# Aircraft piloting/If flying were like driving

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

## Repairs and Improvements.
### Inspections.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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

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

## Learning & Licensing

* 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

* 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

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

## Gasoline

* 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

* 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

* 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

* 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

* 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.

## Navigation

* 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

* 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

* 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

* 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.