These are really small tornadoes, water spout size. I’ve seen them in south Florida regularly. A plane properly tied down usually will not fly away.
I agree with your assessment. I’ve been into the fancy FBOs and yes, they are nice. But, I can not remember a tie down spot for small planes. In fact I was flying a small R44 helicopter into one and they started up a jet as I was air taxiing behind them.
They really don’t care for the piston aircraft.
But, the smaller airports are super friendly and have transient tie downs, with less fluff, but more friendly.
Insurance is going crazy because on average there are 4 general aviation accidents a day… with one fatal accident a day. Yea, that is a crazy high rate of accidents. More GA planes are wrecked every day, than built.
Is there a list of pilots that can fly planes to safety? Or do you know one? I know I would have a plane to get my pricy property out of harms way.
The Navy flys their planes to safety and still gets them back in time to secure their property.
Seems like a program AOPA would have put together 30 years ago.
They are all on the S.T.A.R maintenance program.
Sit There And Rot.
I went around to the most likely that were still airworthy and proposed to the owners that I would pay for my own fuel, oil and insurance to keep it flying. They pay for the annual and tie down, I’d keep the day-to-day mundane items up to date (lightbulbs/oil/filters). “You’d be getting the better deal” and wouldn’t take my offer.
Now, tires are dry rotted, plexiglass glazed, paint gone, bird and rats nest infested, haven’t been flown in decades and they are still paying for the tie down.
Tell the wife:
Dear, you the kids and pets are own your own. Board up the house and sandbag the basement. Load up the car and drive 13 hours to your moms house. Call me when you get there. Good luck.
I’m repositioning the plane to Vegas.
The Navy sends a skeleton crew of maintainers ahead to catch the jets or more likely, sends the jets to a host squadron.
No one “gets them back to secure property”. The enlisted left behind button up shop. If they are lucky, they “get a day off” to secure their own personal property and family.
Though I sympathize with those aircraft owners, they did know that a hurricane was approaching, and that those storms will produce tornadoes and high surface winds. Leaving a plane outdoors during hurricanes will likely result in such damage. These people get lots of warning, and those planes can be moved to some locale where they’re sheltered, or otherwise out of harm’s way.