Photo Op Gone Wrong

A couple of weeks ago there was a big stink raised over the fact that the US Air Force (at the apparent request of a White House staffer) made a low level flight over New York City for a photo opportunity. The problem surrounding the photo op was the fact that apparently no one in New York had been informed and when people saw the low-flying 747 accompanied by Air Force fighter jets, there was the natural tendency to think that this was a repeat of the horrific attacks of September 11th. Shortly thereafter it came out that this was nothing more than a photo op that hadn't been cleared with the city or with most anyone else who needed to know and because of that there was miscommunication and panic.

In the aftermath the staffer who approved the flight has resigned and the White House has condemned the actions as being foolish and irresponsible. Now nearly two weeks later the FAA and city of New York denied permission to another military aircraft to make a pass over the city. Not so much for a photo op but to allow a Navy pilot who is due to retire to make a last low level (3,000 feet to be exact) pass above the city on his way back to his home base in Maine. The request was denied due to the fact that the city feeling that there is insufficient time to notify the public and get the word out that such a flight could take place.

Now I can understand the reactions of people. After all, how can one not react to seeing a low flying plane with a similar amount of trepidation after what happened the last time low flying aircraft were seen in the airspace surrounding New York. But is the reaction and denial of any and all flights the way to go? Not having actually been on Manhattan Island during the attacks I can't say exactly what my reaction would be to seeing a low flying plane but then again I do see low flying planes almost on a daily basis since my office is located in the landing pattern of Dulles Airport. Every time I walk out the door I can almost always look up and see the planes just a few hundred feet above my head making quite a racket as they line up for their final approach.

Maybe I could be accused of being naive but I don't believe I'm that stupid or illogical to think in some part of my head that this could very well be another terrorist attack. But I ask you to consider this. In the wake of this photo opportunity disaster, many politicians and commentators have been jumping around and screaming like an organ grinder monkey about how this was a foolish and irresponsible act. How this flight probably scared the living crap out of people and should be forbidden in the most strongest sense. I find it highly ironic however that these are often the same people who will speak volumes about how our country is now safer from terrorists than it ever has been.

I seem to recall that during the twilight of the last administration there was repeated talk about how our country had not suffered another terrorist attack in the wake of the attacks of September 11th. We have new agencies and new saftey and security procedures that make it next to impossible for us to smuggle anything as dangerous as a bottle of Evian into airport security. We go through security check after security check at many places these days and yet many of these commentators like to say that the President's plane could have been hijacked and used as a weapon like the 9-11 attacks? If one were to open their eyes a bit wider and see the big picture they would have seen that the flight was under fighter escort so the chances of this being a terrorist attack (accompanied by US Air Force fighters no less) would have been something safe rather than diabolical.

I suppose part of the reaction is due to the fact that not everyone sees things for what they are but perhaps what they fear it is. If (as these commentators endlessly enjoy pointing out) believe that the last administration has left our country a much safer place then why do we have to fear that a low flying aircraft of the proportions of a 747 is up to no good? Is it because the current occupier (and deciderer in the White House) is from a different party? Perhaps. I don't condone the flight, in fact I think it's wrong that people weren't informed yet how often are people informed in general? Whenever a training flight is to be conducted in DC they send out announcements to all the news agencies in the area but I doubt that many people hear about it. I understand the feelings of being gunshy but let's not blow things out of proportion.