about the AOPA president, performance of organization, etc.

3. FAA 3rd class medicals
Real life: I actually had a talk with another student, and she thinks medicals are there for a good reason, etc. But I guess that is maybe because she is a pro-pilot student.
Online: Some people wish or want the 3rd class medical to be eliminated or lower the 3rd class medical standards.

4. NextGen Air Transportation System
Real life: One of my professors was talking about the benefits of NextGen in class one day I think.
Online: Pilots complain about NextGen stating the high cost of ADS-B equipment, not needing it in the airspace they fly most of the time, etc.

So these are some examples I could think of where differences in opinions exist on aviation topic in real life versus online.

This is just based on my observations, but your observations might be different from mine. Maybe your obeservations may conclude that opinions in real life and online are the same.
 
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Online: Some people agree and disagree with the above points.

Real Life: Some people agree and disagree with the above points.
 
Online: Angels dance on pinheads.
Real life: Never have discussed many of these issues and I've been around pilots all my adult life.

Online: People are reluctant to post about their less than stellar experiences, and smartly so.
Real life: Lots of stories out there... :eek:
 
I don't have a sample size although I think the number of real life opinions I observed are in small numbers.

I guess it is who you talk to in the aviation industry or aviation in general that is where the difference of opinions occur. If I talk to an aviation professional or aspiring aviation professional like my aviation professor and one of the aviation students, I think we would place strong opinions on increasing safety, such as keeping 3rd class medicals, supporting NextGen, etc. However, the opinions might be almost just the opposite with a recreational GA pilot or aspiring student pilot who wants to fly strictly for sport or recreation.
 
Pilots are largely dorks. If you are at an aviation college, well that is super dork central. Of course more rules seem like a great idea, to young fresh sjs victims. Nextgen is a great example none of your classmates think they will have pay for it, so more blinky lights, more better. 3 rd class medicals are a nonissue for college age kids, unless their parents put them on the ritalin tour. Ask those young pilots when they are 60 what they think about medicals amd the answer will likely have changed. Again beingyoung aopa probably looks ok, they probably subscribe to Flying mag as well. Wait until they figure out that a new aviation article hasn't been written in thirty years. Your sample is skewed.
 
Real life, you are mostly talking to fellow students and some professors.

Online, you are mostly talking to older pilots, many of which own older smaller GA aircraft.

Young students aren't faced with as many health issues.

Young students don't think about a required $10,000+ upgrade to a $30,000 to $40,000 plane.

Older established career pilots aren't as familiar with what is needed to get a career in aviation today.

AOPA is a mixed bag, because they are the best advocate we have, but there is lots of room for improvement.
 
ONLINE: MULTI THOUSAND HOUR ATP PILOT, 747 driver, bush pilot, ASTRONAUT, know it all cfii


OFFLINE: FSX PIMPLY FACE TEENAGER


:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
John221us said:
Real life, you are mostly talking to fellow students and some professors.

Online, you are mostly talking to older pilots, many of which own older smaller GA aircraft.

Young students aren't faced with as many health issues.

Young students don't think about a required $10,000+ upgrade to a $30,000 to $40,000 plane.

Older established career pilots aren't as familiar with what is needed to get a career in aviation today.

AOPA is a mixed bag, because they are the best advocate we have, but there is lots of room for improvement.
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Very astute observations.
 
Let me guess. You are at an aviation college ?
 
No matter the subject, people are more inclined to post negatively if they so think. If they agree, less likely to post.
 
N918KT said:
For some reason, I always noticed that there are some topics in aviation when discussed in real life would have a different or even just the opposite in online aviation forums or online news websites within the comments section.

Examples:

1. Aviation colleges and aviation programs
Real life: Some people want to go to aviation colleges or someone might even encourage a person to go to aviation college.
Online: Don't go to aviation colleges, major in a non-aviation major, go to a regular 4 year school, get flight training outside of colleges

2. AOPA's president and AOPA's performance as an organization
Real life: Aviation people may think AOPA is doing good, they like the AOPA president, etc.
Online: AOPA is doing poorly, not worth paying for membership, complaints about the AOPA president, performance of organization, etc.

3. FAA 3rd class medicals
Real life: I actually had a talk with another student, and she thinks medicals are there for a good reason, etc. But I guess that is maybe because she is a pro-pilot student.
Online: Some people wish or want the 3rd class medical to be eliminated or lower the 3rd class medical standards.

4. NextGen Air Transportation System
Real life: One of my professors was talking about the benefits of NextGen in class one day I think.
Online: Pilots complain about NextGen stating the high cost of ADS-B equipment, not needing it in the airspace they fly most of the time, etc.

So these are some examples I could think of where differences in opinions exist on aviation topic in real life versus online.

This is just based on my observations, but your observations might be different from mine. Maybe your obeservations may conclude that opinions in real life and online are the same.
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Well, my online positions and real life positions on those topics are one and the same. But I can only speak for myself.
 
People on forums just like to say things, just to say it.. Wait what am I doing right now.
 
Online over samples the number of complaints. Most people are happy / don't care, but you almost never hear from those people online. By self selection, people who are posting online have a question or complaint....something isn't right.

Be happy and go flying.
 
