# Private helicopter pilot not allowed to fly rescues in Helene disaster zone **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 3, 2024, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419 "2024-10-03T19:36:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419/101 "2024-10-11T05:05:16Z")
One example: > **[500+ Starlink Kits Donated for Post-Hurricane North Carolina Communications |...](https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2024/10/500-starlink-kits-donated-for-post-hurricane-north-carolina-communications.html)** > > Former NASCAR star Greg Biffle says Elon Musk's @SpaceX has donated 500 @Starlink kits which he will receive tomorrow at 5 AM – He will then immediately fly There are other groups–not necessarily related to SpaceX–that are also donating dishes. And you probably aren’t going to like this example, but here’s another one: [https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article293364354.html](https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article293364354.html) And yes, people not getting donated dishes are “only” getting free service for the month. Imagine being a journalist. And imagine being such an imbecile that you’re motivated to write stories like: Recipients of FOOD DONATIONS were SHOCKED to discover that they need a $400 STOVE just to cook the food! Maybe an ice pick to the frontal lobe would help me understand their reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419/102 "2024-10-11T05:13:49Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > One example: “_Former NASCAR star Greg Biffle says_ …” on Oct 1, and since then- 9 days later, about a dozen news sites have said Musk is charging for them. Maybe on OCT 1, that former racecar driver believed that. But it didnt happen. Or if it did, somehow, dozens of major news networks somehow missed it and said the exact opposite thing occurred. > [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > you probably aren’t going to like this example, but here’s another one: Yeah, a trump news cite- no thanks. I do not buy into MAGA lies and propaganda. > [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > And yes, people not getting donated dishes are “only” getting free service for the month. Even if some dishes are donated- and I have no doubt a few have been- where does it say those people will get free starlink after the first month? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419/103 "2024-10-11T05:23:27Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > and since then- 9 days later, about a dozen news sites have said Musk is charging for them. You _still_ don’t understand the difference between free service for everyone and donated dishes for some. It’s truly incomprehensible to me that you don’t get this. Here is Greg Biffle with the first pallet of donated dishes: > > [@DrDeth](#): > > Even if some dishes are donated- and I have no doubt a few have been- where does it say those people will get free starlink after the first month? Uh, they don’t? No one ever said they did. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2024, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419/104 "2024-10-11T21:13:26Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > No one ever said they did. Starlink (just today) extended the free service until the end of the year: > I eagerly anticipate a new round of articles from dipshit journalists that have somehow made it to adulthood not understanding that a satellite connection requires a receiver of some kind. In related news, free gas requires a car, and free canned food requires a can opener. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419/105 "2024-10-12T00:59:44Z")
You can open cans without a can opener. 😉 So 2+ months free free. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2024, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419/106 "2024-10-12T18:30:57Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > So… the pilots were not able to complete their deliveries. That sure sounds like they were blocked. Maybe. It could also mean that they didn’t have accurate locations for where they were supposed to make their deliveries. The quote says, after all, that the issue was resolved by “having the right information”. In other words, the deliveries needed to be coordinated. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/private-helicopter-pilot-not-allowed-to-fly-rescues-in-helene-disaster-zone/1008419.md?page=5)