Aircraft piloting/If flying were like driving

A light-hearted look at the differences between driving and piloting.

Repairs and Improvements.

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Inspections.

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  • Before starting your car, you'd need to inspect tires, gasoline, engine and instrument functioning thoroughly.
  • The DMV would randomly check your vehicle for any discrepencies.
  • Annual auto inspections would entail removing all the seats to inspect the sheet metal, compression checks of the engine cylinders and inspection of the radio and its controls.
  • All car interior compartments would have to be corrosion protected.
  • After re-painting your car, it must be weighed.
  • Tow trucks would have to have made at least 3 tows in the past 90 days before they could tow you from the highway, and if at night, those tows would have to be made to a full stop.

Lifetime.

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  • Cars would last virtually forever unless they were totaled in a crash and their value would increase once they were at least 10 years old.
  • Your engine would only be good for a few years, max.
  • Fenders would have a life limit, and need to be replaced because of it.

Parts.

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  • You couldn't add a radar detector without a mechanic's signoff and filing a form.
  • You couldn't use eBay, or your buddies old junker car for a parts source.
  • The local junk yard would go out of business... except those selling parts labelled "Collectors only--- NOT FOR DRIVING".
  • If you blow a hose on the road, you are not allowed to replace it.
  • You'd need to file a form and have a licensed mechanic install that spiffy new "Chain " steering wheel that's all the rage, then sign the cars logbook that it had been changed.... ( as if no one could tell) .
  • A minor collision that damaged your radiator, would require a tear down of the engine, if the fan was damaged.

Cost.

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  • You would pay $60.00/hr for your mechanic and not $90.00/hr like you do for current auto mechanics.
  • After a crunch, the body shop would charge you $7,375.37 for a fender repaint.

Recalls

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  • If you buy a new car and something is recalled, it is your responsibility, not the car manufacturer.

Learning & Licensing

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  • Teenage kids would be the driving instructors.
  • Private Driver - Sedan Single Engine Unleaded.
  • Private Driver - Truck Single Engine Unleaded.
  • Bus drivers cannot drive past age 65.
  • You'd pay the drivers testing examiner $400.00 (in advance) for giving you a driving test.
  • Every 2 years, you'd have to show a driving instructor that you can still drive well enough to pass the driver's test.
  • Alternatively, you can participate in the "Wheels" program by going to some safety seminars and getting additional training.
  • You would need to get medically certified to drive at least every 3 years.
  • 17 yr olds could rent a car and drive away.
  • Making a single, small mistake could mean you lose your license for 30 days or longer.
  • Making a slightly larger mistake could mean you'll never drive again.

Passengers

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  • Driver would instruct every passenger in the use of seatbelts, doors, and windows.
  • Passengers would be encouraged to watch for merging traffic.
  • No smoking anytime, anywhere.
  • Driver would be required to carry batteries and fuses if there are passengers.
  • You have to drive your car and parallel park at night three times before you can carry a passenger at night.
  • You'd have to put the heavy people in the front seat whether or not they preferred it to balance the usable load.
  • If you car-pooled you would only be allowed to charge your passengers fuel costs for the trip unless you had a "taxi-driver" license.
  • If you give a ride to a friend who wants to do something other than what you want to do, they cannot pay for any fuel or incidental expenses.
  • You may not advertise for a passenger to help share expenses on a trip.

Cost

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  • New cars, which costs about $5-7K to make, would suddenly be sold for over $100K, and no one would think its wrong.

Gasoline

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  • You would most likely fill your gas tank before every drive.
  • Filling up with the wrong fuel could kill you.
  • It would be standard practice to crawl under the car and take a fuel sample from several locations.
  • Many states would enact laws making it illegal to dump these samples on the road but the laws wouldn't be enforced except at gas stations and driver training facilities.
  • Gas tanks would have to be "sealed".
  • You can buy books listing all publicly available gas stations and their current prices are listed on the Internet.

Weather

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  • Most drivers could not drive when it was foggy or storming.
  • You could drive when it was foggy or storming only after getting special training.
  • Those drivers not licensed to drive in fog can still get "Drive Shadowing" from traffic control to alert them of approaching traffic.
  • Drivers licensed to drive in fog and storms have to file a "Drive plan" with traffic if venturing out into bad weather.
  • Traffic control can change the driving plan at will during the drive for their own convenience.
  • Drivers have to keep a 2 mile separation between cars in fog.
  • Cars must be specially equipped with special tires and wipers to drive into known icing conditions such as when near or below freezing or when humidity is high.

Restrictions

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  • You can't drive near certain neighborhoods.
  • You can't drive through the park.
  • You need special permission to drive into or through many cities.
  • You need a special permission to drive cars with big engines.
  • Driving near the nations capital would require that you be fingerprinted and display a discrete code in your rear window.
  • Black Suburbans would pull you over if you got too close to DC.
  • Highways in Chicago are for Truckers and Buses only, don't ask for permission, you're not getting it.
  • People paint an X on their driveway to keep you from parking there.
  • People on bicycles would constantly fight to take away your right to drive.
  • You could lose your driving privileges for loading the car with more weight in people and baggage than the MGW sticker allowed.
  • You'd need to check the weather before leaving the driveway and then call for permission to enter the roadway.

Freedoms

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  • The speed limit would be faster than most cars can even go.
  • Cruise control keeps you in your lane.
  • You could drive most roadways in whatever direction you wanted, and with an approved GPS you could drive "off road".
  • Racing would simply be called "formation".
  • Tailgating would simply be called "formation".
  • Open containers of alcohol OK. But you couldn't drive within 8 hours of drinking even one sip.
  • Fiddling with the radio is encouraged.
  • Nearly every car would have dual controls and non-licensed passengers could drive for a spell.
  • Simply stopping in the middle of the road to enjoy the view wouldn't be a problem, but your car must be specially equipped for this task.
  • Insurance would not be required, but would cost several thousand dollars and would be void if your license plates were expired or the floor mats were missing.

Accidents

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  • Traffic fatalities would reduce to nearly nil.
  • Drunk-driving incidents would reduce to nearly nil.
  • Traffic accidents involving injury, death, or serious property damage would be investigated by the federal government and information posted on the Internet.
  • The public and press would begin to fear riding in cars.
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  • You would be required to carry current AAA maps for cross country trips.
  • Approved GPS with database that is updated every 8 weeks.
  • For many, the "I Follow Roads" method of navigation wouldn't change.

Alternative Modes of Transportation

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  • Motorcycles would have weight limits and maximum speeds and still be generally looked upon as fun but dangerous. Many motorcycles would be illegally modified.
  • But it wouldn't be cheap anymore.
  • Many many many people would be walking.
  • There are those amazing go-cart drivers who manage to make every place a downhill after they get an initial shove.

Organizations

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  • Drivers, and owners, would be encouraged to join " A. O. D. A ", Automobile Owners and Drivers Assoc, and take safety lessons online...

i.e.

    • Highway incursions, and avoiding them.
    • Driving in Ice, and snow.
    • Map reading.
    • Advanced map reading.
    • Advanced map reading at night.
    • Talking like a pro to RTC (Road Traffic Control).

Responsibilities

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  • The driver is responsible for every accident unless the accident has been caused by catastrophic, unexpected mechanical failure.
  • Nevertheless, if the driver is a celebrity or wealthy, the widow will sue the manufacturer of the car and all its parts -- no matter how old the parts may be or how foolish the driver has been.
  • Driver is expected by friends, relatives, and co-workers to be able to explain (or defend) in detail every auto crash or bone-headed driver activity that has recently occurred or has ever occurred to a celebrity.

See also

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