It's important for me to talk to dedicated hobbyists to get things right. If you're worried my story is going to be biased, then perhaps you should consider reaching out to me to help ensure that doesn't happen. Just saying...

 

IF he was a mechanic for that aircraft, then that would be a no brainier for him.. he would have total access to start and shutdown aircraft without a pilot I would think. Correct me If I am wrong.   IF he is any other type ground staff, he would have to read up on manuals. At least the engine  start up buttonology. Taxing and taking off ... fairly simple...Actual throttling  all the way and then lifting off?  gutsy for a person who may have never done it before... but if he had a few hours of a Cessna flight training..then that would give him the confidence too. No need for a Flight sim. Flight sim is a nice to have thing. But certainly helpful.

 

Edited August 13, 20187 yr by Manny

10 minutes ago, Chock said:

To be honest, if one is prepared to read a manual and one is reasonably intelligent, there is no issue with learning to start up and operate pretty much any machine. That's the internet for you; all the info is out there.

A more interesting and pertinent avenue of journalistic investigation would be to determine what might motivate someone to do such a thing in the first place, because frankly, that is the real issue, not the fact that the requisite info is out there. And in this case, we have a big clue from the ATC conversation, where the guy mentions being driven to it by the low wage and hopes his actions might get the gears turning on that issue. Frankly, the wages for ramp staff are appalling considering the level of responsibility one has when doing the job

Hey Alan,

not  only the ramp staff, let's not forget the cabin and  flight crews as well, in my case, it took me quite some time to get to a point where I make a decent living. I started my first year with a certain regional carrier making $18K a year (makes it hard to pay back loans from college and flight training), Like any other professions, Aviation has its ups and downs, but it does not justify stealing a plane and crashing it and putting other people lives at risk. I do feel empathy for Rich and his family and I wish he had sought treatment instead of ending his life. I am looking forward to read this WSJ article.

I believe Rich was a ramp guy and not a mechanic, based on a Youtube video he made, you can see him loading planes and talk about it...

All the best,

John.

Edited August 13, 20187 yr by 757FO

8 minutes ago, SarahWSJ said:

It's important for me to talk to dedicated hobbyists to get things right. If you're worried my story is going to be biased, then perhaps you should consider reaching out to me to help ensure that doesn't happen. Just saying...

 

It's not that Sarah,

I just don't think there's a story here. He flew the plane, but he didn't fly it well - not at all really.

Why not take Chocs advice and go looking at the industry. A perusal of the ATC transcript could take you far deeper in to the motivational factors of the sad and tragic suicide of this individual and, for your own part, give a welcome opportunity to eschew the gut instincts of the ambulance-chasing habits of your default journalism training and lead to a story to be proud of and a sense of self awareness possibly in line with your aspirations to be a writer of truth.

...Just saying.

I sense many here are objecting to what they THINK the article MAY be about. Gut reaction to what happened after 9/11? I suspect so.

If you are concerned about what MIGHT be written perhaps you should take Sarah up on her offer and give her YOUR opinion.

 

Vic

4 minutes ago, vgbaron said:

I sense many here are objecting to what they THINK the article MAY be about. Gut reaction to what happened after 9/11? I suspect so.

If you are concerned about what MIGHT be written perhaps you should take Sarah up on her offer and give her YOUR opinion.

 

Vic

See ABOVE; consider that I HAVE given HER MY opinion. But thanks for THE, er, advice.

Edited August 13, 20187 yr by Guest
Inclusion of gratuitous use of CAPITALISATION.

I agree with Vic. Give Sarah the help and a chance to write a good article. If you feel she is spinning the facts you can always pull out. I would volunteer but I have a pilot's license so I do not qualify.

Sarah, is it possible that you could post your article at Avsim also?

Ted

1 hour ago, SarahWSJ said:

So far it sounds really neat and I had fun  checking out my neighbor's rig recently.  

 

 

Looks like you’ve already gotten some of the lingo use around here by referring to your neighbors computer/setup as a “rig”, lol. I think that most people outside of flight sim would think of an 18-wheeler if you said you checked out his “rig”.

10 minutes ago, cmpbellsjc said:

Looks like you’ve already gotten some of the lingo use around here by referring to your neighbors computer/setup as a “rig”, lol. I think that most people outside of flight sim would think of an 18-wheeler if you said you checked out his “rig”.

She is the "Technology" writer for the WSJ. and I think, a gamer.  I fly my Sim by honking the air-horns on my rig  Had some great air-horns on my old Honda motorcycle.

23 minutes ago, ganter said:

See ABOVE; consider that I HAVE given HER MY opinion. But thanks for THE, er, advice.

I guess I SHOULD have taken the time to EXCLUDE you from my post.  SOOOO sorry.

 

Just sayin...

1 hour ago, PATCO LCH said:

They'll have to pry my joy stick out of my cold dead hands if they come for my sim.😬

We went thru this after 9/11, how evil humans were using sims to learn to fly, to be terrorists, "remove them from the shelves" they cried....  Does one remove knives from a kitchen, because they were used in terrorist attacks?  Does one ban cars, because car bombs are used in terrorist attacks.  Let's get back to computer software, do I have to uninstall my driving simulator because the evil software is being used to teach terrorists how to drive?  Do I have to uninstall my cooking simulator, because knives are mentioned, and such a simulator can be used to train terrorist ninjas?  Back to seriousness, it is quite comical how the media goes all out to attack a hobby, when they forget in their personal lives they have hobbies of their own.

Sarah,  why don't you ask some questions and see what responses you get? 

1 hour ago, Manny said:

IF he was a mechanic for that aircraft, then that would be a no brainier for him.. he would have total access to start and shutdown aircraft without a pilot I would think.

I have a relative who is a ground service agent and the members of his team, including him, routinely move aircraft at night when the airport is closed.  And I do not mean they tow it.

Sarah has asked us to respond to her directly. This forum is not the proper venue to discuss this topic now.

After the article is published, it might be a good topic to revisit.

 

Vic