San Francisco Considers Banning Blue Angels

Yep, you read that right.

It’s all over the aviation community. I’ve seen references to this story all over the place.

It’s on Neptunus Lex. It’s on Aero-News.net. It’s on TurbineToucan.com. Twice.

It’s on The Examiner.

Now it’s on my blog.

County Supervisor Chris Daly says of the Blue Angels’ demonstration, “they seem dangerous and unnecessary.” Supervisor Daly is drafting a (thankfully) non-binding resolution opposing the Blue Angels’ demonstrations.

Veterans for Peace calls the demonstration a “public safety risk” and complains about “noise pollution,” “pro-military message,” and “recruiting efforts.” Paul Cox, a member of Veterans for Peace makes the truly alarmist statement that just a slight miscalculation or mechanical failure can make a plane “go barreling into the Golden Gate Bridge or a high-rise and cause a significant amount of damage.” Mr. Cox also says that the resolution would establish that the leaders and citizens of the City of San Francisco don’t support having the Blue Angels. Mr. Cox and Veterans for Peace point to the loss of Blue Angel 6, Kevin J. Davis, as an example of the dangers posed by a Blue Angels’ demonstration.

Of course, nothing like this would be complete without Code Pink. As usual, Code Pink seems to find a way to be against just about anything. They cite air pollution, public safety, and fuel waste as reasons to make the Blue Angels feel less than welcome in the airspace over San Francisco.

Kudos go out to Edward Leonard who heads the San Francisco Fleet Week Committee. Mr. Leonard points out that the Blue Angels are back flying since April, that all maneuvers are approved by the FAA, and that the more demanding maneuvers are performed over the waters of San Francisco Bay. Finally, a voice of reason.

That’s their take on the situation. Here’s mine.

First off, I’d like to take issue with the safety concerns. Think about how many mid-road collisions or losses of control you hear about every day in the morning and evening traffic reports. Now, think about how many times you hear about the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds having an accident. No comparison – the guys flying in close formation have the better safety record. If we looked at driving privately owned vehicles as these guys look at the Blue Angels, we’d have banned cars long ago.

Secondly, I would ask how many times a slight miscalculation or mechanical failure has caused any military jet (especially during an airshow) to go barreling into a bridge, onto a freeway, or into a building. The only one I can think of was an F-117 many years ago which lost an entire wing and fell into a neighborhood. I’m waiting for the accident report on Mr. Davis’ loss before I include it in any opinion piece. Again, compare this to the accident rate for cars, or even commercial aviation. The arguement again falls flat on its face.

Now then, about that pesky air pollution and fuel wasting… I’d be willing to bet that these people waste more energy and cause more pollution every year by leaving lights on and running the heat and air conditioning every year than they would like to admit. I’d also love to know how many of them smoke cigarettes or (shock!) marijuana and how much that contributes to pollution. If they really wanted to reduce wasted fuel and air pollution, I’d expect them to go after the private jets, helicopters, and SUVs used by all the politicians in Washington, DC and Sacramento. Let ‘em go fly commercial, deal with the TSA, and take buses and cabs like the rest of us. I’ll start to consider the pollution and fuel wasting arguements once I start hearing this.

I just wish these people – Supervisor Daly, Code Pink, and Veterans for Peace – would realize the sacrifices made by everyone in the military for the rest of us and show some appreciation. Even the “glamour boys” of the Blue Angels sacrifice a lot – they’re away from their families more than just about anyone in the military. They aren’t just a recruiting tool for the Navy or a militaristic symbol, they’re a wonderful example of what is possible with determination, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. I’d be glad to host them anytime.