I am deeply involved in general aviation and these two do not fit the typical mold of responsible aircraft owners. Therefore, 360's attempt at painting these two as "wealthy right wingers" is obviously way off base.

There were just too many flawed decisions made during this ordeal for 360's statement to hold up (besides not too many WEALTHY right wingers would be out on a cross country in a C-150. HaHa).

Local flights are often made w/out getting a briefing from flight service (although that is kind of risky these days), but a cross country anywhere near the capitol without a current briefing is just assinine.

The federal regulations state that a current sectional map for the area you are flying in must be with you in the plane. This will show a pilot the boundaries of controlled airspace. Nowadays, temporary flight restricted areas can be established whenever the feds see fit. These areas obviously are not going to be on a map. The only way to know about them is to call before a flight and ask the briefers if any of these exist anywhere along your flight path. It gets crazy the month before an election.

Any general aviation pilot that has received a briefing since 9/11 has heard that they are to monitor 121.5 in the event of an intercept.

All right Tim, which FAR says you have to have a chart?

AFIK the rules say "become familiar with all relevant information concerning the flight."

The rules are the floor-- being smart is the ceiling. . .

Right here. Sorry, I don't know anything about general aviation or shooting down planes.

Didn't someone actually crash a plane into the Rose Garden several years ago?

FAR 91.503 states that the charts need to be current but that does not cover this aircraft type. (Subpart F-large & turbine powered multi-engine)

Printed on the front of the sectional charts it states: This chart will become OBSOLETE FOR USE IN NAVIGATION upon publication of the next edition sheduled for (date).

I do not feel like digging anymore, but if you know this common belief is incorrect, by all means, fill me in.

Edit: I found the following in the Aeronautical Imformation Manual: AIM 5-1-1 e) Pilots are URGED to use only the latest issue of aeronautical charts in planning and conducting flight operations.

You win John!

I am not one to make up extra rules to live by, I am sure I have been told this my many over the years (probably even my flight instructor). Why is it that this myth (if it is indeed a myth) has endured for so long. I have heard guys worry about getting a ramp check when after looking at their chart they realize it is out dated. Is this just a myth in the midwest?

Yup, but that was back in the slick willie days when the president didn't run off to a nuke bunker each time something suspicious came near the white house.

Tim,

Perhaps the "myth" is sustained because it's just plain COMMON SENSE to use the most up-to-date charts.

I know, common sense isn't as common as it should be, as evidenced by the two nitwits over DC.

I was referencing this post.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=219341&highlight=cloud% 2A

Joke...bombing....{eject}
:D