General aviation is dying in the U.S. There, I stated the truth out loud and the skies didn’t open up with a lightning strike to my head, directed by Wilbur and Orville.
Too Little Too late
As suggested by recent decisions and actions, FAA leadership might actually be agreeing with that last bit. Over a year ago they announced a different regulatory climate called compliance philosophy, which is supposed to engender a more cooperative relationship between the regulator and the regulated. The FAA also began relaxing some certification requirements in favor of common sense safety improvements like seat belts and shoulder harnesses, angle-of-attack indicators, and more recently non-certified EFIS in certified aircraft. Now, theyve responded to the legislative mandate to do away with the third-class medical for many of us.
Key Takeaways:
- General aviation in the U.S. is declining due to complex factors, including economics, disposable income, and excessive bureaucratic complexity from the FAA.
- The FAA has introduced regulatory changes, such as a "compliance philosophy," relaxed certification requirements, and eliminated the third-class medical for some pilots.
- However, the author believes these FAA initiatives will not significantly reverse the decline, as they fail to sufficiently reduce the total cost or enhance the perceived value for potential pilots.
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