Comments

Flying Magazine has done a great job of covering all aspects from the day I first started pumping avgas on a flight line in the late 70's till now. I have always found that Flying has covered all aspects of our industry. But if you only read select articles then you might think otherwise. Our industry has multiple problems to deal with: Certification, the FAA has set up an almost impossible process of rules and regulations to deal with before the first airplane rolls down the line. Trying to regulate stupidity out of the equation will never work and until we realize that people make mistakes and there are no guarantees in life then the cost of building a new airplane will never come down. Yes, if you fly anything in to the side of a mountain at 200 kts you will die. Which brings me to liability: Yes if you fly a plane into the side of a mountain at 200 kts. while in IMC and not IMC rated, you will die. Don't blame it on the manufacturer, of the engine, the avionics, the airframe, the exhaust etc. When the industry is left alone and not over regulated technology and innovation prospers. This holds true with any industry. The 100,000.00 airplane is out there, you just have to build it yourself (less regulation). Some better than others but they are out there. As far as Obama and the "fat cats" this is just another case of class warfare. I will take a crooked "fat cat" any day over a corrupt and or over regulating government. At least I can choose to buy or not to buy the products as for government, no choice, their way or the highway. The Fat Cats purchase the planes which employs the pilots, line technicians, manufacturers, assembly people etc. Our problem is not the rich buying the products it is the government over regulating our industry that is. Just check what it cost to certify a plane in the 70's and what it cost now. Can you imagine where would be if we relied on the government to develop computers and cell phones. Cell mail?