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Airwork: Ours Is Not to Reason Why

A basic gear simulator in a Kitfox. Nigel Moll
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The general aviation industry is at a crossroads, facing potential decline unless stakeholders work together to make flying safer, less expensive, and more attractive.
  • A significant impediment to industry growth is the current body of Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), which the author finds overly complex, lengthy, and often illogical.
  • Specific regulations critiqued for adding unnecessary cost and burden include the mandatory 10 hours of in-flight complex airplane training for commercial pilots (advocating for simulator use and cost reduction).
  • Other suggested reforms include adjusting the definition of high-performance aircraft and allowing dual instruction from sport pilot instructors to count towards a private pilot certificate, given the similar training standards.
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(January 2011) — Our industry is at an en route intersection. One airway leads to continued reduction in student starts, lack of retention of students and pilots, decline in flight activity and security-based encroachments on our privileges. On the other airway we might be able to sustain healthy growth and an expansion of the utility and pleasure of general aviation.

In order to wend our way along that more desirable course, we, as the aviation industry, need to involve aircraft manufacturers, flight schools, training material providers, user advocacy organizations, the Federal Aviation Administration and other stakeholders in developing new and better ways of making aviation safer, less expensive and more attractive to more people.

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