Posted for "Jim Nordin" <panelmaker@earthlink.net>:

Come on gentlemen, listen to what you're saying. You're blaming someone for
your decision because it pissed you off and cost you money. The trick words
here are "your decision".

I don't reply to much on the LML regarding option, but placing any blame on
someone else for this mishap is wrong in my view. The helicopter pilot has
every right to be where he was. If someone makes the mistake of making a
decision of going around the chopper, on the grass with these little tiny
wheels we have, and have the decision make for a bad situation ... then so
be it. It was not the helicopter pilots decision. The chopper may have had
problems of its own that prevented him moving. Who knows? Nobody talked to
the guy about why he was there. And I don't remember what the "arrogant
blatant and hazardous action" was. I have read all the comments on this
situation and may not remember every detail, but it is the pilot in command
to make the decisions that make things happen. No body was in the air, no
emergency existed.  I mean Matt hoped to get the attention of the chopper
pilot but failed. No effort was made! "hoping the helicopter pilots would
see me.  Noluck." Apparently Matt could see the chopper pilot but did
nothing. Being concerned, I would have walked over and asked the chopper
pilot what his intensions were rather than drive my tiny wheeled airplane on
the turf. Been there done that.

Matt made an error, we all do. "That said, what the helicopter pilot did was
very inconsiderate and indirectly cost the aviation community about $15,000.
I don't blame him for my poor decision, but I do blame him for putting me in
a position to have made a poor decision."

The helicopter pilot didn't cost the aviation community anything even though
he may have been inconsiderate. Someone put Matt in a position so there was
a possibility of making a poor decision. Happens a thousand times a day to
all of us, particularly on our over-populated highways. Make a better
decision next time. Don't let somebody's inconsiderate behavior make you
make a bad decision. If the chopper pilot did something other than sit
there, like run you off into the mush, that'd be real different.

You make a choice, you take your chances. Be responsible for your actions.
Let's not whine about somebody's inconsiderate behavior because that doesn't
cause us to do anything. We cause us to do things. We are the PIC ... don't
forget it. It's dangerous out there. Be evermindful of the needs of others.
Sorry Bill, Matt, no flame intended. I hope I don't do it myself,
gawdalmighty!

I found myself talking loudly at the end of this so I took a deep breath.
Feel better now.

jim nordin