The Importance of Paying Attention, Illustrated

[Casey]

Ya know, the POINT here was to illustrate how deadly and tragic a moment's inattention can be...to try to make anyone here who happens to see the post THINK for a moment...and MAYBE DO SOME GOOD...and some folks STILL want to turn it into an argument party. I don't effing get it.

Posts like these, which seem to be less about discussing real and scale model cars and trucks, and more about expressing one's opinions, beliefs, and attitudes, almost always end up getting personal. Sometimes it's better to not post something in the first place.

[ScaleDale]

---edited---

One last comment. Some comments were made about there being no wing walkers. I have never seen wing walkers on an active taxiway except when obstacle clearance is an issue. Using wing walkers to maintain clearance from other aircraft who are also taxiing just doesn't happen.

This makes sense for usual circumstances, but it seems to me that the event staff should have thought something like this out and provided wing walkers or some sort of order to taxiing to seperate the big and little planes. More examples of not Paying Attention?

Not trying to pass blame around, just trying to expand the idea of Paying Attention and how failure to do so can have nasty consequences.

Dale

[Ace-Garageguy]

Posts like these, which seem to be less about discussing real and scale model cars and trucks, and more about expressing one's opinions, beliefs, and attitudes, almost always end up getting personal. Sometimes it's better to not post something in the first place.

Well then, I stand corrected. I'm kinda slow and I don't really understand how posts about Christmas lights, what irked you today, what people do for a living, musical groups, etc. seem to be any more "about discussing real and scale model cars and trucks" than pointing out (with illustrating photos that admittedly have shock value...that was the point after all...to get noticed and to get folks to THINK) the potentially tragic consequences of a moment's inattention, but I'll take your word for it. I guess my understanding of "Off Topic" is fatally flawed.

Edited December 13, 2013 by Ace-Garageguy

[Daddyfink]

As weird as this may seem, I am with Bill on this one.

My recollection of the incident was not as fresh as I thought and I was called on it, a bit tersely, but, called on it. At least I had some of it right. It happened and both planes where involved!

But to limit what we say on this section would be contra productive to what it is for. This area, as far as I know, is to keep these sort of topics off the other areas. And that is good and yes, we may not agree or get it right, but it will be contained here.

Please do don't stifle speech on here because we sometimes get a bit heated. Afterall, that is part of the deal sometimes.

Jesse C.

[Pete J.]

I'm going to go out on a limb here(I'm sure someone will be standing by with a chain saw) and take this back to topic. If I were to give this perspective that those who are not tied to the aviation community, this is very similar to what I experience every time I go out in my MR2 and have a big old Peterbuilt long nose on my bumper. I am sure my car can disappear into the blind spot in front of a big rig. Operating any vehicle with an obstructed view requires special vigilance. That is why I try to stay away from such situations. I'm sure that if the pilot in the small home built had been aware of the large garbage grinder coming up behind he would have made an effort to make himself more visible by taxiing down one side of the taxiway or the other rather than staying on center line. In short, all accidents can be avoided but having the forethought to do so, but it is often times difficult to think of everything.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Thanks to Jesse, Pete and Dale for your input, and I apologize if I seemed unnecessarily abrasive to anyone.

I think we can all agree that while the pilot of the Avenger actually caused the accident, the pilot of the RV MIGHT have prevented it, had HE been paying closer attention to aircraft in his vicinity too, and there were of course other contributing factors.

But the POINT is that none of us, in cars or aircraft, or anything else we operate that is potentially dangerous, should EVER assume the "other guy" is doing everything right to maintain safety. Paying 100% attention to what YOU'RE doing isn't quite enough. You've GOT to be paying attention to what is happening in your environment, and try to think a few moves ahead. Have a plan where to go if the car in front of you slams on the brakes, for instance, and there's a semi behind you.

I hope everyone on the forum...and I consider ALL of you as friends I just haven't met yet...stays safe. There are a lot more potential distractions during the holiday season too, so one more time...please pay attention.

I have personally lost family and been told "I just didn't see them..."

It didn't bring them back..

[ScaleDale]

I'm going to go out on a limb here(I'm sure someone will be standing by with a chain saw) and take this back to topic. If I were to give this perspective that those who are not tied to the aviation community, this is very similar to what I experience every time I go out in my MR2 and have a big old Peterbuilt long nose on my bumper. I am sure my car can disappear into the blind spot in front of a big rig. Operating any vehicle with an obstructed view requires special vigilance. That is why I try to stay away from such situations. I'm sure that if the pilot in the small home built had been aware of the large garbage grinder coming up behind he would have made an effort to make himself more visible by taxiing down one side of the taxiway or the other rather than staying on center line. In short, all accidents can be avoided but having the forethought to do so, but it is often times difficult to think of everything.

Try riding a motorcycle on a Massachusetts highway with a semi pulling up next to you. All of a sudden I look to my left and here she comes!!! The berm was clear enough that I was able to slide over off the road without crashing and lived to tell about it. He never saw me. Could have been very bad.

My dad used to think that his only responsibility was to follow the posted laws and it was other folks responsibility to deal with that. He led parades in the fast lane going 55 and ran merging semi trucks into safety barriers because he was following the rules and didn't have to get out of the way. I learned "evasive manuvers" in High School driver's ed and advanced to "surviving aggressive drivers" while living in Boston. And so I'm still here...

Operating any vehicle in a safe manner requires thinking beyond the rule book as well as Paying Attention.

I say all this while waiting for my truck to get out of the body shop. I ran into a small dark car stopped in an intersection while making a left turn. I wasn't paying attention.

Dale

[Deano]

Well then, I stand corrected. I'm kinda slow and I don't really understand how posts about Christmas lights, what irked you today, what people do for a living, musical groups, etc. seem to be any more "about discussing real and scale model cars and trucks" than pointing out (with illustrating photos that admittedly have shock value...that was the point after all...to get noticed and to get folks to THINK) the potentially tragic consequences of a moment's inattention, but I'll take your word for it. I guess my understanding of "Off Topic" is fatally flawed.

Imagine that, Bill; off topic in the 'Off Topic Lounge.'

[Guest]

Just a suggestion Bill. Next time you start a thread of this nature, try adding some pertinent information along with the photos. That way, it won't be left up to everyone to guess or speculate what did or didn't happen. A picture can say a thousand words. But, it can also leave a thousand out. Two photos and title doesn't even begin to tell the story. That would be like someone doing a tutorial and only posting photos without explaining any of the steps.

[Guest]

The point Bill is trying to make, seemingly lost on most of you is FREAKING PAY ATTENTION!!!!!!!!!!!