Thread: FAA ambiguity
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Old January 6th 05, 04:12 PM
Michael
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What bothers me, and what I find to be absolutely incredible, is the
lack of clear direction that is provided by the numerous documents
that are produced by the FAA.


If you think it's bad on the operations side, try the maintenance side
sometime. Much worse.

Once I used to look for wisdom in FAA regulations and advisory
circulars. Once I tried to reconcile them so there was no
contradiction. It's a task that I believe is beyond the capabilities
of even a talmudic scholar. I've given up.

Occam's Razor - the simple explanation is usually the correct one. The
simple explanation is that the FAA is staffed with a bunch of useless
bloody loonies. It's not as far-fetched as you think.

The real business of the FAA is the regulation of the airlines. That's
what the general public thinks of when it thinks aviation. That's
where the visibility is. That's where the promotion opportunities are.
That's also where this level of ambiguity is simply not tolerated -
and neither is regulation that is impossible to comply with. Airlines
and their unions have legal staffs and the ears of congressmen. That
doesn't mean they have it all their own way, but it does mean that
there is some level of accountability.

Then there is the part of the FAA that deals with GA. The FSDO's,
primarily. You will NEVER see an airline employee at the FSDO in his
professional capacity. The airlines have their own offices. There is
no visibility in GA, and no real opportunity to move up. So when you
deal with the GA portion of the FAA, realize that you are dealing with
the losers of the FAA, with the occasional little airplane enthusiast
thrown in.

Ever want to install a CD player or other entertainment system into
your little airplane? Good luck. Some people will tell you that it
can't be done unless you buy the $1000+ certified version. In some
FSDO's, they are even correct. In others you can get by with it - but
it's not really legit. Think the airlines would tolerate that state of
affairs? Of course not. So the FAA issued AC 25-10. It spells out
how you can install a CD player, video game, or other miscellaneous
non-required electrical equipment for entertainment purposes. It's
really quite simple to follow and very reasonable. Problem - it
applies ONLY to transport category airplanes. Not your little
bugsmasher. You're still hosed.

NOW do you get it?

Michael