More motherhood, apple pie and safety is always good to some people regardless what it costs. In the real world, there is a point of diminishing returns where the next incremental improvement costs a disproportionate amount of dollars. In the real world, small aircraft GA is being driven out of the skies by more safety than we can afford.
 
kevin, don't confuse anything said by your "professors" with real life
 
John221us said:
Young students don't think about a required $10,000+ upgrade to a $30,000 to $40,000 plane.
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It appears you can get ADS-B legal for only about $5000 - which is better than $10,000, but it's still $5000 down the toilet for nothing.

On the other hand, if you are willing to give me $30,000 for my airplane, I can deliver it next week.

And, I will do it in real life just the same as on line.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
It appears you can get ADS-B legal for only about $5000 - which is better than $10,000, but it's still $5000 down the toilet for nothing.

On the other hand, if you are willing to give me $30,000 for my airplane, I can deliver it next week.

And, I will do it in real life just the same as on line.
Click to expand...

I am not sure you can, unless you already have an IFR WAAS GPS.
 
JHW said:
that won't work for flying IFR will it ?

if I can't fly IFR then I don't need any radios at all. If all this comes to pass I may just empty the right half of the panel.
Click to expand...

I guess that depends on what airspace you need to fly in.
 
JHW said:
that won't work for flying IFR will it ?

if I can't fly IFR then I don't need any radios at all. If all this comes to pass I may just empty the right half of the panel.
Click to expand...

You must not live nearly at the center of a 30nm ADS-B ring of death...

It's about a 1.5 hour drive to the nearest airport outside the ring. So, when ADS-B gets here my choices are to sell the airplane or flush the cash down the toilet. Unless, of course, I am lucky enough to have died first.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
You must not live nearly at the center of a 30nm ADS-B ring of death...

It's about a 1.5 hour drive to the nearest airport outside the ring. So, when ADS-B gets here my choices are to sell the airplane or flush the cash down the toilet. Unless, of course, I am lucky enough to have died first.
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nope, if I lived with a herd in a feedlot served by united and delta cattle cars, i would have no reason to own an airplane
 
"Any traffic in the pattern, please advise."

I've mentioned to instructors that there seems to be a large opposition to using this phrase at uncontrolled fields (on the internet). They seemed puzzled, and didnt see any possible harm.
 
Ok, here's one to stir the pot. May even need it's own thread.

a/c: Piper pa28-200 Arrow

An Instructor told another pilot friend of mine to only advance the prop full forward on short final, over the numbers, when committing to landing.

On an instrument approach in this a/c I have always completed the prop advance over the final approach fix, along with all of the other landing checklist items, excluding all the flaps. keeping in mind the auto retract speed of the gear.

The way I see it, if you advance early, the prop is already in place for a missed approach, in case one is needed, and it's one last thing to adjust last minute, complying with the philosophy of the 'stable approach' rule further.

Should a flight instructor encourage early or late prop advancement, especially in trainer a/c?

:dunno:
 
While I recognize that most people online think they have a right to their own opinion, I can tolerate it only to a point. After all, MY opinion is the only correct one, and the sooner you all realize that fact the sooner we can move onto another topic I can expound on. :D
 
bem411s said:
The way I see it, if you advance early, the prop is already in place for a missed approach, in case one is needed, and it's one last thing to adjust last minute, complying with the philosophy of the 'stable approach' rule further.
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In the arrow, where you can push the prop control forward with the same hand you advance the throttle, there is no downside to leaving it at a cruise setting. In anything with vernier controls, I would not advocate doing so.
 
John221us said:
I am not an expert, but that kit seems to misrepresent what you need. I believe the requirement is for ADS-B out only though, so you might get by on just the GDL 88 with built in WAAS for about $5,000, but then you still have to pay for labor and that is a pretty minimal install.

http://sarasotaavionics.com/search/GDL-88
Click to expand...

The GDL-88 can have a built-in WAAS GPS as you alluded to and will take care of the ADS-B Out half of the equation, while the Aera + GDL39 will give you ADS-B In. There's no requirement for anything more than that, even for IFR. In fact, the "In" portion is optional, period.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
The GDL-88 can have a built-in WAAS GPS as you alluded to and will take care of the ADS-B Out half of the equation, while the Aera + GDL39 will give you ADS-B In. There's no requirement for anything more than that, even for IFR. In fact, the "In" portion is optional, period.
Click to expand...

That is what I thought. The GDL 88 in the kit was a non WAAS version, I believe. It was about $5K including the GDL 89 and the display, but you can get the GDL 88 with WAAS for between $4.5K and $5K, depending on whether you get the diversity antenna, I guess. Then it still needs to be installed, including the antenna.
 
I think it's an issue of sample size as well as the "relative" anonymity of being online. Similar to political discussions, the people with strong opinions are generally the most vocal. When online, the relative anonymity gives people the courage to speak up more so than in person, leading to additional input and increasing sample size. This can lead to more devisive opinions being given. Also, the lack of understanding of tone leads people to read into posts much more (or maybe less) than what was actually meant. It's also much easier to call someone out for a differing opinion when you aren't looking them in the eye. Personally, I take all opinions rather lightly (especially online) until I have a feel for someone's knowledge and experience. I then try to dig out the nuggets of golden information that can be gained from the group and let the rest go. Otherwise, everyone knows what they say about opinions. And that is mine...
 
I've found that the online vs face-to-face discussions are about the same in terms of content.

What I do see online and not face-to-face is how the most trivial topic can turn into a 150 post circle-jerk.
 
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