quarterly-report.com Political Commentary by James R. Audet

July 20, 1999
30th Anniversary of Man's First Walk on the Moon

The father's death was an American tragedy; the son's death was a personal loss for the Kennedy family.  There is no explanation that will suffice, no reason that will soothe the grief of those that appreciate John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s all too short life, taken the evening of July 16, 1999.

Experienced private pilots have commented on the near blackout conditions that night in the vicinity of Martha's Vineyard that made visual observation of landmarks near impossible.  Without instrument training, the unanimous opinion of seasoned flyers is that a landing at the local airport was probably beyond John's capabilities.

It is regrettable that John decided to take the risk he did   Restricted to visual flight rule (VFR) conditions, the weather should have precluded his flight.  However, under VFR, a pilot is not required to file a flight plan with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), thus, there is no regulatory mechanism to limit imprudence action.

The FAA once again lurks in the background of another aviation crash.  Is the freedom to pilot a private plane -- and endanger one's life -- comparable to the right to smoke cigarettes?  The United States has moved to a new standard regarding cigarettes, that secondhand smoke endangers the nonsmoker.  Does not this new awareness mandate a review of visual flight rules?  The stolen lives of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and Lauren Bessette demand that the FAA re-examine VFR.

These deaths have caused the emotions of this writer to swing back and forth like a pendulum.  I am angry for what appears at the moment to be John's recklessness.  On the other hand, I sympathize with his desire for privacy.  John's aircraft gave him anonymity and the freedom to travel outside the reach of the media hounds that gave chase to him and his wife.

I appreciate his right to experience life as he saw fit.  Can one be too emotional about life?  I do not think so.  It is difficult to criticize a man who sought a measure of satisfaction in challenges that gave meaning to his existence.

Perhaps John's mother should have encouraged him to participate in Scouting.  He would have learned about preparedness.  In his faith of God, no doubt he was a ready soul.  In his responsibility to his family, he needed a better education.

Scouting made a fundamental difference in my life.  It nurtured my curiosity; I was inspired to learn and to achieve.  The Scoutmasters of Troop 312 poured skills into me that neither preparatory school nor college matched.  It exposed me to the dominion of nature and her ultimate power over man.  I learned that nature has no emotions, it does precisely what it wants to do.  If you confront her with disrespect, you will die.

I recall the story of General James H. Doolittle, the pioneer aviator who led a historic bombing raid on Japan from the deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet in April 1942.  The United States, in the grip of the Pearl Harbor tragedy, needed a hero.  Doolittle's squadron provided a dose of courage and inspiration to Americans that lifted their hearts during this bleak time.

Doolittle had trained himself in the field of aeronautical engineering.  He received a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1925.  For his degree, he submitted a dissertation entitled, "Wind Velocity Gradient and Its Effect on Flying Characteristics."   In that document, Doolittle proved that pilots were incapable of determining wind direction and the level of an aircraft by instinct when they could not see the ground or the horizon.  Doolittle debunked the popular understanding that a pilot could accurately determine either altitude or wind velocity without instruments.  Perhaps John would not have risked the flight if he had understood this phenomenon.

From my mentors and surrogate fathers, real and imaginary,  I gained an greater understanding of personal honor, the need for personal achievement, the value of the work of men that preceded me, and the utter insanity of war.  I learned that history does repeat itself, if one is careless.

The sea nearly claimed John's father.  The sea has claimed the son.  I wish John had shared my Boy Scout interests.  I wish he had been guided by the men that influenced me.  Perhaps if he had, three young people would still be alive.

Click on this sentence for the terms that govern your use of this web site.