[TowerTalk] Another Commercial tower down

[K3BU at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/4/03 7:44:49 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
clewis at knology.net writes:
There ARE no error-free processes; there ARE no foolproof procedures.
Critical thinking and situational awareness are still required with even the
best checklists and procedures, which, followed blindly or numbly are gonna
getcha sooner or later.
Amen to that!
But it is idiotic to put managers and bureaucrats in charge and to 
"straighten" things out. Just look at the government institutions, like motor vehicles, 
immigration, unemployment, tax. That is where we are heading with self 
perpetuating and cancerous bureaucracy.

I saw part of NASA program and it was refreshing to see people dedicated and 
in charge and knowing what they do, and solving problems and crisees. I lived 
through similar atmosphere at IBM, only later to get poisoned by "management" 
and quit to pursue bad capitalistic dream - working for myself, long hours but 
free of corporate BS.

As far as working on old towers, that is sometime big question mark. You 
never know what creeped in over the years, what has corroded or if someone will 
not take one too many crossbraces out. Thorough inspection and strengthening on 
the way up is a must with all those safety precautions that were mentioned 
here (even guy wires on self supporting towers).

One note on very safe tower that I enjoyed is the old Telrex Big Bertha - 
self supporting, tapered tubular, rotatable tower. It is strong, no guy wires, 
having claiming steps helps to navigate the tower in relative safety with just 
safety belt. Easy to do all antenna work by one person, rotator on the ground, 
whole tower turns, etc. etc. It can be home brewed or if you are lucky to find 
used one, get it. 

I hope that "environmentablists" will not start screaming "ban the towers" 
just like they do with guns, tobacco, SUVs, etc. Sorry about the people who lost 
their lives, but we can't go on through life sitting in the bomb proof 
shelter. Myself I had about 5 close encounters that could have landed me over in SK 
land, but I thank my archangel and just keep doing what I want to do.

Stay safe!
Yuri, K3BU