Did I just get dad talked on the forum? Oh well. Yes Ira, I have been here for some time. We'll just say since inception, and SATCO before that. From that I can tell you, I am more concerned about staleness "screwing things up" than I am progression. VATSIM came about when...2001? The CoC goes back to 2003? It's stale, and it's no wonder people who were valued members on this network are now breaking off to form new ventures. I, like you, see on a constant basis, much more profound deviations from the CoC.
I called you an administrator, not a politician. I know you don't base your decisions on the approval or disapproval of the group, as a politician would. I did say, you guys were playing politics on here, and you were. You, and Matt aired your questions and grievances about this event in public forum, therefore, you have no place to fault anyone else for injecting their opposing comment on the matter. I have every much the privilege to stand up for the spirit of the event, as you guys do to fall down and hit your head on the CoC.
So let's talk about the CoC. First of all, there is nothing in A1 that applied here. Nobody was discourteous or disrespectful in the planning or execution of this event. I don't see B14 applying either, as every callsign had to be related to a pilot at some point during the event, but I'll remain flexible with the play on words as I am with the monitoring of unicom. I really don't know what you are getting at regarding a "class of pilots". Can you close an airport? I don't know. Where does it say you can or can't? It isn't in the CoC. Actually several ARTCC SOP languages include a section for closure of runways and/or airports, and the phrase "prohibited to do so" isn't included in that language. Whatever the beef is with the Blue Angels performance, I will stay away from. I imagine it is some vSOA issue, which, goes back to antiquated policy. They did a stellar and professional job.
In the end, the controller of the event just opted to cease ATC operations at the designated hour, in which no rules became violated, except of course for those who still diminished the enjoyment of others by choosing to depart or arrive when there was traffic in the immediate vicinity of the field or runway area. Even if it was a formation of aircraft in orchestrated aerobatic maneuvering. Going back to the majority of ARTCC SOP's on the matter. The runway or airport may choose to be closed by approval of the shift supervisor in which pilots may still arrive or depart under their own risk. Essentially what happened today.
The people showed what is possible on this network with some updates; and really Ira, that was my central theme in the entire post. This event, the extras, and the community that chose to rise up and respond the way it did, is what shows what is possible. I think by reading your words, you know that deep down inside that it is possible to do so.. If it's your goal to make things like this a consistent reality for the community, then I will stand up and applaud that. If it's your goal to cut red tape, and bring us out of the turn of the century, then I applaud that. That wasn't what happened in this forum thread though, and that wasn't what you guys showed to the community. I know we can do better on all sides, and I as a long time member, welcome those changes.
Nick
