I wonder if the decision not to do it anymore is connected to the FAA reexamination of the pilot?
Flying is hard
- Thread starter psychlone99
- Start date
I wonder if the decision not to do it anymore is connected to the FAA reexamination of the pilot?
1. I wonder if leath did not report it to insurance because he didn't want an accident on his record. My gut feeling is not reporting it was more about him and less about Iowa state.
2. Iowa state employees pilots whose job it is to fly those planes.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Funny, because I've seen the private sector work just as inefficiently and wastefully.
It's about leadership and accountability either way, and both have plenty of bloat and waste.
He reported it to the FAA, not reporting it to insurance does not protect his record. Its also a 4 to 5 passenger plane depending on configuration. Having an extra pilot really limits what you can carry as the total weight it can carry is no more the 925 lbs and is likely less depending on conditions. That's people and luggage. There are legitimate reasons for him to fly himself since he is licensed, but it really is not the risks in perception. Nothing really wrong with it though.
First of all, I will say that I tend to like Leath as a president. I may not want him as a buddy, but he was hired with an emphasis on developing the research park and he seems to have done that really well. And as a pre-emptive strike on all you who will bring up the Etrema Products bankruptcy, they were part of the original research park and probably had their financing deal approved long before Leath became president.
Now, on to the incident itself. I'm most concerned about the fact that he took the trip by himself. Here is a very important quote from the DM Reg article. Madden also insisted the school would never let Leath "fly by himself one of our planes because of the insurance and liability issues." I agree that it is a ridiculous risk to have the president of a major university taking flights on his own, particularly as a fairly novice pilot. I hate flying on small planes, even with very experienced pilots because those planes are always fighting the wind.
It is not uncommon for a company to insist that its executives not travel together, especially by plane. I'm at the Senior VP level in our company and I have flown with the president of the company only once in the last two years, even though we often go to the same places for the same events (and the one time was only because we didn't know each other's travel plans). We have only ridden in the same car a handful of times in the last two years.
I think Leath flying in a university plane by himself and in violation of policy is the part that will really get him in trouble. I suspect that is why he tried to keep it quiet. It is not going to be a pretty process. My hope is that he just admits to the mistake, pays for the repairs, and promises not to do it again.
Now, on to the incident itself. I'm most concerned about the fact that he took the trip by himself. Here is a very important quote from the DM Reg article. Madden also insisted the school would never let Leath "fly by himself one of our planes because of the insurance and liability issues." I agree that it is a ridiculous risk to have the president of a major university taking flights on his own, particularly as a fairly novice pilot. I hate flying on small planes, even with very experienced pilots because those planes are always fighting the wind.
It is not uncommon for a company to insist that its executives not travel together, especially by plane. I'm at the Senior VP level in our company and I have flown with the president of the company only once in the last two years, even though we often go to the same places for the same events (and the one time was only because we didn't know each other's travel plans). We have only ridden in the same car a handful of times in the last two years.
I think Leath flying in a university plane by himself and in violation of policy is the part that will really get him in trouble. I suspect that is why he tried to keep it quiet. It is not going to be a pretty process. My hope is that he just admits to the mistake, pays for the repairs, and promises not to do it again.
I could be wrong but I don't think he had any intention of paying for the repairs until it was brought to light. Of course maybe he was saving up so he could cut just one check. ( I miss pirate jimlad)
I can't stand Leath. Policies and ideas are awful and he's just plain bad for the university.
I had a much respected History professor at Iowa State (at least, among the students) who, when class was talking about how Leath had such a high approval rating, he mentioned how the approval rating was a joke and how not many staffers actually liked Leath.
I had a much respected History professor at Iowa State (at least, among the students) who, when class was talking about how Leath had such a high approval rating, he mentioned how the approval rating was a joke and how not many staffers actually liked Leath.
Now Faux news picked up the story, thanks for the publicity:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/27/iowa-state-president-says-will-stop-using-school-plane.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/27/iowa-state-president-says-will-stop-using-school-plane.html
Actually when first asked he said he had no knowledge, them later said he had been notified informally. Seems like ass covering to me.
DSM Register article?
I know nothing about the cost to repair a small plane, but I have to believe the total costs to repair both wings, including the FAA paperwork is greater than $12,000.
The hard landing occurred when Leath was landing in Bloomington, Illinois, for a refueling stop. He has said gusty winds caused the plane's right wingtip to hit the ground, causing it to leave the runway. When the plane recovered, the left wing flap hit a runway light. An inspection found that both wings suffered "substantial damage." Leath and his wife, Janet, weren't injured.
I know nothing about the cost to repair a small plane, but I have to believe the total costs to repair both wings, including the FAA paperwork is greater than $12,000.
The hard landing occurred when Leath was landing in Bloomington, Illinois, for a refueling stop. He has said gusty winds caused the plane's right wingtip to hit the ground, causing it to leave the runway. When the plane recovered, the left wing flap hit a runway light. An inspection found that both wings suffered "substantial damage." Leath and his wife, Janet, weren't injured.
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That is a little creepy that you can so easily find info like this. Can't a guy even sneak around in his own plane anymore? [semi-jimlad]
Yeah you just have to apply to block the registration from tracking. They use this on the King Air so I am not sure why they don't on the Cirrus.
Also it looks like they bought it new. Nice $600-800k there.
Comments from Warren Madded via a letter to the Daily: http://www.iowastatedaily.com/opinion/letters/article_10813c3e-85e0-11e6-ae9b-833108383da4.html
Lots of stuff is CYA with "to my knowledge...", but I thought these snippets were interesting.
Lots of stuff is CYA with "to my knowledge...", but I thought these snippets were interesting.
I bet after this they block the Cirrus too.
It was bought when it was 3 years old, I think they traded in the old Piper Cherokee that we used for flight training in AeroE
https://flightaware.com/resources/registration/N176CF
My bad I misread it the first time. I do love this snippet
"The FAA issued him a pilot certificate in January 2015 allowing him to fly single engine planes with instruments. The university acquired the Cirrus SR22 five months earlier."
Oh thank God they let him fly planes with instruments. It can be a real pain without those. I know they are getting at him being instrument rated and it is poorly written.
Last I knew they were letting Aer E students choose whether to fly something or just get so many hours in the simulator.
Leath has had very little, if anything, to do with the record enrollment at Iowa State. However, it certainly hasn't stopped him from taking credit for it. It's analagous to the POTUS taking the credit or blame for our nation's economy.
However, Leath does get credit for a shady land deal, creating a high salary position out of thin air and then giving this position to the former Republican speaker of the house in the Iowa legislature without advertising it, the plane scandal, ect.
You may be cynical enough to accept corruption in leadership. I guess I'm just one of those naive idealists who actually expect our leaders to be ethical and to lead by example.
