This just in from AvWeb:



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Business AVflash Volume 1, Issue 1 November 12, 2003
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AT WHAT PRICE SAFETY?
As the aviation industry is pummeled by a weak economy and staggered
by the 9/11 hangover, it might seem like curious timing for the FAA to
write regulations that it believes will cost $238 million over ten
years and drive 700 enterprises out of at least a portion of their
business. That's the agency's own assessment of the effect of
National Air Tour standards it is proposing and which are at the
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) stage. Comments will be taken
until Jan. 20, 2004. The rule package, if adopted, would force Part 91
operators to upgrade to at least Part 135 status to continue
sightseeing flights. "The FAA estimates that about 700 Part 91
operators currently providing sightseeing flights would elect to stop
providing the service," the agency concludes in what it calls its
"Business Closure Analysis." The document goes on to say, however,
that sightseeing is a small part of their overall business, less than
10 hours per year, and that these operators would remain in business
and obtain revenues elsewhere.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#186046

....HIGHER COSTS, MORE HASSLES...
Although it can be argued that Part 91 operators will be the hardest
hit, larger companies are also counting up the costs. Jim Cruson,
president of Air Vegas, one of the biggest air tour companies in the
country, says some of the proposed regulations will hit his firm
squarely in the bottom line. For instance, his company's fleet of 10
Beech 99s routinely flies over Lake Mead and the new rules would
require all passengers to be wearing an inflatable flight vest for the
duration of each flight. "It's ridiculous," said Cruson.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#186047

....ALTITUDE MINIMUMS RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS
Cruson said new minimum altitudes for tour operators could actually
create safety problems. Currently, sightseeing aircraft operate
between 500 and 1,000 feet AGL depending on aircraft type and the
areas over which they are flying. The new rule would set the limit at
1,000 feet for all sightseeing aircraft. And since the essence of
sightseeing is to get as close to the sights as possible, that means
all aircraft will operate right on that limit. "It will decrease the
level of safety because it focuses more aircraft in less airspace," he
said. Cruson said his company is still studying the 62-page document
before sending its comments to the FAA. At least one industry group
has tried broaching the topic with the FAA, but with little success.
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archive...ll.html#186048