On 23-Oct-2003, "Richard Kaplan" wrote:

Even with a terrific TKS known-ice system and 5-minute weather datalink
from Weatherworx, my plane is nowhere near as capable as an airliner.
Airliners have advantages in altitude, speed, and range that make a big
difference
compared with my piston single.


I think you missed my point. In order to attract 25 million active pilots a
vast majority of them would have to view GA aircraft as a reliable means of
transportation for trips of modest length. That means reliably being able
to operate in IFR environments in all seasons and in all regions of the
country. That does NOT mean they would have to match the airlines in speed,
range, or altitude capability, or that they would have to be able to go in
unusually nasty weather. But they would have to be able to operate safely
in TYPICAL bad weather. Put another way, how many people would own and
drive cars if they could only be used for sightseeing around town on sunny
days?
--
-Elliott Drucker