Fossett's plight

[GAHorn]

What is this? About the 3rd or 4th time he's gone missing somewhere in the world and some gov't or taxpayer group somewhere has had to spend milions to go find him and save his butt?
I think that anyone with enough millions to go running around trying to draw attention to himself taking chances... should at least have to pay the piper when he wants someone to save his arse.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

George I understand your point and I would be saying the same thing if he had been on one of those types of record breaking flights. But in this case he wasn't.

He was doing the same thing an average pilot might do. A flight in an average plane on an average mission many of us have done and will continue to do.

I think he should be afforded no more or less than every other person as far as government spending on the search is concerned.

I have no doubt that he has gotten extra attention because of his fame. I also have no doubt, and it has been attested by others here, that the same type of search has happened for Joe Normal, we just don't know about it.

[GAHorn]

I believe he was without a flight plan out looking for a suitable place to attempt another record-breaking publicity attempt. And the mfr. of his famous ELT-equipped GPS-locator wrist-watch (that apparently doesn't work) was one of the sponsors.
I guess I need to quit being so cynical.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Yes he was and it could have been a mission I would have undertaken, maybe without further thought. And I don't have a ELT equipped GPS watch.

I can't say for sure I would have done it because I don't live there to know the local conditions. Perhaps those more knowledgeable with local conditions might comment how others in the area might have done the flight.

I can not remember the last time I filled a VFR flight plan but it was probably in the Army prior to 1996 because it was required by the Army. This is not to say I acted the smartest not filing but that it is common place depending on where you fly.

[n3437d]

Living just north of KMEV (Minden-Tahoe) where the "search" is being conducted I had opportunity to witness first hand some of the goings on.

The Mrs and I decided to leave early Sunday morn to go have breakfast at one of our local favorites, Bridgeport, CA (O57). upon departure and heading south just east of Minden and abeam the airport the air was full of scout planes and since our path of travel took us smack through the search area and also knowing that EVERY CAP plane in the state and adjoinging states were in the area, I difered to caution and decided to land at Minden as they have a nice restaurant on the field. Second mistake, as once clear of taxiway I attempted to find a place to tie down. There were CAP members standing everywhere waiting for the "collar" some of the "professionals" did not attempt to get out of my way so I stopped and revved the engine a tad and they looked around and moseyed off the open space between tie downs. It actually loooked like a 3rd world invasion. There was media folk everywhere with potent tele lenses just waiting for something. I never shut the engine down and motored 10nm north and landed back at KCXP. Secured plane hopped in car and drove to a restaurant.

Now don't get me wrong, Fossett above all else is an aviatior that "went down" somewhere and deserved to be looked for. But I really took umbrage when one of the spokepersons for CAP leading the search said "this is a normal and typical search for a downed pilot." To this I say BS and double BS. I have seen S&R missions here in NV before and its usually one or two planes and perhaps a buddy or two and thats it. The second thing I want to say is if Mr Fossett was indeed flying around to look for a flat spot to attempt a Land Speed record there are only a few well known flat dry beds around and where he was "reproted" to seen or headed towards was not really near any of these. Perhaps he was simply sight seeing before the scouting mission, who knows.

My sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Mr Fossett but I agree with George on this one - its a circus event and a very costly one.

Joel
N3437D - KCXP

[Robert Eilers]

Many states have built into their government codes a mechanism to recover some or all of the expense associated with the search for a lost person. In California where their are many state and federal parks that attract visitors from all over the state and the country, small counties found themselves spending thousands of dollars out of their small budgets to find the lost residents of other counties. The government code allows the searching county to bill the county of residence for the "reasonable" costs of the search. The county of residence then engages it's county counsel to pursue recovery of the search costs from the county resident - if certain criteria are met, i.e., negligence, out of bounds, etc. In the long run tax payers generally foot the bill.

[GAHorn]

Some insurance policies include search and rescue and recovery clauses. Check with your underwriter before you get misplaced and someone spends a lot of your money searching for you.